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.

Late last week we received this press release that indicates that Park Lawn Corporation acquired eight stand-alone funeral homes in locations spanning the greater Oklahoma City market.  It represents Park Lawn’s entrance into the state of Oklahoma.

The press release announced “Park Lawn Corporation is pleased to announce that, effective December 1^st, it acquired substantially all of the assets of Service Group of Oklahoma (SGOK), a group of businesses consisting of eight stand-alone funeral homes with locations spanning the greater Oklahoma City market.”

Jennifer W. Hay, CEO of Park Lawn made the following prepared comment in the press release about the transaction, “Entering Oklahoma marks an exciting milestone in our growth strategy. These eight locations have deep ties to the communities they serve, and we’re proud to support their continued tradition of excellence.  We are pleased to welcome Chad Vice, John Davenport and the entire SGOK team to Park Lawn.  Their passion, expertise and commitment to service make them an outstanding addition to our organization.”

You can access the Park Lawn Corporation website here.  

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  Acquiring eight established funeral homes around one major city in the United States will certainly add to the numbers of Park Lawn Corporation.  From my point of view, and this is only an anecdotal observation, it seems to me that the large national acquisition and operating companies have almost completely moved on from acquisitions in what I would call Regional Centers and are very much concentrating on what I would term mid-major and major cities almost exclusively.

That strategy makes sense. . . . . the numbers of deaths and the economies of scale make those communities very attractive to the large scale companies that can raise the combination of capital and secure the debt that it takes to acquire them.  It also allows for future “bolt-on” acquisitions in the future that can make those markets even more profitable for the operators.

If that is the strategy it leaves a lot of great communities and their funeral homes, probably outside of America’s largest 50 markets, available for acquisition by the next tier of consolidators — those that compete in a more regional sphere.  That’s good news for those operators.

While the brand names of the eight funeral homes acquired were not listed in the Park Lawn press release, here are the websites of those funeral homes that we believe may be included in the acquisition.

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

ASD Founders Announce Launch of Cremation Air: Aerial Scattering Service for Funeral Homes

Media, PA– The Czachor family, founders of ASD — Answering Service for Directors, have launched a new aviation-based venture: Cremation Air, a professional aerial ash scattering service designed exclusively for funeral homes. The service provides meaningful ocean and waterway scatterings completed by certified commercial pilot Andrew Czachor, son of ASD Family-Member Owner Marty Czachor.

For more than five decades, ASD has served as the funeral profession’s communication heartbeat, helping directors support families with compassion and dependability. As cremation rates continue to rise nationwide, the Czachor family saw a natural opportunity to expand their commitment to funeral service by offering a dignified, trackable aviation solution that meets the growing demand for personalized scattering options.

The concept for Cremation Air grew from the family’s shared passion for both aviation and funeral service. What began as Marty’s interest in flying evolved into a family pursuit, with Andrew and Jess Czachor earning their pilot licenses. Over time, conversations in the hangar intersected with the needs of funeral directors, inspiring the creation of a service that blends technical precision with heartfelt purpose.

“At ASD, we’ve always looked for ways to serve directors beyond the phone line,” Marty shared. “With Cremation Air aerial scattering, we’re extending that same trust skyward—helping funeral homes offer families something truly meaningful. Everything about this came from the heart of a family that understands the profession. Our goal is to help directors offer something extraordinary to the families they serve.” 

Cremation Air was intentionally built as a partner to funeral directors, not a consumer competitor. Through the secure C-Air Process—centered on Clarity, Assurance, Integrity, and Respect—directors can submit orders, track each step of chain of custody, and receive full documentation. After each scattering, they are provided with a personalized video tribute and a certificate that includes the date, time, and GPS coordinates to present to the family.

Each scattering is performed aboard a Beechcraft Bonanza G-36 outfitted with GPS tracking, three hi-def video cameras and a custom-designed, carbon fiber scattering chute. Operations follow strict FAA guidelines and USPS and EPA requirements, ensuring cremains are handled and dispersed with professionalism and accountability. Only trained crew members are on board, reinforcing the elevated standards built into every Cremation Air flight.

“We wanted to bring the same professionalism that families receive in every part of a funeral service into the air,” explained Patrick Kane, Cremation Air’s Business Development Strategist, “covering every detail, paying extra attention to chain of custody communication, and having extreme accountability.”

Cremation Air made its official company debut during the 2025 NFDA Convention, where directors immediately recognized its practicality and value. Many noted that families have long inquired about ocean scatterings, and Cremation Air now provides a trusted, funeral-home-centered solution that helps directors meet those requests while expanding their service offerings.

Currently operating in Pennsylvania and Florida, Cremation Air focuses on ocean, gulf, and Great Lakes scatterings, with plans underway to expand to the Pacific Coast. As the team continues building co-branded opportunities and refining its systems, the mission remains clear: to honor life’s final journey with the same compassion, reliability, and innovation that have defined ASD for more than 50 years—now carried forward, into the skies.

About Cremation Air LLC

Cremation Air provides aerial scattering of cremated remains along the coastal regions of the United States. The company helps funeral directors meet the growing demand for scattering of cremated remains with ease and confidence. Cremation Air uses state of the art technology and secure tracking capabilities to ensure that scattering over U.S. Coastal Waters is dignified, reliable, and professional. To learn more, call 888-970-7400 or visit cremationair.com.

Funeral Director Daily learned last week that one of the best known names in Death Care was branching out to continue to help funeral directors.  The Czachor family, founders of the leading funeral home answering service, ASD, has announced the formation of a company to help funeral homes coordinate meaningful aerial cremation ash scatterings.

In an article that we read about the new service, Cremation Air, it was noted that ASD has been the heartbeat of communication in the funeral business for five decades.

In that five decades of business ASD, and the Czachor family members, have built great relationships with funeral homes across the country.  Cremation Air will be “a natural evolution of ASD’s mission to support funeral homes with innovative tools that strengthen relationships with the families they serve”  according to a quote from an ASD blog article.

ASD Family-Member Owner Marty Czachor made this comment, “At ASD, we’ve always looked for ways to serve directors beyond the phone line.  With Cremation Air aerial scattering, we’re extending that same trust skyward—helping funeral homes offer families something truly meaningful.”

Cremation Air intends to begin with its current operations in Pennsylvania and Florida covering the Great Lakes, Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf.  Expansion plans are underway to bring the service to the West Coast.

According to the company’s blog, “To ensure full accountability, Cremation Air maintains a barcoded chain-of-custody system, complies with USPS Cremated Remains Mailing regulations, and documents with the EPA each scattering with timestamped confirmation and GPS verification.”

You can learn more from the Cremation Air from the ASD blog here.

It’s in the Family —  Many of the greatest businesses in the world came our of the founders’ passions.  And, that is the formula for Cremation Air — ASD Family-Members and Owners Marty, Kathy (Kelley), and Kevin Czachor have always shared an entrepreneurial drive and passion for flight.  According to the blog article “Marty’s private plane became more than just a hobby—it turned into a family pursuit, with his son Andrew and daughter Jess both earning their pilot’s licenses. Over time, conversations in the hangar began to overlap with conversations about the funeral profession ASD has served for decades.”

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  I’ve mentioned it many times over the past couple months.  That being that I believe final disposition and memorialization of cremated remains seems to be coming to the forefront of thought for families choosing cremation.  I think families have lived through a generation of “taking the remains home and putting them in a closet” and then not knowing what to do with them as time moves on.

It is my opinion that more and more families are looking for permanent memorial options for cremated remains.

There has led to all kinds of options for cremated remains memorialization becoming available and now one of the most trusted families in Death Care has provided another option for funeral directors and cemeterians to offer those families they serve.

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

The Wall Street Journal in this recent article (you may find a paywall here) estimates that over the past 5 years Americans have gained a total of $63 trillion in personal wealth.  And, this article from Yahoo Finance states “. . . the top 20% — the high-earning American households — are thriving because they have seen immense gains in their stock portfolios and home values in recent years.”

Two results of that personal wealth gain are that Americans are consuming at record levels and these same Americans are continuing to look for more investment opportunities.  Part of those investments are going into public stocks and bonds, but I’m guessing that more and more investors, with asset qualifications, are putting money into private equity in growing sums as well.  As you can see from the chart below, as good as the public markets have been for asset growth, private equity returns have left them in the dust.

Private Equity returns vs. other returns.

All that money and all of those potential deals leads me to seeing a sign of caution.  I’ve always tried to do everything on a level keel.  Too much of one thing has never been good for me — as much as I like to golf, three days in a week is enough.  Same with a vacation — it’s fun and relaxing, but I always want to get back to work.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

So, that brings me to my thought process —  with all the money being thrown at businesses, including funeral homes, by private equity, when will the good deals end and somebody in their quest for “growth” make the wrong decision?  I don’t know when it will happen and who it will happen to, but at some point the quest for “growth” will lead to bad decisions by somebody.

It just happened in Minnesota with a home remodeling company known as Minnesota Rusco.  You can read an article from the Minnesota Tribune here that lets the reader know that Minnesota Rusco, a Minnesota staple since 1955, was acquired by a private equity firm that was “rolling-up” home remodeling firms across the country and now is looking into bankruptcy.  Somebody either didn’t know the business that well or know the value of the “local-aspect” of these acquired businesses and it looks like the investment will be lost . . . . and the employees of Minnesota Rusco will probably be on the unemployment line.

I recently came across this article titled “There’s a lot of money in Death”:  Funeral consolidation hits Western Mass”.  The article goes on to illustrate that even in some smaller funeral homes and roll-ups involving them, that private equity is involved.  Here’s the website of a private equity firm which lists Milestone Funeral Partners as one of their investments.

It’s no secret that a large number of family funeral homes will be on the market in the next few years.  And, many of them will have the volume and be in a location that will be highly desireable for the national and regional companies to compete for.  If you are one of these owners planning to sell, make sure you know your business value and make sure that you know your buyer.

Because . . . .  I don’t think the good times will last forever and someone will get hurt when the dominoes fall.

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

ObituaryShare Partners with Tribute Technology to Help Funeral Homes Reach More Families

WAUNAKEE, Wis. — October 22, 2025 — ObituaryShare.com has partnered with Tribute Technology to make it easier for funeral homes to share obituaries online and connect with more people in their communities.

Through this new partnership, funeral homes using Tribute Technology websites can now link directly to ObituaryShare. The integration lets staff automatically post obituaries to Facebook and other social channels with no extra steps or technical work required. Each post leads readers back to the funeral home’s website, helping more families find services, send flowers, and show support.

“As obituaries continue to move online rather than being printed, it’s important that they still reach the people who care,” said Bob Arrington, President of ObituaryShare. “We built ObituaryShare so families could get the word out in a way that connects. Working with Tribute Technology makes that even easier for funeral homes.”

The connection between the two platforms is simple to set up and available now for Tribute Technology customers. Those who activate the feature will also receive special partnership pricing on ObituaryShare services.

“Families often turn to Facebook to remember a loved one and share memories and support,” said Courtney Gould Miller, President of Commercial Markets at Tribute Technology. “Our partnership with ObituaryShare makes that process effortless for funeral homes by helping bring those stories to where people are already connecting.”

Special Offer for Tribute Technology Customers

Tribute Technology partners receive exclusive pricing on ObituaryShare services. To learn more or get started, visit ObituaryShare.com or contact your Tribute Technology account representative.

About ObituaryShare

ObituaryShare.com helps funeral homes publish and share obituaries on social media, reaching friends, family, and community members in a more personal way. Founded by Bob Arrington, President of Arrington Funeral Directors, and Roy Heatherly, a longtime newspaper executive.  ObituaryShare offers a simple, affordable way to share stories and strengthen community connections.

About Tribute Technology

Tribute Technology is a leading provider of software and services for funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematories, helping professionals serve families through best-in-class websites, management tools, and digital memorialization solutions. The company is headquartered in Waunakee, Wisconsin.

Tribute Technology and Homesteaders Partner to Simplify Preneed Policy Management for Funeral Homes

Waunakee, Wisconsin – October 23, 2025 — Tribute Technology is partnering with Homesteaders Life Company, one of the most trusted names in funeral service, to make it easier for funeral homes to manage preneed policies.

The planned integration, coming in 2026, will connect Homesteaders’ policy data directly with Tribute Management Software, allowing funeral directors to see and link matching preneed policies right from a case. Policy information will update automatically each night, so directors always have the most current details without sorting through paperwork or entering data twice.

“At Homesteaders, we’re committed to offering financial support, expertise, and partnerships that bring value to funeral professionals and the families we serve together,” said Steve Shaffer, Homesteaders President, CEO and Board Chair. “This planned integration with Tribute Technology helps simplify the preneed management process, giving funeral providers easier access to the information they need so they can focus more fully on designing meaningful experiences for the families they serve.”

For funeral homes, this will mean fewer errors, faster workflows, and peace of mind knowing every available fund is captured and applied correctly. Families will benefit too, with less back-and-forth over documents and a smoother, more professional experience.

“Funeral directors carry an enormous responsibility, and every minute spent searching for paperwork is a minute taken away from serving families,” said Courtney Gould Miller, President of Commercial Markets at Tribute Technology. “This upcoming integration with Homesteaders takes something complex and makes it simple. It’s about giving time back to the professionals who give so much of themselves every day.”

This is the first of several planned integrations designed to connect Tribute Management Software with multiple preneed partners. Together, these systems will help funeral homes work more efficiently and better support the families they serve.

About Homesteaders Life Company
For nearly 120 years, Homesteaders Life Company has provided products and services to help people design a better farewell. Rooted in financial stability and a deep commitment to the funeral profession, Homesteaders partners with funeral providers of all sizes to help them grow their businesses through innovative preneed solutions.

About Tribute Technology
Tribute Technology builds technology that helps funeral professionals focus on what matters most—supporting families. Serving more than 9,000 providers worldwide, Tribute’s connected tools for management, websites, marketing, online planning, and payments simplify daily work and strengthen the relationships that matter most. Learn more at www.tributetech.com.

Graphic Caption
Through a new partnership, Tribute Technology and Homesteaders Life Company will connect preneed policy data directly to Tribute Management Software—streamlining workflows and helping funeral homes better serve families.

Preddy Funeral Homes Join Rollings Funeral Service Family

Peachtree City, GA – Rollings Funeral Service, one of the largest privately-owned funeral service operators in the United States, is proud to announce that Preddy Funeral Homes has joined its growing family of funeral homes.

The initial Preddy location was opened in 1916 in the town of Gordonsville, Virginia.  They added a second location in 1923 in the town of Orange. Recent generations expanded the Preddy footprint in 1994 by opening its third location in Madison County. Today, the three locations serve more than 500 families each year, and they are known regionally as one of the most respected funeral service providers in the greater Charlottesville area. 

“We are honored to welcome Preddy Funeral Home into the Rollings Funeral Service family,” said Greg Rollings, founder and Chairman of Rollings Funeral Service. “When I first met Randy and Shelly, I could see that we shared so many things in common in how we view the important role of funeral service in the community.” Greg added, “Their properties are impeccable, and their staff are some of the strongest we’ve seen in a family business.” He continued, “They’ve served the families in their area so well, and I committed to Randy that we will continue to support that same level of service going forward.”

The Preddy businesses will immediately gain access to Rollings accounting, legal and human resources support services. The staff, who all will remain in their current roles, will also gain tremendous operational support, and will be able to participate in career training and bonus programs. Families can expect the same high-quality care they have always received, now backed by one of the nation’s leading private funeral service organizations.

“This was obviously a big decision for us, but Shelly and I really wanted to stop working as hard and be able to travel a little more,” said Randy Preddy, the former owner. “At the same time, I grew up in these communities and feel a huge responsibility to make sure our friends are still taken care of well and fairly. As I got to know Greg and his team, I became comfortable that they have the same interests at heart,” he added. “I really feel like joining Rollings has addressed so many of our concerns.”

NewBridge Group assisted with the transaction. 

About Rollings Funeral Service

Rollings Funeral Service, along with their partner, Pinnacle Funeral Service, operate just under 100 funeral service locations across 20 states. Both companies are continuing to grow by acquisition. Funeral service owners that are interested in exploring a sale can contact Tony Kumming at tonyk@rollingsfuneralservice or call (813) 579-7048.

Personalization Made Simple: Eulogize Brings Fresh Tools to Funeral Homes

As families’ expectations evolve, personalization is no longer an “extra” in funeral service—it’s the standard. But while most deathcare professionals recognize the value of creating meaningful, individualized tributes, the barrier has often been the perception that personalization is time-consuming, complicated, or simply out of reach for a busy funeral home.

That’s exactly the challenge Eulogize Memorials aims to solve. Ahead of an expanded presence at the NFDA International Convention & Expo in Chicago this October, Nick Kelly, Eulogize Co-Founder and Head of Product & Partnerships, is showcasing how easy it can be for funeral directors to deliver tributes that go beyond overused templates and truly reflect the lives being celebrated.

Moving beyond templates

For Kelly, the focus is simple: “Avoid the cookie cutter.” Funeral homes, he explains, don’t need to rely on generic designs or one-size-fits-all options. Instead, with just a few extra moments of conversation with families—learning about hobbies, family traditions, or favorite places—directors can build tributes that feel unique without adding significant work.

“It shouldn’t be a fear,” Kelly says. “It shouldn’t sound like a huge amount of work. It’s not. And it can have a huge impact.”

Eulogize’s platform is designed to serve as a launch pad for creativity. Rather than overwhelming you with endless preloaded themes (what Kelly calls “the Netflix effect”), the system offers a streamlined set of strong starting points. From there, directors can easily adjust colors, images, layouts, and filters—making each piece stunningly bespoke.

The goal isn’t to force you to become a designer, but to give you accessible tools that help capture a family’s story in a way that looks polished, professional, and deeply personal.

Keepsakes that last

Another exciting innovation Eulogize is introducing this fall is its partnership with MILK Books, an international leader in premium, museum-grade photo albums. Long known for their work in luxury weddings and fashion, MILK Books bring craftsmanship and quality to the memorial space.

Families who upload dozens or even hundreds of photos often struggle to narrow them down for a slideshow. With Eulogize’s integration, those “extra” images can be transformed into a high-quality photo book. Families can generate a layout with a single click—or spend more time customizing the design.

Unlike traditional memorial products that may be tucked away in a drawer, these albums are meant to live on the coffee table, revisited for years to come. They also give funeral homes a new way to connect with families long after the service, offering keepsakes for anniversaries, birthdays, or holidays.

“This isn’t something that’s going to be stashed and thrown away,” Kelly explains. “It’s something that’s going to live out on their table.”

For directors, the benefit is twofold: families gain a meaningful remembrance, while funeral homes strengthen relationships and open the door to new revenue opportunities.

Easy for families, easy for your team

Perhaps one of the strongest appeals of the Eulogize platform is its ease of use. While many design tools require hours of training or a single “creative” staff member, Eulogize is built for busy funeral homes where anyone on the team can step in.

“It doesn’t really matter who’s around,” Kelly notes. “Every staff member can have a login. You’ve always got that control and ability to offer that service consistently throughout the year, regardless of staffing issues.”

The platform is intentionally simple: intuitive enough to learn in an hour, yet robust enough to produce professional-quality results. That makes personalization accessible even when time is short or families provide limited input.

Personalization as storytelling

At the heart of Eulogize’s philosophy is the belief that personalization is really about storytelling. It’s not just about adding a golf motif because someone loved the game. It’s about capturing the memory of a grandfather playing golf with his grandson, or weaving in school colors from a beloved alma mater.

Small touches like these transform memorial products into meaningful reflections of life. They also elevate a funeral home’s reputation in the community, showing families that “extra time and effort” went into every detail.

“By spending just a little more time, you can apply those details in a way that makes each service unique,” Kelly says.

Looking Ahead

Eulogize continues to expand its offerings, from subtle creative features like filters and layouts, to more innovative tools to save funeral directors time without sacrificing quality. But at its core, the company’s mission remains the same: helping funeral homes provide personalization that is easy, meaningful, and scalable. 

As funeral service moves further into an era of choice, customization, and storytelling, Eulogize offers a reminder that personalization doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools, deathcare professionals can deliver unique, beautiful tributes—while saving time, building stronger connections, and setting your businesses apart.

Be sure to stop by Booth 727 at the NFDA Expo in Chicago this month to meet Nick Kelly and see for yourself what Eulogize can do for you, your team, and the families you serve!

Boosting Your Funeral Home’s Online Presence: An Action Plan for Content That Engages and Builds Trust

In today’s digital world, a funeral home website is far more than a static brochure. It’s the front door of your business for many families — the first place they turn when they need information, reassurance and guidance.

As a funeral home owner, you can use your website not only to inform but to connect, comfort and build trust long before a family walks through your physical doors.

One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through a thoughtful, consistent blog strategy. A well-maintained blog boosts your visibility in search engines, drives more local traffic, and positions you as a trusted resource in your community. Below, I’ve outlined a practical content plan that blends education, compassion and local relevance to help you grow your online presence and deepen your community connections.

Welton Hong
Ring Ring Marketing

Guest author for today’s edition of Funeral Director Daily is Welton Hong, the founder & CEO of Ring Ring Marketing, which has helped over 600 small businesses grow their revenue through online marketing strategies. He is also the author of “Making Your Phone Ring with Internet Marketing for Funeral Homes.” 

To learn more about how Welton Hong can help your company visit the Ring Ring Marketing website here.

 

 

Creating Content That Families Value

When families search online for funeral-related information, they’re often looking for clear answers to sensitive questions. Your content should anticipate these needs and present the information in an approachable, compassionate tone. Instead of simply promoting your services, focus on providing genuine help.

For example, you could guide readers through the steps of planning a funeral, explaining what to expect and how to avoid common pitfalls. Families also appreciate clarity on the differences between a traditional funeral, a memorial service and a celebration of life — complete with ideas on how each can be personalized. By offering this kind of content, you position yourself as both knowledgeable and approachable.

You might also create resources for those in the earliest, most difficult hours after a loved one dies. A blog post outlining the first 24 hours — including who to call, what paperwork is needed, and where to find local grief support — can become one of the most valuable pages on your site.

Personalization ideas are another rich topic. Many families today want creative, meaningful services. By sharing stories of such tributes (with permission) and offering inspiration for music, readings, video memorials and décor, you help spark ideas while subtly showing that your funeral home can bring them to life.

Educating and Empowering Families

Your blog can also serve as an educational hub. Simple how-to guides — such as “how to write a heartfelt obituary” or “how to support a grieving friend” — not only attract search traffic but also provide content that’s likely to be shared on social media. Practical etiquette advice, especially when tailored to cultural or religious customs common in your area, can further strengthen your role as a trusted adviser.

For those thinking ahead, an article on the benefits of preplanning can reframe the conversation from morbid to meaningful. Emphasizing how preplanning reduces stress for loved ones and even saves money can help more families see it as a thoughtful gift rather than an uncomfortable task.

You might also explore emerging topics, such as green burials or the role of technology in modern funerals — from livestreaming to virtual guestbooks. These not only position you as forward-thinking but also attract families who value environmental consciousness or who want to make attending a service convenient for distant loved ones.

Building Local Relevance

One of the most overlooked opportunities for funeral home blogs is hyper-local content. A comprehensive guide to burial options and cemeteries in your city, complete with photos and maps, is a powerful local SEO tool. Similarly, maintaining an up-to-date list of grief support resources in your area ensures your site becomes a go-to hub for anyone seeking help.

For instance, you may want to write a blog post highlighting local cemeteries, details about sections, historical significance and types of burial options. A short photo essay showcasing gardens and memorials would certainly attract visitors.

Another post could focus on grief support groups available in your city, which hopefully includes a group that meets at your funeral home. Include contact information and schedules.

Local content signals to Google — and to families — that you are rooted in and committed to your community. It also increases the chances that your posts will be shared by local organizations, driving referral traffic and building goodwill.

Best Practices for Funeral Home Blogging

While the topics themselves are important, the way you present them is equally critical. Keep your tone compassionate and conversational, avoiding jargon and speaking as if you were explaining something to a family in person. Break up your articles with subheadings, bullet points, and images to make them easy to skim.

Include photos of your facility, staff, and community events where possible — real images build trust far more effectively than stock photography. Where appropriate, weave in gentle calls-to-action at the end of each post, such as inviting readers to schedule a preplanning appointment or call for more information.

Maximizing the Impact of Your Content

A successful blog is part of a larger content marketing strategy. Incorporate keywords naturally, including your city or neighborhood name, to improve your chances of appearing in local search results. Pay attention to the kinds of questions people ask your staff or send you via email as they can often provide ideas on what to highlight.

Once you’ve created a blog post, repurpose it. A guide on writing obituaries can become an Instagram graphic or a short educational video. This multiplies your reach without multiplying your workload.

Finally, commit to consistency. Publishing new articles every two to four weeks keeps your website fresh, which both search engines and visitors appreciate. Use tools like Google Analytics to track which posts get the most attention, then build more content around those popular topics.

The Bottom Line

Your funeral home blog is more than just a marketing tool — it’s a service to your community. By offering compassionate, practical, and locally relevant information, you create a digital presence that builds trust, strengthens your reputation and opens the door to deeper relationships with the families you serve.

When done well, this approach not only boosts website traffic and engagement but also ensures your funeral home stands out as a caring, knowledgeable, and indispensable resource in times of need.

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