Over the last couple of decades there arises every once in a while the idea that the Walt Disney Company should get into some of the businesses that funeral home operators and cemetery operators specialize in.  That’s recently been in the news again.

I first really thought about Disney and Death Care about a decade ago when a small funeral home and cemetery operating company with about 50 locations at the time hired an ex-hospitality industry executive as President and CEO.  It probably didn’t hurt the Disney thought process that the company, Foundation Partners Group (FPG), was headquartered in Orlando, Florida, — the home of DisneyWorld.

That executive, Brad Rex, had the belief that funeral directors “need to focus on storytelling and creating unique, meaningful experiences to celebrate those who have passed” according to this dated press release from FPG.  I don’t think Rex was wrong with that philosophy, but I think it has taken much more than that thought to move the needle on who and why consumers choose as providers for the services that they purchase.

Quite frankly, I think a lot of Rex’s philosophy has been adopted by the American funeral home operators but we have also learned that death care choices and decisions are much more complicated than just learning how to “tell the story”.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Recently Funeral Director Daily has written stories about permanent memorialization and the options for such.  We’ve actually taken the tact that there are a lot of options for permanent memorialization that include cemeteries, but also include other options as well.  One of the facts that has came to light about memorialization “place” is that many people would like to be memorialized in a place that brings them happiness or good memories.  To that end we wrote this story about a University of Nebraska board member who proposed putting a columbarium within the University of Nebraska football stadium.

That leads us to tell you about the Disney-oriented publication “All Ears” and a this recent article that asks why doesn’t Disney offer columbarium space and “The Disney Magic” for celebration services.  One funeral director makes this statement in the All Ears article, “People would pay probably a large sum of money if they put a private niche somewhere on the property, whether it’s Cinderella Castle wall or something. That could be a real moneymaker for them.”

According to this article a lot of people think Disney World is the “Best Place on Earth”. . . . . so some people are asking, “Why not let us spend eternity at the Best Place on Earth”?

I could be wrong, but I don’t think that funeral services and memorial space options will be on the agenda at Disney Corporation board meetings anytime soon. . . .

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

Selected’s 2024 Annual Meeting at Disney Delivers the Magic of Connection

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — October 8, 2024 — More than 400 members and guests of Selected Independent Funeral Homes gathered at Disney’s Grand Floridian Convention Center and virtually for the 2024 Annual Meeting held September 25–28. The association’s premier event connected leaders from around the world and celebrated “The Magic of Connection.”

Magic was in the air as the event launched with the Welcome Celebration. Participants reconnected with friends and made new acquaintances over dinner, drinks and an exclusive photo shoot with Disney^® characters.

Throughout the meeting, dynamic speakers highlighted relevant topics ranging from personnel management, organizational culture development, change management, funeral home merchandising and the future of funeral service.

In the session, “Maximize Your Leadership: Navigating the Five Types of People,” keynote Dr. Sherene McHenry, The People IQ Expert, helped participants adjust their leadership strategies based on the five common traits of the individuals on their teams.

In “The Trust Imperative: Bridging Divides for a Culture of Belonging and Organizational Effectiveness,” Desmond Lomax of the Arbinger Institute led participants to explore actionable insights on what is and isn’t working to build trust and belonging within their businesses.

Panel discussions featured Selected Members sharing guidance and proven practices in ownership succession to family members or key employees as well as tactics to recruit and retain top staff talent. This year’s event featured multiple “Members-Only Exchange” sessions and “Conversation Café” presentations from Selected Preferred Partners.

Lunch became the most important meal of the day for members of Selected’s four Communities as they dined together. Sponsors of Selected’s FirstGen and Funeral Home + Cemetery Management Communities shared presentations tailored to each group’s needs and members discussed pressing issues with their peers. Selected thanks Community Sponsors Full-Circle Aftercare, Kelco and PlotBox.

Selected inducted new Board Officers during the meeting. Tom Antram of French Funerals & Cremations will serve as President and John Keohane of Keohane Funeral Home will serve as Board Chair. New Board members Brad Pingel of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors, Inc. and Dan Kochapski of Carmon Community Funeral Homes were inducted into their leadership roles as well.

In addition, Selected recognized five firms for 75 years of continuous membership:

• W.L. Case & Co. – Saginaw, Mich.
• Jones Funeral Home, Inc. – Winchester, Va.
• Penzien & Steele Funeral Home, Inc. – Bay City, Mich.
• Rader Funeral Home, Inc. – Kilgore, Texas
• Turner & Porter Funeral Directors – Toronto, Canada

The following firms celebrated 50 years of continuous membership:

• Hauger-Zeigler Funeral Home – Somerset, Pa.
• Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, Inc. – Methuen, Mass.
• Striffler Family Funeral Homes . . . Since 1866 – McKeesport, Pa.

The 2025 Annual Meeting will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, September 28–October 1, 2025. For more information on Selected’s meetings, programs, becoming a member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes or to locate a member, visit selectedfuneralhomes.org or call 800-323-4219.

About Selected Independent Funeral Homes: Selected Independent Funeral Homes  delivers innovative and pertinent resources, solutions and ongoing support necessary for enduring excellence to its international network of independently owned death care providers who aspire to be the very best in their profession. Members of Selected operate according to specific standards and best practices to provide the public with reliable, high-quality service and funeral-related information.