Who must comply with the FCC Funeral rule

By Dave Westburg February 8, 2017

The FTC Funeral Rule went into effect April 30, 1934.  The rule was revised in early 1994. Who must comply with the rule? All “funeral providers” must comply with the Rule. You are a funeral provider if you sell or offer to sell both funeral goods and funeral services to the public. Funeral goods are…

Stonemor Issues Update on Sales Team Development

By Dave Westburg February 8, 2017

REVOSE, Pa., Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — StoneMor Partners L.P. (NYSE:STON) (“StoneMor” or the “Partnership”) today provided additional data on the ongoing restructuring of its sales force. Total salespeople within the salesforce at January 31, 2017 numbered 766, which was 81 more than the prior year comparable period.  The salesperson count at January 31,…

Batesville Casket 1Q 2017 financials down slightly

By Dave Westburg February 7, 2017

Hillenbrand announced earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 (three months ended December 31, 2017).  The company’s Batesville casket business had a 2% decline in revenue and a 3% decline in EBIDTA (earnings before interest depreciation and amortization).  You can download the earnings slides here.   You can read the Seeking Alpha earnings call…

Funeral News Tuesday February 7

By Dave Westburg February 7, 2017

Alva Review Courier reports that there is a shortage of funeral directors in Oklahoma.  36,000 people die annually and the number of licensed funeral directors, embalmers, student apprentices and funeral homes have declined.  The Director of the State’s funeral board wants to streamline the process of certifying funeral directors. The Lacrosse Tribune says that dogs…

Weerts Funeral Home sold to Service Corp International

By Dave Westburg February 7, 2017

Quad-City Times reports that Weerts Funeral Home has been sold to Service Corp International.  Weerts was founded in 1909 and adquired by David Deuth from Jim Weerts in 2005.  The firm developed a state of the art cremation center in 2012. Service Corp International owns and operates 2,000 funeral homes and cemeteries in North America.

BUSINESS

Everstory Partners aims for more of the “Upper K”

By Funeral Director Daily | August 14, 2026

Not every consumer is looking for the $999 direct cremation service.  And, the good operators in the Death Care space know that.   There are plenty of ways to buy a burger in many different…

The New Math

By Funeral Director Daily | August 13, 2026

    As you read this today I will soon or already have given a presentation at the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) International Convention.  I was asked to speak on the Fads, Trends,…

Empty grave case still perplexing, legal issues pending

By Funeral Director Daily | August 12, 2026

    Back in December 2025, Funeral Director Daily, in this article, informed you of the case of the empty grave of CBC Canada Royal Glider Pilot Gordon Patrick.  If you read the article you…

FINANCE

Matthews International Fiscal 3Q report: Challenges seem to be everywhere

By Funeral Director Daily | August 11, 2026

  You don’t have to rely on my perception to come to the conclusion about the headline for this article. . . . Here are the prepared remarks from Matthews International’s CEO Joseph Bartolacci as…

Carriage Services 2nd Quarter 2026 Report: Flat Operations

By Funeral Director Daily | August 10, 2026

  When I first looked at the 2nd Quarter Financial Report of funeral home and cemetery operator Carriage Services one word came to mind.  “Flat”.   Look at some of the 2Q2026 numbers when compared…

SCI Earnings Call: SCI Execs comment, Artificial Intelligence tries to pull it together

By Funeral Director Daily | August 4, 2026

    On Thursday, July 30, Service Corporation International (SCI) held their quarterly earnings call to give their opinion of the company’s 2nd Quarter 2026 results and answer questions from analysts who cover the company.…

REGULATIONS

Empty grave case still perplexing, legal issues pending

By Funeral Director Daily | August 12, 2026

    Back in December 2025, Funeral Director Daily, in this article, informed you of the case of the empty grave of CBC Canada Royal Glider Pilot Gordon Patrick.  If you read the article you…

Colorado city tackles cemetery issue

By Funeral Director Daily | August 3, 2026

  The Lafayette  (Colorado) City Council reached an agreement on what action to take to help those who have purchased lots in the Lafayette Cemetery and may not be able to use them due to…

NFDA, Selected Independent Funeral Homes to pursue merger

By Funeral Director Daily | July 30, 2026

  Yesterday we received this press release from the National Funeral Directors Association that stated a Letter of Intent was signed between the Boards of Directors of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and Selected…

CEMETERY

Everstory Partners aims for more of the “Upper K”

By Funeral Director Daily | August 14, 2026

Not every consumer is looking for the $999 direct cremation service.  And, the good operators in the Death Care space know that.   There are plenty of ways to buy a burger in many different…

Empty grave case still perplexing, legal issues pending

By Funeral Director Daily | August 12, 2026

    Back in December 2025, Funeral Director Daily, in this article, informed you of the case of the empty grave of CBC Canada Royal Glider Pilot Gordon Patrick.  If you read the article you…

Colorado city tackles cemetery issue

By Funeral Director Daily | August 3, 2026

  The Lafayette  (Colorado) City Council reached an agreement on what action to take to help those who have purchased lots in the Lafayette Cemetery and may not be able to use them due to…

CREMATION

Everstory Partners aims for more of the “Upper K”

By Funeral Director Daily | August 14, 2026

Not every consumer is looking for the $999 direct cremation service.  And, the good operators in the Death Care space know that.   There are plenty of ways to buy a burger in many different…

The New Math

By Funeral Director Daily | August 13, 2026

    As you read this today I will soon or already have given a presentation at the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) International Convention.  I was asked to speak on the Fads, Trends,…

National “Cremation Placement Day” coming on October 17

By Funeral Director Daily | July 27, 2026

    If you are in the Death Care business you know that the number of cremated remains that reside in peoples’ homes is a large, and more than likey, growing number.  Some estimate that…

PRENEED

Pure Cremation exec: Is the “At-Need choice” death market contracting?

By Funeral Director Daily | July 14, 2026

  The number of deaths in the United States is expected to grow 26.3% from 2019 (the last year prior to the pandemic) until 2040 by certain estimates.  Estimates for the number of deaths in…

Anthem Partners announces strategic partnership with Family Shield Credit

By Funeral Director Daily | July 10, 2026

In a press release from earlier this week funeral home operator Anthem Partners announced that they have formed a partnership with Family Shield Credit in order to provide families with “flexible, budget-friendly payment options while…

Connecticut budget includes money for victims of allegedly stolen pre-arrangements

By Funeral Director Daily | May 28, 2026

    Earlier this month, as you can read in this article from NBC Connecticut, the legislature of Connecticut passed their state budget which included the “Act Concerning Unlawful Funeral Service Practices”.  The state appropriated…

PRODUCTS

Everstory Partners aims for more of the “Upper K”

By Funeral Director Daily | August 14, 2026

Not every consumer is looking for the $999 direct cremation service.  And, the good operators in the Death Care space know that.   There are plenty of ways to buy a burger in many different…

Chptr, iHeart Media, Tribute Technology work to get more media exposure for funeral homes

By Funeral Director Daily | August 5, 2026

  In a press release from Chptr, that you can access here, and also in a press release from Tribute Technology, that you can access here, we learned that Chptr partnered with iHeart Media to…

“Complimentary Disposition”. . . Another uphill climb for the traditional operator?

By Funeral Director Daily | July 22, 2026

  Recently, to prepare for a presentation at the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) annual convention I’ve been looking into the future to try and see where Death Care is going.  And, I’ve been…