6 News reports that some Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association members have not been paid for cremations performed on behalf of Colorado based Heritage Cremation Provider. The Minnesota department of Health is investigating Heritage as well after families accused Heritage of not picking up remains in a timely fashion. Our take: Heritage is not a local…
Your Clifton Park & Halfmoon has done a nice feature about Kathleen Lowes Sanvidge, the owner of Townley and Wheeler funeral home in Ballston Lake, New York. Sandvidge has been certified as a Women Business Enterprise in New York. Her firm is the only certified women-owned funeral home in New York State. Funeral Director’s take: Interesting…
We noticed a number of items in the litigation section of the Service Corporation International 2016 Annual Report. Our purpose in listing the claims is not to point fingers. SCI has had several of the claims dismissed and we are in no position to evaluate the validity of the claims. We’ve decided to…
Ever wonder what the future of the small-town 30 call firm is. When I started in the funeral business in 1980 in a regional center type of community – 30,000 population – we served an area about 15 miles around us. Outside of that 15 mile radius there were several small communities that each had…
The Huffington Post has an outstanding post by funeral director Shannon Burberry titled “What Working With Death Can Teach You About Living.” Burberry is a Funeral Home Manager at Arbor Memorial in Ontario, Canada. Simple lessons but true: Our goodbyes are just as important as hellos. One size doesn’t fit all. Technology connects the disconnected.…
BUSINESS
Blessed. . . . and Grateful
I love Easter. Even outside of the religious realm I can remember as a child that when mom started decorating the house for Easter — Spring, and nice weather, soon returned to us…
We’ve truly “Turned the Corner”
There is no doubt that when one thinks of the idea of an embalmer around the time of the Civil War (1860’s in the U.S.) or one known as an “undertaker” in the same…
Man’s Best Friend and their “grief” and “grit”
Today’s edition of Funeral Director Daily will be a little different and I hope you enjoy it. It’s not about the business of Death Care, although, you might find reason to believe that “Therapy…
FINANCE
Maybe Death Care stocks are a “Port in the Storm” — DCI upends major indexes for 1st Quarter
I feel a little bit vindicated today. In mid-March I hypothesized that Death Care stocks may be overlooked as a “defensive position” by the market. At that time I researched that thought using only…
Arrington Funeral Directors and Crematory affiliate with Park Lawn Corporation
In a press release received yesterday, that you can access here, it was announced that Park Lawn Corporation (PLC) has acquired Arrington Funeral Directors and Crematory of Jackson, Tennessee. The acquisition will add one…
Propel Funeral Partners First-Half FY2026 continues upward trends
When you look at the First-Half of the 2026 Fiscal Year for Propel Funeral Partners you will not notice anything “earth shattering”. From my point of view, when that is the case with an…
REGULATIONS
We’ve truly “Turned the Corner”
There is no doubt that when one thinks of the idea of an embalmer around the time of the Civil War (1860’s in the U.S.) or one known as an “undertaker” in the same…
Man’s Best Friend and their “grief” and “grit”
Today’s edition of Funeral Director Daily will be a little different and I hope you enjoy it. It’s not about the business of Death Care, although, you might find reason to believe that “Therapy…
University set to re-open anatomy labs after being closed for formaldehyde exposure levels
I was aware as you can read here, that in 2025 the United States Environmental Association (EPA) published the findings of their Risk Evaluation of Formaldehyde. After years of evaluation and input the EPA…
CEMETERY
This might give a new meaning to “Permanent Memorialization”
I’m a big fan of “permanent memorialization” for the simple fact that that memorialization of that type continues to give creedence to a “life that was lived”. I’ve seen the graves and permanent memorialization…
SCI: Strategy changed in early 2000’s to target 8-12% Earnings Growth
Service Corporation International (SCI) recently participated at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference and were represened there by Senior Vice-President and Treasurer Aaron Foley. Seeking Alpha provided a transcript of Foley’s comments and answers…
There has to be another side to this story
Late last week Fox 6 TV of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, broke a story pertaining to Death Care that I found to be incredulous. Here’s the headline, “Milwaukee County funeral home debt; officials move to collect…
CREMATION
This might give a new meaning to “Permanent Memorialization”
I’m a big fan of “permanent memorialization” for the simple fact that that memorialization of that type continues to give creedence to a “life that was lived”. I’ve seen the graves and permanent memorialization…
We’ve truly “Turned the Corner”
There is no doubt that when one thinks of the idea of an embalmer around the time of the Civil War (1860’s in the U.S.) or one known as an “undertaker” in the same…
Private Equity company Epiris to sell a “Structured Minority interest” in Pure Cremation
I’ve watched the growth of direct cremation provider and preneed cremation business Pure Cremation from a start-up to, in my opinion, the most profitable investment in Death Care over the past decade. According to…
PRENEED
Propel Funeral Partners First-Half FY2026 continues upward trends
When you look at the First-Half of the 2026 Fiscal Year for Propel Funeral Partners you will not notice anything “earth shattering”. From my point of view, when that is the case with an…
Funeral planning: There seems to be a gap between “Perception and Action”
Funeral planning is an interesting topic on an individual basis. In my opinion, regardless of your age, self-mortality is a thought all human beings have at more than one point in their lives. …
Homesteaders celebrates 120 years, $5 Billion in force
In a press release received the other day, Homesteaders Life Company, a national leader in Preneed Death Care funding announced that 2026 marks the 120th year for the company. The company issued its first…
PRODUCTS
This might give a new meaning to “Permanent Memorialization”
I’m a big fan of “permanent memorialization” for the simple fact that that memorialization of that type continues to give creedence to a “life that was lived”. I’ve seen the graves and permanent memorialization…
We’ve truly “Turned the Corner”
There is no doubt that when one thinks of the idea of an embalmer around the time of the Civil War (1860’s in the U.S.) or one known as an “undertaker” in the same…
University set to re-open anatomy labs after being closed for formaldehyde exposure levels
I was aware as you can read here, that in 2025 the United States Environmental Association (EPA) published the findings of their Risk Evaluation of Formaldehyde. After years of evaluation and input the EPA…
