Parting Stone Hosts Private Lab Tour for Women in Deathcare

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, Parting Stone hosted a landmark event in Santa Fe, New Mexico—welcoming nearly 100 attendees of the NFDA Professional Women’s Conference to its laboratory for a private tour. The visit marked one of the first times Parting Stone opened its doors to such a large delegation, offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how cremated remains are solidified into collections of 40-80+ stones.

The event was made possible through Parting Stone’s sponsorship of the NFDA Professional Women’s Conference, an annual gathering dedicated to uplifting and connecting women leaders across the funeral profession. You can learn more about the conference on the NFDA website.

Guests arrived on two buses from the conference hotel, greeted by staff members wearing custom “Funeral Directors Rocks” t-shirts—a playful nod to Parting Stone’s flagship service. As attendees waited for their scheduled tours, they were invited to enjoy complimentary refreshments, a specialty drink called “Funeral Directors Rocks,” and curated goodie bags.

Tours departed every 10 minutes, guiding small groups through the entire solidification process from intake to completion. For many funeral professionals, it was their first time seeing the technology and meticulous care behind a process they routinely recommend to families.

Lindsay Harden with Crevasse’s Simple Cremations in Florida reflected on the emotional weight of the experience:

“All who attended the tour of the Parting Stone lab last weekend were forever changed in a way that was not anticipated. Funeral directors all have a fleeting moment of sheer terror at the Post Office when we mail cremated remains away to a third-party vendor to create the product requested by the family who entrusted their most beloved person into our care… During the tour of the Parting Stone lab, those fears were put to rest.”

“We all can now attest to the shared mindset of thoughtful care and consideration within the entire Parting Stone team. The gifts of precision, professionalism, compassion, knowledge, and truly wanting to make the best quality product possible were all extremely evident in our time together.”

That level of personal care was echoed by Jeri Lynn Davenport of Smith Family Funeral Home in Arkansas:

“It was such an honor to be able to visit and tour the Parting Stone lab. To see how the Parting Stone team personally handles each family member was touching. Each person is known by their name—not a number. This shows so much dignity and respect for the deceased.”

Parting Stone’s VP of Production, Kelse Lighthizer, welcomed the tour groups and shared her personal mission to always put families first. From growing the production facility from the ground up to building a team rooted in care, Kelse emphasized that every order is handled with dignity and precision.

CEO and Founder Justin Crowe addressed the group, sharing how powerful it was to see so many women leaders in deathcare gather under one roof:

“Having nearly 100 of the most influential women in funeral service walk through our lab was incredibly meaningful. Some we’ve known for years, some we just met—but all of them are shaping the future of this industry. It was an honor to share what we’re building at Parting Stone with people who care so deeply about families.”

The educational tour has been approved by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice (APFSP) for 0.5 CE credit—a bonus for attendees that underscores the value of the solidified remains option in the modern deathcare profession.

The event was a clear success, offering both inspiration and assurance to funeral professionals exploring the future of memorialization. As Lindsay Harden poignantly summarized, “Parting Stone has the full unwavering trust of our company, and we look forward to continuing to offer this wonderful option to each and every family that uses our services.”

Interested in offering solidified remains at your funeral home? Click here to work with Parting Stone.