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”

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. 

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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. 

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.

Cedar Hill Funeral Home Unveils Extensive Renovations

Second chapel, other key elements to assist grieving families, now open

Suitland, Md. (December 15, 2025) – Everstory Partners, one of the nation’s largest deathcare providers, is transforming its funeral homes to emphasize hospitality and comfort for families.

This weekend, Cedar Hill Funeral Home became the latest Everstory Partners location, under the Memorial Planning brand, to be transformed in this new direction.

“We want our guests to feel as comfortable as possible as they say goodbye to someone they love,” said Matt Sobon, senior vice president of operations, Everstory Partners. “We have researched deathcare approaches around the world, and everything shows our industry needs to focus on hospitality and how we care for our customers.”

Cedar Hill Funeral Home is one of the busiest locations in the Memorial Planning network. Serving Cedar Hill Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, and Washington National Cemetery, the funeral home hosts nearly 1,400 services each year.

“Cedar Hill Funeral Home provides a welcoming and caring space,” said Reverend Jerome (Sam) Tarver, pastor, Maple Springs Baptist Church and emcee of the December 13 ribbon cutting. “More importantly, a haven for peace and hope. It’s more than bricks, mortar, and fresh paint; more than a Java bar or new meeting rooms. It’s about ministry that walks with families in difficult times.”

Throughout the funeral home, the renovations introduce modern design elements, including updated colors, furniture, and fixtures, to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

The highlight of the renovation is a second chapel, doubling the existing capacity and now accommodating services for up to 200 guests.

Key renovation highlights include:

• Redesigned reception areas that create a warm, welcoming first impression.
• A dedicated family suite offering a private, intimate space for loved ones.
• Well-appointed meeting rooms designed for planning funeral and cemetery services.
• A Java bar where guests can relax and enjoy refreshments.

“Cedar Hill Funeral Home and its cemeteries have been a central part of this community for more than a century,” said Sheria Jennings, funeral home manager, Cedar Hill Funeral Home. “These renovations show our commitment to this area, providing comfort for families during their times of need.”

About Memorial Planning

Memorial Planning, the parent brand of Cedar Hill Funeral Home, is a family-focused network of cemeteries and funeral homes, offering personalized end-of-life services. With over 450 locations, Memorial Planning providers proudly serve over 66,000 families a year.

Visit memorialplanning.com to learn more and for a list of locations.   

About Everstory Partners

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. Everstory is the brand promise, created in April 2023 to destigmatize death care with a unique blend of long-standing traditions of caring for the deceased with a fresh perspective that death is a natural and beautiful part of the human experience that should be planned and celebrated.

Visit everstorypartners.com to learn more and memorialplanning.com for a list of properties and contact information.