Everstory Partners, who may be the nation’s 2nd largest Death Care provider by serving over 65,000 families per year, recently announced completed renovations at their Cedar Hill Funeral Home just outside Washington, DC.  This press release from Everstory will give you more information on the recent transformation at the funeral home that serves about 1,400 families per year.

According to the press release, “Everstory Partners is transforming its funeral homes to emphasize hospitality and comfort for families.”

Again, according to the press release, “Everstory Partners’ mission is to create supportive spaces where individuals and families can find solace, meaning, and hope in the midst of loss. Since 1999, the company has grown to include 463 cemetery, funeral, and crematory locations serving more than 65,000 families a year across the United States (including Puerto Rico) on both a pre-need and at-need basis.”

Here is the website for Cedar Hills Funeral Home and Cemetery.

Here is the website for Everstory Partners.

LIlly Donohue
Everstory CEO

A Little History — You may recall that Everstory Partners grew out of the public company funeral home and cemetery operator StoneMor Partners that was taken private by Axar Capital Management in November 2022.  About a year later, the company re-branded as Everstory Partners.  Andrew Axelrod was the principal behind Axar Capital Management and today serves as the Chairman of the Board of Everstory Partners.  The day-to-day operations have been led by President and Chief Executive Officer Lilly Donohue since the take private movement in 2022.

The “Quiet Company” — If you Google “the quiet company” you will come up with at least one result that mentions Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance company who branded that way at one time.  Google’s definition of “the quiet company” said this, “formerly Northwestern Mutual, a financial giant noted for its understated, trust-focused approach.”

Northwestern Mutual has re-branded with a bolder approach than being the “quiet company” but I remember that moniker because I used Northwestern Mutual as the cornerstone of my financial holdings when I started in business over 40 years ago.  There is no doubt that they were understated, but financially strong with great ideas and avenues for their clients.

I bring this up because when I checked up on Everstory Partners I was very impressed with what I have seen in the past three years as to the development of the company . . . .and I had not heard much about what they were doing.  Here’s a brief video of Everstory Partners being featured on Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid that will give you some insight on how they have been rebuilding the company since the take private moment.

Like Northwestern Mutual, I could not help but think that Everstory Partners is restoring an “understated and trust-focused” approach to what they are doing. . . . and, that should bode well for them moving into the future.

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

Pappy Pours & Funeral Theory | 4M #220

Welcome to the two-hundred-and-twentieth edition of Morticians’ Monday Morning Mashup, 4M #220, where we’ll serve up bite-sized, easily-digestible nuggets of the deathcare news you need to crush conversations in the week ahead. Bon appetit!

Not the Pappy!!

Bourbon enthusiasts are up in arms about a recent episode of Paramount’s Landman drama series — and some of us get it. We’ll be a bit vague to avoid spoiling the plot, but basically, in this episode a recently widowed character, played by Demi Moore, visits her late husband’s grave on their wedding anniversary — and pours out a bottle of his beloved Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Family Reserve on the plot. This is a bottle so rare and revered that it boasts a $4,000-plus price tag on the secondary market … and now it’s gone. 

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Deathcare docket

Yes, it’s back again this week. We would say “enjoy …” but no one enjoys this kind of news:

• New allegations have surfaced in the ongoing investigation of a Houston funeral home owner. A new search warrant alleges “possible fraud and tampering with a corpse.” This is on top of charges of operating without a license and forgery.
• The former manager of the Harvard Medical School morgue and his wife who were charged with stealing and selling body parts that were donated to the school for research were both sentenced last week. The husband will spend eight years in prison, while his wife, who “assisted” him in this nasty and horrific business, was sentenced to just over one year.
• The Hallfords, another husband and wife team who have absolutely no regard or respect for the sanctity of human remains, agreed to plea deals to state charges last week. Jon and Carrie Hallford, who let 190 bodies decompose at their Return to Nature facility in Penrose, Colorado in 2023, may spend 25 to 50 years in prison if the judge accepts the deals. Families are calling for nearly 200-year sentences — one year for each of the bodies they mishandled.

But there’s some good news, too!

Not all news is negative when it comes to deathcare and the legal system this week. A South Dakota funeral home and one of its directors recently faced a lawsuit by a deceased man’s biological daughter alleging the funeral home violated state law by prioritizing stepchildren’ wishes over hers for her father’s burial, causing emotional distress. However, last week a federal jury sided with the funeral home and director, finding they were not liable, as they argued the director followed the decedent’s perceived wishes and the daughter’s estrangement from her father.

Thanks again, TikTok.

Don’t you love it (she writes sarcastically) when a member of the younger generation “invents” something that actually isn’t that new? (Looking at you, girl who says she brought the “new” trend of pinch-rolled jeans to the US from France.) So, “Funeral theory” is now making the rounds on TikTok. Basically, the viral post explains that “at the average funeral, only ten people cry,” so why should you spend your whole life trying to please others? Even the Today Show picked this up. First of all, where did that stat come from? (Probably not the NFDA.) Also, if everyone were to think this way, wouldn’t it make people be less kind to each other? 

It’s not that unusual

Mental Floss published a list of “12 Strange & Unique Colleges” last week — and a mortuary school was number one. Now, the fact that a school specializes in preparing individuals for a very legitimate and highly respected career is included in a list of colleges where clothing is optional (Reed College in Portland, Oregon), meditation is expected (Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado), or undergrads are assigned more than 200 classical texts (St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland) is kind of weird. Other schools on the list include a “cannabis college” where students learn the growing (lol) business side of marijuana, an Italian school that educates fledgling gelato producers, and a tattoo institute. The future is bright, my friends.

Funeral Service Foundation Invests $90,000 in Future Funeral Service Professionals

Recipients represent 15 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces, and 18 funeral service programs.

Brookfield, Wisconsin – Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the Funeral Service Foundation awarded 31 academic scholarships this fall totaling $90,000 to students across North America. Recipients hail from 15 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces and attend 18 funeral service programs, showcasing the wide reach of the Foundation’s commitment to supporting future professionals.

“Our scholarship program is an investment in the future of funeral service,” said Jeff Smith, Chair of the Funeral Service Foundation. “These students represent the next generation of leaders who will serve families with compassion and professionalism. We are proud to support their education and help them succeed in this meaningful career.”

Since awarding its first academic scholarship in 2002, the Foundation has expanded its program to include multiple named scholarships that honor and memorialize influential funeral service professionals and organizations.

This fall’s awards included the inaugural Tom Johnson Scholarship, honoring the legacy of Tom Johnson, a respected leader and advocate in the funeral service profession. Johnson was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Award in 2024, and donations from across the profession helped memorialize him through this scholarship.  

In total, the Foundation awarded 31 scholarships, which included 20 named scholarships, nine Foundation ’45 scholarships honoring the founding year of the Funeral Service Foundation, and two scholarships awarded to military veterans through the Journey to Serve initiative, in partnership with the ICCFA Educational Foundation.

The Foundation’s academic scholarship program runs in two annual cycles – spring and fall. The next application window is February 15 – April 1.

Academic Scholarship Fall Class of 2025:

Foundation ’45 Scholarship | $5,000

• Katy Bernard, Lubbock, Texas (Southern Illinois University – Mortuary Science and Funeral Service)
• Tess Martin, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (Canadian College of Funeral Service)

Foundation ’45 Scholarship | $5,000

• Lilly Meade, Englewood, Colorado (Arapahoe Community College – Mortuary Science Program)
• Amber Revelt, Parma, Ohio (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science) 
• Jenifer Williams, Hoschton, Georgia (Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service)

APFSP/Fitzgerald Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

• Mallory Brown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science)

Bob Horn Scholarship | $2,500

• Jasmine Yang, St. Louis, Missouri (St. Louis Community College at Forest Park – Funeral Service Education)

CANA/Jack Springer Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

• Samia Craft, Castle Rock, Colorado (Arapahoe Community College – Mortuary Science Program) 

Foundation ’45 Scholarship | $2,500

• Amy Burr, Grovetown, Georgia (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science)
• Rane Halloran, Frederick, Maryland (Community College of Baltimore County-Catonsville – Mortuary Science Program)
• Thiago Nielsen, Millcreek, Utah (Salt Lake Community College – Mortuary Science Program)
• Riley Roldan, Loveland, Ohio (Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science)

Funeral Directors Life Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

• Jody Bryant, Statesboro, Georgia (Ogeechee Technical College – Funeral Service Education)

John Carmon Scholarship | $2,500

• Robin Warren, Danville, Virginia (Brightpoint Community College – Funeral Services Program)

Joseph E. Hagan Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

• Lauren Kreuser, Mayville, Wisconsin (Milwaukee Area Technical College-West Campus – Funeral Service Program)

Louis & Josephine Pontone Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

• Melissa Varghese, Macomb Township, Michigan (Wayne State University – Mortuary Science Program)

Memorial Classic Scholarship | $2,500

• Sydney Dietz, Morris, Minnesota (University of Minnesota – Program of Mortuary Science)
• Charae Kiplin, Loganville, Georgia (Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service)
• Wayne Latimer Jr., Tulsa, Oklahoma (Dallas Institute of Funeral Service)
• Ansley Williams, Lincoln, Nebraska (Des Moines Area Community College – Mortuary Science Program)

NGL – Harry Pontone Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

• Karen Coles, Gainesville, Florida (Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service)
• Jena Thompson, Herrin, Illinois (Southern Illinois University – Mortuary Science and Funeral Service)

NGL – Mark Hornibrook Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

• Arianna Roland, Springfield, Ohio (Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science)
• Nicolette Roether, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada (Canadian College of Funeral Service)

Shipley Rose Buckner Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

• Azuree McGee, Nashville, Ohio (Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service)

Steve Lang Scholarship (Homesteaders) | $2,500.00

• Lindsey Vatter, New Castle, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science)

Steve Mack Memorial Scholarship | $2,500.00

• Charell Valentine, Munhall, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science)

Todd Van Beck Memorial Scholarship | $2,500.00

• Carly Moran, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada (Canadian College of Funeral Service)

Tom Johnson Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

• Wesley Manning, Leesville, Louisiana (Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service)

Academic Scholarship for Veterans:

The Funeral Service Foundation, in partnership with the ICCFA Educational Foundation, offers academic scholarships to United States and Canadian military veterans, as part of the Journey to Serve initiative. Offered twice a year, scholarships range from $2,500-$5,000 and are available to military veterans who are 18 years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled (or accepted into) in an ABFSE-accredited funeral service program. Learn more about the Journey to Serve at www.JourneyToServe.com.

Journey to Serve Scholarship | $5,000

• Monica Weisfeld, Mount Prospect, Illinois (Worsham College of Mortuary Science)

Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

• Mark Biolo, Lakeville, Minnesota (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science) 

In Their Words:
In their own words, scholarship recipients express what this support means to them as they prepare to serve their communities through funeral service.

“I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for selecting me as a recipient of the 2025 Fall Military Academic Scholarship. As a veteran Navy Officer pursuing a vocation in mortuary science, this scholarship is much more than financial assistance – it is an affirmation of my commitment to continue to serve others in a new and most important way.”

• Mark Biolo, Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Scholar

“Your investment in my education enhances my capacity to enter the field prepared, self-assured and determined to provide compassionate care.”

• Samia Craft, CANA/Jack Springer Scholar

“I am truly grateful for the sense of community within funeral service and for generous people like yourselves who continue to encourage and uplift the next generation of funeral professionals.”

• Sydney Dietz, Memorial Classic Scholar

“I am in my second year of apprenticeship in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where my love of funeral service has blossomed. Over my last year of study, I have been eager to learn, listen and be a part of this ever-growing professional community. I am proud to be a student of the Canadian College of Funeral Service, where I have been able to hone many necessary skills for both my funeral directing and embalming licenses.

Through my work in funeral service, I have had the honor of caring for the bereaved and their loved ones, learning how to best assist and meet the needs of different families. Receiving this scholarship will allow me to continue pursuing a career I am passionate about, and this investment in my education and future goals will not be forgotten.”

• Tess Martin, Foundation ’45 Scholar

“Being rewarded with this scholarship demonstrates that I am achieving my goals, manifesting the life that I have always dreamed of, and following a career path that I was always meant to follow. The scholarship money also allows me to focus more on being a funeral director apprentice, a student a partner and a mom to my wonderful daughter.”

• Amber Revelt, Foundation ’45 Scholar

“Thank you so much for this extraordinary gift to help me pursue my calling as a funeral director and embalmer. When I embarked on this journey, I knew it would be challenging – funeral service is my second career and meant starting over in many ways. But every day I spend working with families affirms for me – with absolute certainty – this is where I’m supposed to be.”

• Jasmine Yang, Bob Horn Scholar

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS OR FUNDED NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS OR OPENING SOON:

LINKS

ABOUT THE FUNERAL SERVICE FOUNDATION – FuneralServiceFoundation.org
Since 1945, the Funeral Service Foundation has served as the philanthropic voice of the funeral profession and has identified as the charitable arm of the National Funeral Directors Association since 1997. Donors and volunteer leaders profession-wide support the Foundation in its mission of lifting up grieving communities by investing in people and programs that strengthen funeral service.

Batesville Launches Webinar Series on the Future of the Funeral Home Experience 

Batesville, Ind – January 18, 2025 – Batesville, a leading provider of burial, cremation, and technology solutions in North America, announced a three-part educational webinar series designed to help funeral professionals adapt to changing consumer expectations, enhance the in-person experience, and expand family choice through personalization and merchandising solutions. 

The live webinar series, taking place in January, February, and March 2026, will focus on how funeral homes can align their experiences, offerings, and tools with the needs of today’s families. 

January – Meeting Modern Expectations: Redefining the Consumer Experience Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | 1:00-1:45 PM ET | Q&A to follow 

This session explores how funeral homes can apply retail science principles to evolve the consumer experience. Attendees will gain insight into how technology, product presentation, and physical environments can work together to help families feel more informed, confident, and supported throughout the arrangement process.  

Presented by: Jen Parvin, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Batesville and Devine Dardanes, Executive Vice President of Business Development, B+N Industries Moderator: Ryan Thogmartin, Founder and CEO of Disrupt Media. 

Registration is available now on Batesville.com. 

February – What’s Next in Family Choices®: Personalization That Tells  Every Story  

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 

This webinar will explore how personalization continues to shape the future of funeral service. The session will examine evolving consumer expectations and how personalization offerings have expanded over time, enabling funeral professionals to help families create meaningful, individualized tributes. 

Presented by: Jeremy Raver, Product Marketing Manager, Batesville

March – Maximizing Cremation Options: Tools and Solutions to Elevate  Your Offerings 

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 

Focused on the growing demand for cremation, this session will examine how modern merchandising tools and solutions can help funeral homes better serve cremation families while creating new opportunities for their business. 

Presented by: Batesville Cremation Team 

Registration 

Registration for the February and March webinars will be available in January of 2026. For a complete listing and descriptions of all education events, visit  

Bastesville.com/Resources/Webinars/ for more information. 

### 

About Batesville Services, LLC  

Batesville is a recognized leader in the deathcare industry in North America, offering a comprehensive portfolio of burial and cremation products, memorialization options and innovative technology solutions. For more than 140 years, Batesville has supported licensed funeral professionals in helping families honor the lives of those they love®. A history of manufacturing excellence, product innovation, superior customer service, and reliable delivery helped Batesville become – and remain – a trusted leader in the deathcare  industry. 

A recent report (November 2025) from the State of New York Department of Health with the results of an audit “which covered April 2019 through November 2023, concluded that the state Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene must improve oversight and coordination to address significant deficiencies in the practice of funeral directing” according to the reporting from this article in the Albany (NY) Times Union.

The audit covered that time period listed above in which, according to the report there were 801,421 deaths in the state.  There is some interesting data in the report that I found, but before I report on that I’ll post what seemed to interest the New York State Department of Health and the various news sources.

The audit report, in its entirety from the Department of Health can be found here.

Among other issues, here are four areas where the report mentioned that New York’s funeral establishments can improve:

• Risks with handling of remains.  In this area the report suggested four areas that could be improved upon.

1.  Verifying deaths by the funeral director via pulsation and and listening for a heartbeat via stethoscope or putting an ear over the chest.  Audit workers confirmed that a full 1/2 of funeral directors who were asked said they did not perform these verifications of death.
2.  Funeral directors could reduce mis-identification by labeling or tagging of bodies
3.  There is a “lack of assurance of acceptable preparation rooms”.  Evidently in 2006 the NY DOH stopped inspections and now relies on an annual photo of the preparation room.  Some firms seem to submit the same photo year-after-year so there is no “assurance” the room is in compliance.
4. Burial and cremation permits are not to be issued until after the Death Certificate has been filed.  Evidently, it is widespread not to follow this practice as the audit found 2,545 death certificates that were registered after the disposition took place.  Those death certificates came from 872 different funeral directors.

• Funeral Director and Firm Registrations.

1. It seems that the biggest issue with this point is that there may be funeral homes with multiple branches where some of those multiple branches are not registered.

• Death certificates with duplicate or no Social Security numbers.

1. The audit found 773 Social Security numbers that were used for more than one person.  That affected 146 death certificates and these certificates were filed by 111 funeral directors from 108 funeral firms.

• Reporting firm closures and other firm changes. 

1. There is somewhat of a “muddled” situation between primary firms and secondary firms at the same locations.  Because of no inspections the DOH has reason to believe that many of these licenses are not up to date and or correct.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  As so often happens with these types of reports authored by those not in the Death Care profession, much gets lost in the translation of what really is important.   For instance, when you have 773 Social Security numbers that are duplicated that means one thing if it is on a 10,000 death caseload, but it means a completely different thing if that is in the context of over 800,000 deaths.

And yes, funeral directors should be reporting those numbers correct, but in most instances, they are at the mercy of the number that was provided them by the family.  Keeping proper records should be a goal of all in the profession.

Also, the problem with the prep room photos and the potential for funeral director and funeral firm registrations probably gets corrected if the New York State Health Department puts an inspector or two back on the road to check on these establishments.  My guess, is that the State has other priorities that take the resources that should probably be used for this purpose but are designated for other programs.  . . . and, if you don’t fund inspections, then you cannot expect to find the bad actors in the bunch.

The State of New York is scheduled for a 2026 annual budget of $254 billion.  If better funeral home enforcement was a priority, it would probably take less than $500,000 to make it happen.

Finally. . . some statistics I found interesting:  One of the statistics I found very interesting in the audit was one you could probably only get from an audit of Death Certificates.  It was the statistic on the place of death.  Here’s what they found for those New York residents between 2019 and 2023 — a period that did cover the pandemic era deaths:

1.  46.3%  –  Hospital
2.  30.8%  –  Residence
3.  17.2%  –  Nursing Home
4.    3.4%  –  Hospice Facility

Anecdotally, I think those numbers represent a real change from when I started in the profession in 1980.  And, I think the change represents the value of Hospice and how it has moved forward and been almost universally accepted.  My guess, is that when I started the ranking would have been (1) Nursing Home, (2) Hospital, (3) Residence.  I think the higher ranking of Residence at this time reflects the fact that many in those residences are receiving Hospice care at home.

I also wonder if Hospital deaths are higher than normal on this list, simply because it was conducted during some of the pandemic era dates.

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

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.

We learned earlier this week that Pinnacle Funeral Service, a funeral home owner and operator based in St. Petersburg, Florida, has acquired the Malcore Funeral Home & Crematory as well as Simply Cremation in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  According to a press release, the funeral home was founded in 1921 and has been owned and operated by the Malcore family for several generations.

Again according to the press release, “Between Malcore and Simply Cremation, the businesses serve more than 750 families annually”.

Tony Kumming, President of Pinnacle Funeral Service made this prepared comment in the press release, “Malcore has been a trusted name in Green Bay for more than 100 years. Their early leadership in cremation and their long-standing dedication to families make this a meaningful partnership. . . . “

The press release also states that “Matt Malcore will continue to manage day-to-day operations, ensuring continuity for the families they serve. His wife, Lisa, will remain as a preneed advisor, and both of Matt’s parents will also stay actively involved in the business. . . “

Matt Malcore made this comment in a prepared statement in the press release, “Pinnacle will provide us with the tools we need to be successful. From the beginning, Pinnacle stood out for how they treat people—families, employees, and owners alike. They’re not trying to change who we are; they’re here to support our team and help us grow responsibly while staying true to our mission. . . . ”

According to Wikipedia, the Green Bay SMSA ranks 161st in the USA and has grown at a 1.6% rate from the 2020 Census until 2024.

According to the press release, Pinnacle Funeral Service, along with its partnership with Rollings Funeral Service, is one of the largest and fastest growing privately-owned funeral service operators in the United States with over 100 locations across 20 states.

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

Branko Savic, age 66, formerly of Racine, Wisconsin, and most recently of Rialto, California, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Branko was born on June 8, 1959, in Zemun, Serbia, to Milosav and Nane Savic, both of whom preceded him in death. He immigrated to the United States when he was seven years old and graduated from Horlick High School in Racine. Following graduation, Branko proudly served in the United States Air Force, where he spent four years as an Avionics Automatic Flight Control Systems specialist. During his military career, he was stationed in Rantoul, Illinois, Austin, Texas, and Pensacola, Florida. He advanced in rank from Senior Airman to Staff Sergeant and was honorably discharged in December 1982.

After completing his military service, Branko attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. Upon graduation, he relocated to California to pursue a career in the aerospace industry. Branko worked as an Electrical Engineer and Project Engineer for several prominent companies, including General Dynamics, Rockwell International, Boeing, Pacific Scientific, and McDonnell Douglas, from which he retired in June 2024. He greatly valued the friendships he built throughout his career and enjoyed staying connected with former colleagues over lunches and dinners.

Branko had a passion for automobiles and spent many hours attending car auctions, restoring vehicles, and reselling them. He cherished his lifelong friendships, especially those from his childhood, and looked forward to visits back to Racine. He was well known for his love of food—especially pizza from Infusino’s—and for introducing his family to In-N-Out Burger during visits to California.

Above all, Branko deeply loved his family, kumovi, and friends. Branko is survived by his sister, Aleksandra Vukanic; his nephew, Stevan Vukanic; his niece, Ivana Vukanic; his aunt, Jelisava Vuckovic; cousins, kumovi, the Sobic family; as well as extended family in Serbia and Croatia and numerous dear friends. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visitation will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 826 State Street, Racine. The church service (Mali Pomen) will begin at 10:00 a.m., officiated by Father Dragan Mitrovic. Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery, 3301 E. Forest Hill Avenue, South Milwaukee. A memorial luncheon will be held afterward at the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church Hall.

Pinnacle Funeral Service Announces Addition of Wisconsin Funeral Home

GREEN BAY, WI — Pinnacle Funeral Service is proud to announce their recent addition of Malcore Funeral Home & Crematory and Simply Cremation in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The funeral home, founded in 1921, has been a pillar of service in the Green Bay community for more than a century and was owned and operated by the Malcore family for several generations.

Malcore Funeral Home & Crematory has long been a leader in cremation services. Nearly 50 years ago they installed their first on-site crematory, an early adoption that set them apart in the region. The original cremator is still in operation today. Between Malcore and Simply Cremation, the businesses serve more than 750 families annually.  Malcore will immediately gain access to Pinnacle’s accounting, legal, and human resources support services.  The staff, who will remain in their current roles, will also gain tremendous operational support, and will be able to participate in career training and bonus programs.  

Tony Kumming, President of Pinnacle Funeral Service, shared his excitement about the partnership. “Malcore has been a trusted name in Green Bay for more than 100 years. Their early leadership in cremation and their long-standing dedication to families make this a meaningful partnership. Additionally, we are proud of the confidence that Matt and his family put in our organization and we believe it is a strong signal to other independent funeral home owners that Pinnacle is the preferred succession partner. We’re honored to help support and strengthen the Malcore legacy for years to come.”

Matt Malcore will continue to manage day-to-day operations, ensuring continuity for the families they serve. His wife, Lisa, will remain as a preneed advisor, and both of Matt’s parents will also stay actively involved in the business.  Reflecting on the decision to partner with Pinnacle Funeral Service, Matt Malcore shared, “Pinnacle will provide us with the tools we need to be successful. From the beginning, Pinnacle stood out for how they treat people—families, employees, and owners alike. They’re not trying to change who we are; they’re here to support our team and help us grow responsibly while staying true to our mission. We are excited to navigate the future together and most importantly keep our clients as priority number one.”

Pinnacle Funeral Service, along with its partnership with Rollings Funeral Service, is one of the largest and fastest growing privately-owned funeral service operators in the United States with over 100 locations across 20 states.  Funeral home owners interested in exploring a sale can contact Tony Kumming at tony@pinnaclefunerals.com or call 813-579-7048.