Chptr Brings Together Death Care and Modern Media Leaders to Accelerate Modernizing the Obituary for Families and Funeral Homes

Six Respected Industry Leaders Join Chptr’s Advisory Board, Representing MKJ Marketing, Heritage Family, Homesteaders, and Independent Funeral Service

New York, NY — December 18, 2025 — Chptr, the community storytelling company helping funeral directors bring a more modern, meaningful, and accessible obituary experience to the families they serve, today announced the formation of its Obituary Advisory Board. Six of the profession’s most trusted operators, directors, marketers, and strategists have joined the board, including Glenn and Marilyn Gould of MKJ Marketing, Lindsay Granson of Heritage Family, Courtney Gould Miller of Homesteaders, Ricardo Carrillo of Carrillo Funeral Home, and Timothy Szczesny of DeMunn Funeral Home.

The group joins existing advisors and media leaders Christian A. Hendricks of the Local Media Consortium and Laura Clark of NPGCO. The Advisory Board’s formation marks an important milestone as Chptr scales nationwide to help funeral homes bring a modern obituary experience to the communities they serve. The group brings decades of operational, marketing, and family-service expertise and will advise Chptr on ensuring its broadcast, social, and video offerings remain simple, dignified, and deeply aligned with how funeral directors work.

Advisory Board members bring deep and complementary expertise across death care and modern media:

● Glenn and Marilyn Gould have spent more than 30 years building MKJ Marketing into one of the most trusted agencies in the profession, advising hundreds of funeral homes on strategic growth and family experience.

● Lindsay Granson, Chief Operating Officer of Heritage Family, leads one of the nation’s most respected multi-location funeral home organizations and brings deep expertise in family service excellence.

● Courtney Gould Miller, Chief Growth Officer at Homesteaders, has overseen strategic partnerships and product development supporting thousands of funeral homes.

● Timothy Szczesny, owner of DeMunn Funeral Home and Cremation Service, provides the essential perspective of an independent funeral director serving families every day.

● Ricardo Carrillo, owner of Carrillo Funeral Homes in Dallas, is a leading Latino funeral service voice whose experience supporting Hispanic families strengthens Chptr’s understanding of diverse community needs.

● Laura Clark serves as Chief People Officer at News-Press & Gazette Company, bringing expertise in organizational development and operational excellence across media properties.

● Christian A. Hendricks, representing the Local Media Consortium, brings deep expertise in digital media strategy and local news operations, strengthening Chptr’s alignment with community-focused publishers.

“Chptr, with our nationwide network of local media partners, was built to serve the people who serve families,” said Rehan Choudhry, CEO of Chptr. “Each member of this board has earned trust in the profession across the country. Their guidance ensures we stay grounded in the realities of funeral service and continue building tools that support directors in meaningful, practical ways.”

Chptr transforms family photos and memories into broadcast-ready video tributes that notify the wider community across local television, social media, and digital channels. By handling production and coordination directly with families, Chptr keeps the process simple for funeral directors while reinforcing their role as trusted community leaders.

“Directors need tools that help families feel supported without adding more steps to an already demanding day. Chptr delivers that,” said Lindsay Granson, COO of Heritage Family. “They help families reach the community while taking the production and coordination off our plate. We can feel the difference in how families respond and how confidently our directors offer the service.”

The Advisory Board has already begun advising on expansion priorities, partnership standards, and enhancements that address key challenges directors face in arrangement rooms. Their insight will guide Chptr as it continues to scale its offerings nationwide.

“Obituaries are a cornerstone of community journalism, and bringing them into video makes them even more powerful,” said Christian A. Hendricks, president of the Local Media Consortium. “That’s why we’ve engaged with Chptr. It transforms a simple notice into a story the whole community can see and feel. It’s exactly the kind of service local media was built to deliver.”

About Chptr

Founded in 2023 and headquartered in New York, Chptr is the community storytelling company that helps funeral homes bring modern memorialization to the families they serve. Through its Broadcast, Social, and Video offerings, Chptr transforms photos and memories into video tributes that reach thousands, helping communities gather, show support, and honor every life properly. Chptr partners with funeral homes and media companies across the United States, coordinating directly with families to keep workflows simple for funeral directors. Learn more at www.chptr.com.

This afternoon’s edition of Funeral Director Daily marks our 12th and final “Most Read Articles” of the month for 2025.

Funeral Director Daily wants to thank all of you who have contributed to our year — a year in which we saw email subscriptions and daily page view numbers continue to grow to new records for us.  Thanks!!!

We know that readers want a variety of information in this Death Care publication and today’s “Most Read” articles from November 15 to December 15 point that out. . . .There are Death Care related articles on aviation, documentaries, public companies, and acquisition news in this month’s Top 5. . . . .

In case you missed those articles, here they are again.

1. Cremation Air:  A new service to help funeral homes.
2. Another Death Care documentary series debuts tomorrow night. 
3. The public Death Care companies are in the news.
4. Does KFC have a template for Death Care?
5. Park Lawn purchases 8 funeral homes in greater Oklahoma City.

Happy Holidays!!!!

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

In today’s world we have begun to realize that the stress of certain employment, including being a funeral director, can have adverse effects on one’s physical and mental health.  To that end, it is probably important that one has a hobby or other interest that can take his or her mind off the constant attention of the work of Death Care.

I was fortunate — I never thought about my mental health while working — but I also had outlets outside of the funeral business.  As a sideline I operated college basketball and volleyball tournaments and I also volunteered as a Little League coach.  In addition, I was fortunate to put my mind to work as a member of many community boards.

When I look back on my career, there certainly were times that I know I was stressed — usually it was about making the situation “perfect” for a client family.  I worried about such things as the police escort showing up, the vault being in the cemetery when we arrived, and more.

I bring you that preamble today because I noticed this article from a Washington state newspaper titled “New owner joins KXLE station”.  I found the title a little odd simply because it was listed under “funeral home” articles on my list of reading material.

Then I read the article and found this quote from Henry Johnston, owner of the Johnston & Williams Funeral Home of Ellensburg, Washington, “Doing funerals for so many years can take a mental toll on you eventually. I needed a creative side.”

The article went on to say that Johnston purchased a partnership in the radio station partly because other options for the station could have meant that it left town and the community would be without its local voice.

Johnston also states that “he will continue his full-time work at the funeral home, but will also take an active role in operations of the radio station.” . . . .and, he’s not really a novice as his first job was at a radio station in Idaho as a teenager.

Here is the website of the Johnston & Williams Funeral Home and Crematory of Ellensburg, Washington.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  Today’s article is not really about a partnership in a radio station.  It’s about realizing that as a Death Care professional you need to take care of yourself. . . . .And, one possible way to do that is have some interests outside of the funeral business.

I don’t really think it is important what that interest is — whether it be your church, your community, a business interest, a recreation interest such as golfing —  or a myriad of other things.

And, I think it is more important today than it ever was.  I believe that, even though we don’t have landline phones that must be watched 24/7 anymore, today’s funeral professionals may be more “tied down” than ever.  Cell phones and the internet make funeral professionals more available to families than they ever have been before. . . . . . .Sometimes, for your mental health, you just need solitude from work where you cannot be interupted.

I also think one can come full-circle in this situation.  I live a pretty good life of doing what I want to do now as a retired person. . . . . And, it is now my responsibility to the work of Funeral Director Daily that gives me a “balance” of work with my retirement.  As a person who has worked and held responsibility my entire life, that responsibility balances an otherwise leisure retirement lifestyle. . . . I look at “the balance” it brings as a blessing.

Related Article —  Here’s an article that you might enjoy I found from a publication called VeryWell Mind.  It is titled, “Why are hobbies important for stress relief?”

Related Article — Caring for your Mental Health.  National Institute of Mental Health.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

With the advent of increased private equity ownership in the Death Care business there are not a lot of public companies to draw information from that you can compare with your own funeral home.  Quite frankly, the only two public companies where I seem able to find “comparable information” with locally owned funeral firms are Service Corporation International (SCI) and Carriage Services.

Interestingly, in the past couple of weeks both of those companies and Death Care supplier Matthews International were all in the news for various reasons.  Here’s a short synopsis of why.

First of all, SCI was involved as a participant at the Bank of America Leverage Finance Conference.  They were represented there by Senior Vice-President and Treasurer Aaron Foley who took part in a question and answer period with Bank of America Securities Larry Bland.  You can read a full transcript of the Q & A here from Seeking Alpha.

There is a lot of information for people interested in Death Care business in the Q & A.  I’ll note three items I found somewhat interesting and pretty much on trend with what I’ve heard around the profession in the past year.

• Cemeteries have great opportunities going ahead.  There is a market for “Premium Memorialization”.  Here’s what SCI’s Aaron Foley said about that issue:  “Cemetery side has continue(d) to be strong as well. We — as I know that we’ll talk about later, have a dynamic within our pre-need cemetery sales that has large sale dynamics but a core consumer dynamic as well. . . . . . But those large sales make up about 10% to 15% of our total cemetery preneed sales. And we’ve got teams out there that are constantly driving and trying to grow that.”  (Editor’s Note:  SCI considers sales of $80,000 and over Large Sales”

• The Pull-Forward effect on pandemic deaths has probably caught up and we have reached normalcy for death rates.  Here’s what SCI’s Foley said about that in the Q&A:  “I think where we stand today, it seems that, that has all kind of normalized out. . . . . .As we began our 2025 planning, we came out of this expectation after having seen in ’22, a decline of volume of 6% in ’23, 4% in ’24, we were down 2.5%. We expected 2025 to be about flat to slightly down. . . . . So seeing all those trends together kind of gives me some heart to say, I feel like we’re kind of at this normalized trend now for volume.”

• Cremation Growth has started to moderate.  Here’s what SCI’s Foley said on that dynamic in the Q&A:  “And where we stand at this 58% or so type cremation mix, when we’ve looked at other kind of Western cultures where the cremation mix has seemed to stabilize, that’s around that 70% to 80% type range. And so as we get closer to that, you would expect that, that slope should start moderating. But then when you look at a lot of the cities and urban areas that we do operate in the top 10 or 15, there’s a good chunk of those that are already kind of at or near that 70% to 80% type range. And so we’re expecting less of a pressure from that (growth of cremation) front going forward.”

Matthews International has sold their Warehouse Automation Business for $230 million.  As you may know, Matthews International operates in different business segments, with the largest, by revenue, segment its Memorialization Segment.  That segment consists of its Matthews Aurora business, The Dodge Company business, and businesses in the cremation and cemetery categories.

According to this information from Globe Newswire, “The proceeds from the transaction, net of taxes and transaction costs, will be primarily used to significantly reduce outstanding debt, further strengthening the Company’s balance sheet and enhancing its capacity to pursue future strategic initiatives.” 

Again, according to the press release, “The Warehouse Automation business generated sales of $72 million for fiscal 2025.”

If you follow the public stocks it is hard not to notice that Carriage Services has been on a deliberate plan to modernize not only their businesses but also their business plan and strategic outlook going forward.  It appears that what they are doing is being noticed not only by those of us in the Death Care business world but those who rate credit as well.

According to this note, S&P Global has elevated the Carriage Services to a B+ credit rating from a B rating.  S&P Global notes this upgrade is reflective of continued operational improvement and an anticipation of lower leverage going forward.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

There has been an explosion of streaming channels available to the public in the past couple of years.  And, with that growth of channels comes the need for programming.  So, it is probably not a surprise that we are finding more programming available in all types of genres  — including a genre that seems to be “Death Care documentary”.

On Wednesday, November 26, HBO Max will premier a three-part documentary from the Investigation Discovery Channel.  The title of the series is “The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder” and you can access information on the program, including a trailer preview, here.

And, here is short article from Deadline titled “Investigation Discovery Explores Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder” that may give you more insight as to the basis for this production.

Here is the “Find a Grave” site, including the obituary, of Colorado funeral director Byron Paul Griffy, whose 2012 death is part of the subject of the series.

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Alex Fasciano, an analyst for CFRA Research suggests that quick service restaurant player KFC’s (formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken) strategy is “. .centered on driving growth through brand relevance, marketing innovation, (and) operational excellence. . . .”

It turns out that the iconic brand was losing customer count and sales to other competitors in the market.  But the new innovations that they have put in, including a new store concept, has begun increasing sales.  As I read this article from the New York Post titled, “From slump to sizzle: KFC’s recipe for a comeback” it made me think of traditional funeral homes that have lost some market share to the cremation providers.

You see, I look at traditional funeral homes as once having all of the “relevance” in terms of consumer choices for Death Care.  Back in the 1970’s, 1980, and 1990’s traditional funerals were still well over 50% of the choice of consumers and the relevance of that full-service traditional funeral home as the business that included, embalming, caskets, visitation rooms, and more was what consumers were looking for.

Eventually, the number of consumers that preferred cremation started to, and continued to rise to numbers that now reach a 60% preference point and recent surveys by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) tell us that number could rise to a 83% preference rate within a decade or two.

The question would then be. . . .What type of “relevance” does the traditional funeral home hold for the consumers that choose cremation or direct cremation with no services?  A consumer might look at a traditional funeral home as having a lot of extra overhead for what that consumer is choosing. . . . And, a beautiful traditional funeral facility can be an asset that draws in clientele, even cremation clientele, but it can also represent to some consumers an additional overhead perception that they might not be willing to pay.

It’s interesting because that is somewhat the KFC story in the last couple of decades.  Once the staple for family meals with the red and white buckets full of fried chicken for the entire family, the chain started losing its relevance to a consumer that no longer dined with the entire family or wanted to eat full-bone fried chicken.

As a matter of fact, this article from The Street made the comment that “KFC had fallen into fifth place in terms of consumer spending, trailing behind competitors such as Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, and Wingstop.”  In essence, the traditional KFC fell out of “relevance” with the chicken consumer.

That loss in spending at KFC was brought on in part by KFC trying to “be the same they always had been” selling family style meals and buffets while consumers started to show an affinity for chicken sandwiches that you might find at Chick-fil-A or chicken wings that you might find at any number of restaurants.

KFC finally became very bold and launched a new style of chicken restuarant, Saucy. Saucy, according to one article, “(is) trying to rejuvenate KFC by leaning into its own version of the chicken sandwich, an item that’s stoked intense rivalries among major chains, and other new innovations such as spicy wings and potato wedges, which have proven popular among new customers.” 

The effort started late in 2024 and now the Saucy locations, which are only about half the size of a typical KFC are “selling about twice as much as a typical KFC store, or roughly $2.6 million in annual sales.”  It’s been so successful that KFC is intent on fast-tracking more locations.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  So, what’s the moral of this story and its relationship to traditional funeral homes?

From my point of view, it’s all about staying “relevant” with the consumer and their needs and wishes.  Traditional funeral homes will serve about 15% of the population that want casketed burials come 15 years from now.  Yes, they can still serve cremation families — but might there be a better way to serve those cremation families and keep them in your business fold rather than have them go to an online cremation provider?

Maybe a smaller facility built exclusively for the cremation consumer might be a thought.  I’m guessing it was pretty difficult for KFC to open stores where they don’t sell the product that built the company — fried chicken.  But, it appears that coming back to “relevance” with what the consumer wants is going to pay dividends for them in the future.

Maybe the same thing could happen in Death Care.

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The election of Democrat Socialist Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of the city that many refer to as the “World’s Financial Center” has brought about questions on what might change.  Most of those questions deal with financial issues such as taxes and benefits.

From the perspective of Death Care and funerals my thought process goes to what would a world of increased public benefits for individuals mean to the Death Care business world?  When one looks around the world, in almost all instances the responsibility for paying for the Death Care services of loved ones falls on the individual and family and not on the public sector.

However, in almost all of those same countries, including the United States, those individuals or families without the financial means to pay these expenses can apply for public benefits to help them do so.  And, virtually every municipality or state has some type of reasonable benefit to help.

One country that is very interesting, and probably goes against the grain on this situation is Sweden.  In Sweden, according to this article, every one registered and paying taxes pays a mandatory burial fee each year through their taxes.  Upon death, they are then entitled to state paid expenses for the following:

• A burial plot for 25 years
• Burial and/or cremation
• Certain transports of the coffin
• Premises for safekeeping and viewing of remains
• Premises for a funeral ceremony with no religious symbols

According to the same article, here are the expenses that a family may also choose but are not covered by this benefit:

• Coffin and dressing the deceased person
• Decorations and flowers
• Obituary notices
• Transportation of the coffin to the viewing room (premises for safekeeping and viewing)
• Funeral ceremony
• Pallbearers
• Memorial service
• Headstone
• Grave maintenance

Other Municipality Public Services in Death Care —  Historically in the United States there is acknowledged acceptance of city non-profit cemeteries that dates back centuries.  Public grounds were granted, for the public good, for the use of cemetery burials in communities.  Most of these cemeteries have been and continue to be non-profit or break-even enterprises for the municipality and were proffered as a service to citizens of the community.  In this regard, these cemeteries did not compete with funeral homes as they were established in communities and actually allowed funeral homes to further their own profit-driven enterprises by allowing burial vaults to be sold by the funeral homes and delivered to these cemeteries.

Similarly, crematories in the United Kingdom have been operated by municipalities for the benefit of their citizens over the years.  Funeral providers in Great Britain provided Death Care services to families and then brought the remains to a public crematory for a service and cremation.  Much like non-profit cemeteries in the United States, these crematories proffered their services for the public good and did not compete with funeral homes for the professional services to families. . . . .allowing the profit-driven funeral homes the ability to offer merchandise such as coffins to these consumers.

Will that change and will municipalities become competitors??  —  Just this week from an article I learned that in Great Britain “Lewisham Council has launched new affordable and dignified options for residents arranging funerals or cremations for their loved ones, helping to ease financial pressures during the ongoing cost of living crisis”.

Up until now, it appears that Lewisham has offered a crematory service to area funeral providers as mentioned above.  However, it now appears that the council will be offering “full service” cremations direct-to-the-consumer in an effort to save their residents money over what they seem to deem as too high of prices by private funeral directors.  Here’s the announcement from the Lewisham Council announcing this service.  Part of what is listed on that page is this announcement:

With the average cost of a full cremation service via a funeral director now approaching £4,000 (US$ 5,245), many families are finding traditional funeral costs increasingly difficult to manage. In response, Lewisham Council is offering a Simple Cremation Package at a fixed fee of £1,507 (US$ 1,974), providing a respectful, straightforward, and low-cost alternative.

The Simple Cremation Package includes the collection and care of the deceased, completion of statutory medical paperwork, the cremation itself, and the provision of an environmentally friendly coffin suitable for cremation. The package provides all the essential elements for a dignified farewell without the additional costs often associated with traditional services.

While the package does not include the use of the cremation chapel for a formal service, families who wish to hold a memorial event can add use of the chapel from just £147 (US$ 192).

Related — To learn more about the United States Social Security Lump Sum Death Benefit history click here.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  Much like the idea of grocery stores being operated by municipalities I think the idea of full-service funeral and cremation providers being offered by municipalities is just as bad an idea.  I’m a “free enterprise” person and have had an experience in operating in a “public sector” enterprise as a board member of a major land-grant university (University of Minnesota).  While there may be a place and public-purpose for “public enterprise’ where a private source cannot operate, I don’t think funeral homes and crematories fit into that caegory of necessity.

Even university education enterprises can be done less expensively in a private setting — although the idea of public education is an American ideal and there is a necessity for public research universities.  However, in my world, free enterprise and the quest for a system that can build profits for the risk takers will almost always bring on efficiencies that reduces costs for all.

It will be interesting to see what happens in Lewisham and if the discounted services prove to be a savings for municipality residents or, over time, will the Lewisham Council have to raise their prices or operate their services to their citizens at a loss —  funded by community tax revenues and bringing on a “growth in government”.

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Green Burial Council Launches New Website Amid Growing Demand for Sustainable Death Care 

The Green Burial Council (GBC), the nonprofit organization that sets the standard for environmentally responsible death care in North America, has launched a newly redesigned website built to meet the needs of our rapidly-evolving industry and a public increasingly seeking green burial options. 

As demand for sustainable alternatives to conventional burial and cremation accelerates, GBC’s new website provides an improved, user-friendly hub for certification, education, and connection. As more families prioritize environmental values in all aspects of life and death, the demand for green burial is reaching a tipping point. 

“Green burial is no longer a fringe interest. When asked, the public consistently and overwhelmingly expresses interest in going green.” said Darren Crouch, Co-President of the GBC. “This sophisticated new website has been a lot of work and positions us and our providers with the information and tools to meet this demand professionally and with authority.” 

Key features of the new website include a streamlined redesign catered to the public and industry professionals, a fully updated interactive provider map that allows users to locate GBC-certified providers in seconds, and streamlined certification pathways for funeral homes, cemeteries, and product providers to become GBC-Certified. 

Professionals across the death care sector are encouraged to explore the new website, ensure their listings are up to date, and take advantage of the updated value of GBC certification. 

Explore the new website and find out how to get certified at: www.greenburialcouncil.org. 

About the Green Burial Council: 

The Green Burial Council is a nonprofit working to make environmentally sustainable death care accessible to all. Through certification, education, and advocacy, the GBC supports a growing movement toward climate-conscious burial and funeral practices.

Every family has its own way of honoring a life. When you begin searching for a cremation service St. Charles, MO, the goal is not just a practical arrangement but a path that reflects values, faith, traditions, and the pace your family needs.

At St. Louis Cremation, we design our approach around your preferences. From the first call to the final update, we focus on clarity, calm communication, and careful attention to the details that matter to you.

What Respectful Cremation Looks Like Today

Respect begins with listening. We start by learning what feels right for your family, then we tailor the process to match.

• A single point of contact who understands your wishes
• Clear timelines explained in plain language
• Options presented with context, never pressure
• Professional handling that preserves dignity at every step
• Privacy and discretion in every setting

This balance of empathy and organization helps families move forward with confidence.

Aligning Care With Culture, Faith, and Rituals

Many families want quiet moments rather than large events. Others prefer specific readings, music, or simple family traditions. We support personal choices so the experience feels authentic.

• Time for private reflection or a small gathering if desired
• Space to include meaningful items like letters or photos
• Flexibility for families who are traveling or coordinating schedules
• Guidance that respects your customs and preferences

When care aligns with values, grief has room to be processed with less stress.

Communication That Reduces Anxiety

Uncertainty can make hard days even harder. We simplify communication so you always know what comes next.

• Straightforward checklists of what information helps most
• Coordinated updates by your preferred method of contact
• Fast answers to common questions about timing and documentation
• Clear summaries after key milestones so everyone stays aligned

Predictable communication restores a sense of control.

Quiet Meaning Without Event Planning

Simple arrangements can still be deeply personal. Families often find comfort in small, intentional choices that do not require organizing a large ceremony.

• A private family viewing for a peaceful farewell
• A memory table at home with a single floral arrangement and a favorite photo
• A short reading, song, or moment of silence shared among close relatives
• A later remembrance when extended family can be present

Meaning comes from intention, not scale.

What To Prepare To Keep Things Smooth

A few details gathered early can shorten timelines and reduce back and forth. If possible, have these on hand.

• Full legal name and any prior legal names
• Date and place of birth
• Parents’ full names, including mother’s maiden name
• Marital status and spouse’s full name, if applicable
• Primary care physician or hospice contact
• Military service information for eligible veterans
• Preferred contact person for updates

If some items are not available, we will guide you through alternatives.

How To Evaluate Whether A Provider Fits Your Family

Choosing a provider is about trust in real actions you can see and feel.

• Do they explain each step in plain language
• Do they offer a single, reachable point of contact
• Are identification and documentation handled with care
• Do they respect your space and privacy during transfers
• Do they provide timely updates without you having to ask

You can also review the overview of our process on the Cremation Services page for additional clarity.

A Simple Path That Still Feels Personal

The right cremation plan centers your family’s wishes and removes unnecessary complexity. With organized steps, thoughtful options, and steady guidance, you can honor a life in a way that feels true to you.

When you are ready to choose a cremation service St. Charles, MO, St. Louis Cremation is here to align the process with your preferences from start to finish, and if you would like a calm, practical conversation about next steps, contact us today so we can answer questions, confirm details, and create a plan that respects your family at every moment.

This article from Yahoo Finance will inform you that the major indexes of the American stock market all closed at record highs last Friday.  During the same week the 3rd Quarter of the year closed and the Funeral Director Daily Death Care Index (DCI) reported a close that indicated a 3.60% increase for the year-to-date.

Below you will see a chart of the individual four stocks that make up the Funeral Director Daily DCI Index and how they have performed in comparison to the major indexes for the Year-to-Date (YTD) 2025 up to the end of the 3rd Quarter on September 30 2025.  You will notice that the DCI trails every sector with the possible exception of Consumer Staples for stock price appreciation for YTD 2025.  One possible reason for this, however, is the small sample size of public companies with at least a portion of their business in Death Care.

As you can see funeral home, cemetery, and crematory operators Carriage Services and Service Corporation International have had positive results, as far as stock price apprecition goes,  so far in 2025 while the other two members of the DCI, Matthews International and Security National Financial Corporation have seen their stock price drop during the year.  It’s difficult to know why, but both Matthews International and Security National Financial have other operations outside of Death Care which may be holding back their stock appreciation in what has been, as noticed by the stock index gains, a rather robust period for public stock investors.

Market Segments performance for YTD 2025 up to September 30.  Source:  LPL Research Factset

How About the Long-Term:  Just for the fun of it I went back to October 3, 2015, and looked at price appreciation (as recorded on Yahoo Finance) of the major indexes and also of the stocks that make up the Death Care Index.  If you had had $10,000 of either the index or a particular stock on October 3, 2015 and still held the index or stock, here’s what those indexes or stocks would be worth today (10/03/2025):

• Dow Jones Industrials Index:  $28,502
• Nasdaq Composite Index:  $50,780
• S&P 500 Index:  $34,992

And, here’s a chart of the Death Care Index values for the that hypothetical $10,000 investment as of October 3, 2015:

Related Information:

Disclaimer:  The author of this article for Funeral Director Daily is a shareholder of Service Corporation International, Carriage Services, and Security National Financial Corporation.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”