We all worry — probably too much.  We worry about finances, we worry about weather, we worry about our children.  Trust me, I think everybody worries a lot — like I said, probably too much.

Over the past week I’ve had a couple of experiences that have made me want to count my blessings — including the blessing of being a funeral director and serving those who mourn.

First of all, Angie and I attended for about the 4th time in our almost 40 years of marriage, the Holiday classic musical “White Christmas”.  One of the songs in that musical which dates back to the original 1954 Hollywood movie of the same name is titled “Count Your Blessings”.  And since we attended the play I can’t get the music and lyrics out of my head.  So that is one of the reasons I’m on this “count my blessings” theme.

To see and hear the original “Count Your Blessings” song performed by Bing Crosby from the 1954 musical “White Christmas” click here

And then last week, I encountered a 91-year old man, Gene, at the dental office waiting room.  I had not seen this man for a long time but he has farmed a small farm outside of our community and was a faithful member of one of the rural Catholic churches.  I went to school with one of his son’s, Mike, and in my first year of work back in 1981, I helped him in memorializing and burying his other son, Jeff, who died in an automobile accident on his graduation night.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Things have changed in our small town since that vehicle accident.  We’ve grown from a small community of about 6,000 residents to a much more suburban community of about 40,000.  There’s a lot of new people here and I think for a 91-year old widower life is really different and somewhat lonely.

What was uplifting to me was that as soon as he recognized me he formed a big smile.  I think he was excited to see someone he knew.  I don’t think that happens very often for him in our community any more.

I asked about Mike and how he was doing. . . .and, I told him I was old enough to remember Jeff, too.  He said, “I know. . . you helped us with the funeral.”  And, he continued by saying, “That will be 45 years ago next summer”.

I still have a hard time understanding family member clientele and how much they appreciate those that take care of their loved ones while we are “just doing our jobs”.  I simply continue to “Count My Blessings” that I was able to work in a profession where we have the ability to help people so much.

If you have worked on the front lines of funeral service like I did. . . .you know what I’m talking about.  The ability we have to “Make a Difference” in the lives of those we serve is incredible and becomes a “Blessing” of the job.  Don’t take it lightly.

So, this Holiday Season, don’t let worry get you down.  Remember to “Count Your Blessings” of family, freedom, opportunity, faith, finances, health. . . . and, your ability to work in a funeral service profession!!!

God Bless from Funeral Director Daily and enjoy the Holiday Season!!!!

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

It doesn’t matter what type of Death Care business your are in. . . funeral home, crematory, casket supplier, vault company, chemical company. . . . the odds are that you have seen your costs of business go up in the past four years — since inflation started creeping up sometime in 2021.

You probably have your thoughts on your sales prices of your products pretty well set for 2025, but what might near future inflation do to change that outlook?  Depending on which indicator you look at, “cumulative inflation” has increased prices over the past four years from 17-22%. . . . however, that number could continue to rise in the future if history is an indication.

What that “cumulative inflation” means, is if your input costs have went up on that same average, a funeral service that you charged $10,000 for in 2021 would have to be sold at $11,700 to $12,200 today simply to stay at the same profit levels.

This current wave of inflation hit its peak when in June 2022 prices were listed at 9.1% higher than at the same time in June of 2021  (See article and table).  Since that time we have seen a reduction in year over year inflation reaching down to a 2.7% level in November of 2024 as compared to November of 2023.  The goal is to reach a “healthy inflation” figure of around slightly over 2.0%.

Will we get there soon?  That remains to be seen, but I think the last miles of inflation reduction can be sticky. . . especially if this episode is anything like the last big episode in my life — which happened from about 1975 to about 1983.  And, there are a couple of things in common with that time period.  . such as a new Presidential administration promising tax cuts to Americans.

While we have made progress so far in the fight against inflation, please take a look at this graph from the 1975 episode which shows that after making progress for a while, inflation took off again.  That’s something that I hope we can avoid.

I think it is somewhat hard to get inflation to continue its downward trend when there are certain “late business increases” by government entities that may raise prices going forward.  In my opinion, government, being as big as it is and as methodical as it is, is sometimes behind the curves that happen in finances. . . . and that is a worrysome situation in my book.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

For instance, I just recieved notice that my local municipal utility will be increasing monthly facility charges at an 8.3% annual clip, and utility demand rates from 7.5% to 8.6% depending on useage amounts.  And, I’m guessing that I’ll have a property tax increase coming on board to help the city, county, and school district catch up to their inflationary costs also.

That’s about 4 times what experts say “healthy” inflation is. . . .and I think it is indicative of government finally catching up in raising income to meet already risen inflationary costs.  In my book, I believe that businesses have been adjusting price increases much faster and may be almost done doing so, but I also think that government increases are still to come.

So, my point is, while I think business, that can act quicker than government, is getting caught up to the recent past inflation, don’t be surprised if you see some inflationary increases that might surprise you coming from public sector entities. . ..

The great thing about being a small, independent business is that you have the ability to turn and manuever like you are riding a jet-ski rather than piloting an aircraft carrier.  It may be that in 2025 that pivoting skill will be necessary. . . .

Related Article — “Amid trade tensions and sticky inflation, Bryant expert shares U.S., global economic predictions for 2025.”  Bryant University – Bryant News  (RI)

Related Article — “Inflation slightly accelerated last month — here are the prices rising most.”  Bankrate.com

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