Eulogize Memorials Can Enhance Both Family Healing and Your Direct Cremation Revenue

More and more families are choosing direct cremation for a variety of reasons, but simplicity, affordability, and flexibility certainly top the list. It’s estimated that about 40% of U.S. families opted for a simple and straightforward direct cremation with no memorial service in 2024. But because this disposition option bypasses traditional rituals, families can sometimes feel emotionally unanchored or as if something is missing in the grieving process. Creating a memorial or tribute, even weeks or months later, can offer meaningful benefits to families choosing direct cremation. By offering these families access to Eulogize’s innovative and easy-to-use self-service platform, your funeral home can help families to grieve on their own terms, while at the same time enhancing your direct cremation revenue.

A win-win for families and providers

Pairing Eulogize’s self-service tribute creation option with direct cremation services is a strategy that’s already being proven successful by direct cremation providers across the country, says Eulogize co-founder Nick Kelly. 

“Our direct cremation partners wanted to have a way of offering a tribute and memorialization process to families,” Kelly shared in a recent interview with DISRUPT Media’s Ryan Thogmartin. “Offering families a single email link to create keepsakes like video books or photo albums can make quite a difference in post-cremation revenue.” 

The Eulogize platform was designed to enable people with any level of technical or creative expertise to produce beautiful, high-quality results. Users can start with professionally designed templates and choose from a growing number of personalization and product options from stunning slideshows to lovely leather-bound video books.

“These are beautiful meaningful pieces — not the kind of stuff that will be thrown away,” Kelly adds. “They’re personalized and unique to each family, and they help to tell their story and continue that memory.”

Grief and healing have no timetable

Direct cremation doesn’t mean skipping grief, and it doesn’t have to mean skipping tribute. By decoupling the cremation from the memorial, families gain time, space, and creative freedom to honor their loved one in a way that feels right to them. In fact, grief experts have reached out to the Eulogize team to discuss the incredibly beneficial cathartic effects of families working together to memorialize a loved one.

Whether tribute creation happens immediately after a loss or continues for months, the therapeutic benefits are undeniable. When you give your direct cremation families self-service access to the Eulogize platform, you also give them: 

• Space for intentional grief and reflection, making room for emotions that might otherwise be overlooked when there’s no service;
• Opportunities reconnect with loved ones who may have missed the chance to say goodbye and share their stories;
• A way to shift focus from a person’s death to the value of their life by honoring their personality, values, and achievements;
• Freedom to design an authentic and comforting memorial to suit their loved one’s unique character or passions without the pressure or timeline of a traditional service;
• A ritual that marks an emotional transition and closure — something they may miss with direct cremation;
• Tangible digital and physical pieces that keep a loved one’s memory alive and supports long-term remembrance they can return to over time; and, perhaps most importantly, 
• A catalyst for healthy mourning that gives people permission to feel, remember, and speak openly about their loss.

“The process of going through those photos can be a beautiful moment,” Kelly says. “Families can look back on someone’s life and find the anecdotes and the quotes and things to include in the tributes. Without a platform like Eulogize, this could be a huge task, but we can make that process easy and simple so they can focus on telling their loved one’s story.”

Personalize what you provide

The limitations of direct cremation often leave deathcare professionals little opportunity to do what you do best — provide professional care and personalized service. The Eulogize platform allows you to extend the scope of your support well beyond disposition. Even though you’re giving families access to the Eulogize portal to work at their own pace, the Eulogize team and your own staff will be available to answer questions and provide oversight on their projects. If you prefer for your team to be more involved in the creation process, you can always turn off some of the self-service features.

“You personalize how you work with people,” Kelly says. “I believe that Eulogize is offering you another way to personalize your level of service, not just in a creative sense, but in an engagement and interaction sense.”

Best of all, because Eulogize can be hosted through your funeral home’s digital assets, anyone collaborating in the tribute creation process or viewing the finished product will be visiting your website and driving highly valuable traffic numbers and providing ongoing lead generation opportunities. 

It’s easy to add access to the Eulogize platform to both your direct cremation packages and your traditional deathcare services. To learn more about Eulogize, book a complimentary demo with the team or reach out via the Eulogize website. 

Going to CANA’s 107th Cremation Innovation Convention next week? Add Booth 49 to your agenda and stop by for a one-on-one chat with Nick Kelly and a Eulogize demo!

Heritage Family Partners with Tribute Technology to  Enhance Digital Growth and Succession Success 

May 13, 2025 – Heritage Family, a premier succession planning company that helps funeral home owners navigate ownership transitions, is excited to announce a new strategic partnership with Tribute Technology, the leader in websites and digital solutions for the funeral profession. As the first step in this collaboration, all 66 websites for Heritage Family locations have been moved to the Tribute Technology platform, providing enhanced digital solutions for funeral homes across the network. 

With this transition, each Heritage Family location now benefits from Tribute Technology’s modern,  mobile-responsive website designs, integrated tools, and an improved user experience, enabling funeral homes to better serve families and connect with their communities. 

“We are thrilled to begin this partnership with Tribute Technology to help empower the firms we support with the best technology available to serve families,” said Lindsey Granson, Executive Operations, Sales & Marketing Leader at Heritage Family. “The designs Tribute offered us help to set us apart in the market, and the onboarding and training of our field team was seamless. Our firms have already seen increases in SEO and revenue from the websites launched on the Tribute  platform.” 

Courtney Gould Miller, President, Commercial Markets at Tribute Technology, added, “We’re  honored to be the digital foundation for Heritage Family and the incredible firms they support. This partnership is about more than just websites — it’s about helping local funeral homes thrive and  grow, giving them the tools they need to stay connected and lead as digital brands in their  communities.”

Looking ahead, Heritage Family will also transition to Tribute Management Software. This all-in-one  platform will streamline funeral home operations by combining case management, collaboration tools, document handling, and reporting, all while integrating seamlessly with other Tribute Technology services. 

This strategic partnership marks a significant step forward in supporting Heritage Family’s mission to  ensure funeral homes continue to succeed through thoughtful succession planning, digital innovation, and exceptional service. 

About Heritage Family: Heritage Family offers a succession planning alternative backed by more than 80 years of experience acquiring and supporting service-minded funeral homes. Heritage is committed to honoring the traditions, staff, and values each firm brings, while continuing the legacy its owners have built in their communities. 

About Tribute Technology: Tribute Technology is dedicated to empowering funeral professionals with best-in-class technology solutions. Serving over 9,000 end-of-life providers worldwide, Tribute  Technology’s innovative software and services—including website platforms, marketing solutions,  management software, online planning, memorial keepsakes, and payment processing—help funeral  professionals save time and focus on supporting families. Learn more at www.tributetech.com. 

Heritage Family Partners with Tribute Technology to Enhance Digital Growth and Succession Success

May 13, 2025 – Heritage Family, a premier succession planning company that helps funeral home owners navigate ownership transitions, is excited to announce a new strategic partnership with Tribute Technology, the leader in websites and digital solutions for the funeral profession. As the first step in this collaboration, all 66 websites for Heritage Family locations have been moved to the Tribute Technology platform, providing enhanced digital solutions for funeral homes across the network. 

With this transition, each Heritage Family location now benefits from Tribute Technology’s modern, mobile-responsive website designs, integrated tools, and an improved user experience, enabling funeral homes to better serve families and connect with their communities. 

“We are thrilled to begin this partnership with Tribute Technology to help empower the firms we support with the best technology available to serve families,” said Lindsey Granson, Executive Operations, Sales & Marketing Leader at Heritage Family. “The designs Tribute offered us help to set us apart in the market, and the onboarding and training of our field team was seamless. Our firms have already seen increases in SEO and revenue from the websites launched on the Tribute platform.” 

Courtney Gould Miller, President, Commercial Markets at Tribute Technology, added, “We’re honored to be the digital foundation for Heritage Family and the incredible firms they support. This partnership is about more than just websites — it’s about helping local funeral homes thrive and grow, giving them the tools they need to stay connected and lead as digital brands in their communities.” 

Looking ahead, Heritage Family will also transition to Tribute Management Software in late March. This all-in-one platform will streamline funeral home operations by combining case management, collaboration tools, document handling, and reporting, all while integrating seamlessly with other Tribute Technology services. 

This strategic partnership marks a significant step forward in supporting Heritage Family’s mission to ensure funeral homes continue to succeed through thoughtful succession planning, digital innovation, and exceptional service. 

About Heritage Family: Heritage Family offers a succession planning alternative backed by more than 80 years of experience acquiring and supporting service-minded funeral homes. Heritage is committed to honoring the traditions, staff, and values each firm brings, while continuing the legacy its owners have built in their communities. 

About Tribute Technology: Tribute Technology is dedicated to empowering funeral professionals with best-in-class technology solutions. Serving over 9,000 end-of-life providers worldwide, Tribute Technology’s innovative software and services—including website platforms, marketing solutions, management software, online planning, memorial keepsakes, and payment processing—help funeral professionals save time and focus on supporting families. Learn more at www.tributetech.com. For more information, please contact:

Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary Partners with Tukios to Enhance Services for Los Angeles Families

Los Angeles, California – Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary has partnered with Tukios, a leader in funeral home technology, to introduce innovative digital tools that streamline operations and enhance the funeral planning experience for families.

Tukios collaborated closely with Hillside to create a modern, user-friendly website that simplifies the arrangement process while maintaining the funeral home’s high standards of service.

“Tukios took the time to understand our needs rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution,” said Rafael Ochoa, General Manager at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary. “From a custom-built website to digital tools that streamline operations, they delivered solutions that truly work for us.”

A key feature of the partnership is what Tukios is calling the “Floral Catalog,” which allows funeral directors to order family flowers directly from local florists during an arrangement conference. This eliminates the need for physical catalogs and manual coordination, giving families real-time access to pricing and selections while ensuring floral costs are seamlessly included in service arrangements.

“We asked for a way to help families select floral arrangements as part of funeral planning, and Tukios delivered with a built-in wholesale flower store that simplifies ordering and expense management,” said Scott Ankerholz, a consultant assisting Hillside in the site development. Additionally, Hillside has implemented Tukios’ AI Obituary Writer, which assists funeral directors in crafting structured, thoughtful obituaries efficiently.

“Instead of starting from scratch, our directors can generate a well-structured obituary and tailor it to the family’s wishes, saving time while maintaining professionalism,” Ochoa explained. “This collaboration demonstrates how funeral directors and technology providers can develop meaningful, practical solutions that improve efficiency and enhance the family experience,” Ochoa concluded.

Both the Floral Catalog and updated website reflect Hillside Memorial Park’s commitment to leveraging technology to better serve families, reinforcing its dedication to excellence.

About Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary

Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary, located in Los Angeles, California, has been dedicated to serving families with dignity and compassion for decades, providing personalized funeral and memorial services.

About Tukios

Tukios is a leading technology provider in the funeral industry, offering innovative software solutions that streamline operations and enhance the funeral planning process.

Cadence Integrates with ASD to Enhance Funeral Directors’ Aftercare Services

Cadence is excited to announce a new partnership with ASD – Answering Service for Directors to help funeral directors support families with continuing care, including estate settlement and grief support. This new integration will allow mutual clients of ASD and Cadence to seamlessly transfer data between ASD’s answering service system and Cadence’s Executor Assistant. By enabling funeral directors to securely transfer client information gathered by ASD during intake calls into Cadence’s continuing care software, this collaboration simplifies the administrative process for funeral directors, ensuring a smooth, hassle-free activation.

ASD is the leading answering service dedicated exclusively to the funeral profession, providing customized communication solutions to funeral homes across North America. With a deep understanding of the industry’s sensitive needs, ASD ensures compassionate, reliable, and efficient call support 24/7. 

Cadence is a trusted aftercare solution for funeral homes across North America, providing secure estate tools, identity theft protection, personalized executor guidance, and compassionate grief support. With Cadence’s comprehensive offerings, families gain peace of mind on their post-loss journey, while funeral professionals are empowered to strengthen their services and grow their business.

Established in 2011, ASD’s FuneralSync™ program allows funeral home software companies to integrate directly with ASD’s system, enabling information to be synched and automatically transferred between programs. Cadence is the first and only FuneralSync™ partner that offers an innovative aftercare solution for funeral homes. With a growing number of families needing assistance with the estate settlement process and accessible grief support, this integration represents a significant step toward streamlining post-funeral responsibilities for both funeral professionals and the families they serve. 

“By bridging the gap between initial call intake and estate management, ASD and Cadence are empowering funeral directors to offer a more comprehensive level of care while saving valuable time,” shared ASD Sales Team Member and Third-Generation Family Representative, Joey Kelley. “This integration ensures that families can begin the estate settlement process with ease, reinforcing the funeral home’s role as a trusted resource during a challenging time.”

The partnership between Cadence and ASD is only the beginning of a long-term collaboration designed to enhance support for funeral professionals. With plans to expand their offerings and deepen their integration, they are committed to delivering innovative solutions that serve both funeral homes and the families they support.

“We are incredibly proud to partner with ASD, a true cornerstone in the funeral profession, whose decades of unwavering support to funeral homes have made a lasting impact.” says Rachel Drew, Founder and CEO of Cadence, “This integration is more than just a technical connection; it’s a powerful time-saving solution that frees up funeral directors to focus on what matters most: serving families with care and compassion. Together, we’re not only simplifying today’s workflows, but laying the groundwork for ongoing innovation that supports the profession for years to come.”

About Cadence

Cadence is a digital aftercare service, supplemented with one-to-one human support. Partnering with deathcare businesses to implement or enhance a continuation of care model, the platform is trusted to support families with the logistical and emotional challenges that come after a loss. By offering both estate administration guidance and grief support, Cadence raises the bar with a holistic approach to meet the needs of the modern consumer. For further information, visit https://www.cadenceco.com/ or book a free consultation with a Cadence representative here.

About ASD

ASD – Answering Service for Directors has created a new class of answering service for the funeral profession. Family owned and operated since 1972, ASD blends state-of-the-art technology with an extensive, 6-month training program focusing on compassionate care. The company’s custom-built communication systems and sophisticated mobile tools were designed solely to meet the needs of funeral professionals. By offering funeral directors unmatched protection for their calls, ASD has redefined the role of an answering service for funeral homes.  For more information, visit www.myASD.com or call 1-800-868-9950.

Foundation Partners Group Forms New Advisory Board to Enhance Strategic Growth and Community Impact

WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 3, 2025) – In one of his first actions as leader of the second largest provider of funeral services in the United States, Foundation Partners Group CEO John D. Smith today announced the creation of a new Community Advisory Board to help guide the company’s leadership team during a pivotal time of growth and transformation.

Smith, who was named Foundation Partners CEO in January, has dedicated his career to building innovative consumer experiences and transforming legacy business models across multiple industries. As Chairman and CEO of Icon Parking, he was named the National Parking Association’s Innovator of the Year in 2023 for leveraging digital technology to significantly improve the customer experience and produce major efficiencies and cost savings for Icon.

The new advisory board underscores Smith’s commitment to balancing innovation with the deeply rooted traditions of funeral service, as he builds on the company’s strong foundation to ensure that families receive compassionate care and modern end-of-life solutions. His ability to implement strategic initiatives, optimize operations and build high-performing teams has consistently delivered measurable results.

“Our mission is to bring ease and comfort to families,” Smith said. “That’s why our first three Community Advisory Board members are former funeral business owners, who represent the best in service to families. They are smart, creative problem solvers who have proven track records of success. Their advice and counsel will be invaluable as we look to accelerate performance and bring our local funeral homes, cemeteries and direct-to-consumer cremation providers together with modern tools and resources to make the end-of-life experience as easy as possible for families we serve.”

Advisory board members include:

Mark Krause, a fourth-generation funeral director and former president of Krause Funeral Homes & Cremation Services in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Krause is a nationally recognized leader and educator, who built an innovative portfolio of businesses designed to provide services to families across a wide spectrum of needs from high-touch, traditional services to simple direct cremation.

Kevin Waterston, a recognized cremation pioneer who, along with his brother, founded the Cremation Society of Minnesota in 1980 to complement the services of his family’s Minneapolis funeral home. Over the next 30-plus years, the Waterstons grew the business to five locations, becoming the leading provider of cremation services in Minnesota.

Rick Tuss, a licensed funeral director and former co-owner of Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home, Cemetery & Crematory in Punta Gorda, Florida. From 2012 to 2019, Tuss and his partner modernized and grew the business based on a culture of caring with a strong emphasis on community involvement.

“By concentrating on best practices, emerging opportunities and an expanded vision for the future, we will begin our next chapter of innovation, excellence and service. Looking ahead, we also see this board as an opportunity to draw on the experience of innovative thinkers from other areas of the end-of-life planning and care community — a community that has expanded far beyond traditional funeral service to all aspects of ending well,” Smith said.

About Foundation Partners Group 

Winter Park, Florida-based Foundation Partners Group is one of the industry’s most innovative providers of funeral services and the second-largest funeral home group in the country based on the number of families served. Foundation Partners owns and operates a network of over 250 funeral homes, cremation centers and cemeteries across 21 states. Our deep understanding of technology and customer experience-centered approach allows us to deliver truly innovative and compassionate care to the families we serve. Visit www.foundationpartners.com to learn more. 

Pictured above (l-r): Mark Krause, Rick Tuss, and Kevin Waterston

Elevia Announces Exciting New Features that Enhance their Consumer Experience and Aftercare Services

Highland, Utah – Elevia, a trusted leader in aftercare and consumer experience services, is proud to announce the launch of three significant new enhancements to its core product offerings. These updates reflect Elevia’s ongoing commitment to meaningful connections with families and communities while providing businesses with the tools to deepen their relationships with the families they serve..

After a highly successful rebrand earlier this year, Elevia has resonated with numerous business owners by staying true to its core values of human connection and support. These exciting new enhancements are designed to continue that momentum, providing new opportunities for businesses to grow and elevate the level of care they offer grieving families.

1. Co-Branded Grief Resource Website through ForGrief.com

Elevia is introducing a co-branded, password-protected website through its ForGrief.com platform, designed to provide grieving families with free, valuable resources on behalf of their partnered funeral homes. With this powerful feature, Elevia partnered funeral professionals can customize the site with a password of its choice, allowing members of their community to access grief support content at no cost.

“Offering this co-branded experience allows funeral homes to provide more than just a service—they can now extend compassionate support beyond the funeral, forging deeper connections with families,” said Jon Lefrandt, CEO of Elevia. “This will not only strengthen relationships but will also amplify the funeral home’s brand as a trusted resource within their community.”

This personalized resource positions funeral homes as leaders in compassionate care, helping them build long-lasting relationships with families while providing essential support during the grieving process.

2. Estate Settlement Solution in Partnership with Alix

Elevia is thrilled to partner with Alix, the first and only comprehensive, expert-led service that handles the entire estate settlement process for families. This new offering addresses a significant gap in aftercare by providing much-needed assistance to families navigating the often complex and costly process of settling an estate.

“We are proud to introduce this solution in partnership with Alix, bringing families expert support to manage the overwhelming burden of estate settlement,” said Jon Lefrandt. “This offering not only provides peace of mind to families but also enhances our partners’ relationships with their clients, positioning them as a beacon of support.”

With Alix’s combination of cutting-edge technology and human-led service, families can now access a trusted partner to manage everything from discovering assets to selling property—ensuring transparency and accuracy throughout the process.

3. Partnership with Qualtrics to Elevate Customer Experience

Elevia is excited to announce its new partnership with Qualtrics, a world-renowned consumer experience survey company that has worked with leading brands such as Delta, American Express, Porsche, and Anthropologie. Now, Elevia brings this top-tier survey and analytic tool directly to its end-of-life clients through the Elevia Dashboard.

“This partnership with Qualtrics allows our clients to access industry-leading survey design and analytics tools, giving them the ability to track and improve the customer experience in real-time,” said Jon Lefrandt. “With tools like AI-powered text analytics and personalized survey logic, funeral homes can quickly identify and address experience gaps—ultimately driving stronger customer relationships and business growth.”

Through this collaboration, Elevia clients can build fully customizable surveys, consolidate data in one unified dashboard, and prioritize key drivers to enhance the customer journey at every touchpoint.

A Commitment to Innovation and Growth

“At Elevia, we are always looking for ways to improve our offerings and meet the evolving needs of the families we serve,” said Jon Lefrandt. “With the introduction of these new features—our co-branded website for grief support, the Alix estate settlement solution, and the Qualtrics customer experience tools—we’re providing security, comfort, and actionable insights, all while helping our clients grow their businesses.”

About Elevia

Elevia is a leader in aftercare services, providing personalized support and resources to grieving families and the businesses that serve them. By focusing on meaningful human connection, Elevia helps funeral homes and other end-of-life professionals build trust, strengthen relationships, and enhance their positive impact within the communities they serve.

For more information about Elevia and its new features, please visit Elevia.com or reach out to our client success team at hello@elevia.com