For the last century most funeral homes have tried to be all things to all people. Full service funeral homes have offered funeral services, embalming, cremation, and any other type of service that a client family asked for and usually were able to serve that family through their traditional funeral home building. Originally there were…
Today we will bring you some excerpts from the second part in Reuters five-part series entitled “The Body Trade: Cashing in on the Donated Dead”. As we mentioned in our last article on the subject this is an explosive series that found, what they believe, to be a lot of problems with the business of…
Service Corporation International announced their 3Q 2017 results on October 25. The company, based in Houston, Texas – much like Carriage Services – announced that the results were somewhat skewed by the hurricanes that happened during the quarter and affected some of their locations in Texas and Florida. In SCI’s case, they announced in their…
Following the close of business yesterday Carriage Services announced their 3rd quarter results. After a short note that two of their large market areas, Florida and Texas, were affected greatly by Hurricanes Irma and Harvey – which they contend more than likely affected results. Here are some of the notes from the report, which can…
Many of you in the death care industry were probably sideswiped yesterday when Reuters first part in its investigative series on what it terms “The Body Trade” was released. This expose – which Reuters tell us will be a five-part series – will tell of the underworld nature of what happens, in some instances, with bodies…
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, “. .…
