Last week a jury was seated and opening statements were begun in the criminal trial of Arthur Rathburn, age 64, of Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. Rathburn is accused of fraudulently misrepresenting his unusual product, that of parts of bodies that had been donated for research. According to an article on the case that you can…
In an article from the Think Advisor which you can read here it was reported that Ogden, Utah based pre-need life insurer Great Western Life Insurance is going to be acquired by American Republic Insurance of Des Moines, Iowa. Great Western is a privately held life insurance company, specializing in Pre-Need funeral insurance started by…
When I left off on Friday the now over 20 year old case of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes v. The Loewen Group was our topic. As I told you, it was an incredibly interesting drama unfolding in a Mississippi courtroom – all over the aggressive expansion plans and tactics of a Canadian based funeral home consolidator.…
Over the New Year’s Holiday I noticed a small blip in a Mississippi newspaper, the Sun Herald, which announced the fact that Jeffrey O’Keefe, Jr. of Gulfport has been named President of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes. It goes on to say, as you can read here, that Mr. O’Keefe is a sixth generation family member in…
It is always fun when the ball drops in Times Square at the rise of the New Year to think about how the future will be affecting you. Thinking about what will happen in the death care industry in North America is not something that comes to everybody’s mind, but if you make your livelihood…
BUSINESS
Consumer Preneed motivations from Homesteaders survey results
Preneed insurance provider Homesteaders Life Company released their 8th annual Preneed Motivators survey last week. According to this press release from which you can download your own copy of the survey results, “. .…
Funeral homes in Michigan change hands
“It’s been a good run.” That’s what funeral director John Kaatz said according to this newspaper article announcing the sale of four funeral homes that he was associated with. Kaatz, who succeeded his…
Memorial Day 2026 — “Freedom isn’t free”
As we stop today to reflect on the memory of not only our military personnel from the Revolutionary War on, we remember that the holiday was officially started to pay respects to those…
FINANCE
Funeral homes in Michigan change hands
“It’s been a good run.” That’s what funeral director John Kaatz said according to this newspaper article announcing the sale of four funeral homes that he was associated with. Kaatz, who succeeded his…
Everstory Partners recognized as a “Great Place to Work” — Again!
StoneMor Partners left the world of public companies and was taken private by Axar Capital Management in November 2022. At the time StoneMor was arguably, by revenue, the second largest company in Death Care. …
Security National Financial Corporation 1Q 2026 Memorial Group: The Good and the “Not so Good”
Security National Financial Corporation (SNFC), the Utah-based company that serves the Death Care profession through their funeral homes, preneed insurance, and other financial tools issued their 1st Quarter 2026 financial report last week. …
REGULATIONS
Memorial Day 2026 — “Freedom isn’t free”
As we stop today to reflect on the memory of not only our military personnel from the Revolutionary War on, we remember that the holiday was officially started to pay respects to those…
Everstory Partners recognized as a “Great Place to Work” — Again!
StoneMor Partners left the world of public companies and was taken private by Axar Capital Management in November 2022. At the time StoneMor was arguably, by revenue, the second largest company in Death Care. …
Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) hits some roadblocks
It’s not for me. . . .but neither is skydiving. I’m talking about Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) or what some lay people call “human composting”. NOR is a legal form of human disposition…
CEMETERY
Memorial Day 2026 — “Freedom isn’t free”
As we stop today to reflect on the memory of not only our military personnel from the Revolutionary War on, we remember that the holiday was officially started to pay respects to those…
Everstory Partners recognized as a “Great Place to Work” — Again!
StoneMor Partners left the world of public companies and was taken private by Axar Capital Management in November 2022. At the time StoneMor was arguably, by revenue, the second largest company in Death Care. …
Might this be a trend in small community cemetery financing?
Nobody really likes taxes. . . .But, then again, nobody wants their loved ones forgotten either. If you are in the Death Care business you know of the costs to operate cemeteries. And,…
CREMATION
Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) hits some roadblocks
It’s not for me. . . .but neither is skydiving. I’m talking about Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) or what some lay people call “human composting”. NOR is a legal form of human disposition…
Price: Calculated by Supply and Demand
I’m not an economics major but I know that the price I can charge for my goods or services is somewhat dictated by the supply and demand of those goods and services. Is that…
Are we asking the right question?
Over my years as an active funeral director I would be called to the place of death and eventually ask the family before I left, “Are you thinking about burial or cremation?” If you’re…
PRENEED
Consumer Preneed motivations from Homesteaders survey results
Preneed insurance provider Homesteaders Life Company released their 8th annual Preneed Motivators survey last week. According to this press release from which you can download your own copy of the survey results, “. .…
SCI Earnings Call: CEO Tom Ryan answers on Preneed and Managing
Service Corporation International reported on their 1st Quarter of 2026 about ten days ago and then followed that up with an Earnings Call with stock analysts that follow the company. As usual Funeral Director…
Survey finds continued growth in the Preneed market . . but, there are cracks in the armor
Preneed continues to grow. . . .but is the growth enough? That is a great question and, among other things, we will look at the percentage growth of preneed on a “revenue per preneed…
PRODUCTS
Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) hits some roadblocks
It’s not for me. . . .but neither is skydiving. I’m talking about Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) or what some lay people call “human composting”. NOR is a legal form of human disposition…
California county sees fit to restrict Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) remains
Over the last month or so we have followed a growing discontent in Fresno County, California, and specifically an area along the San Joaquin River about the process of Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) remains…
Parting Stone hires former customer and industry award recipient, continues march forward with funeral home partners
Parting Stone, the pioneer in solidified remains, announced last week in a press release that they have hired the 2025 recipient of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Inspiration Award, Katey Houston, “. .…
