With the advent of increased private equity ownership in the Death Care business there are not a lot of public companies to draw information from that you can compare with your own funeral home.  Quite frankly, the only two public companies where I seem able to find “comparable information” with locally owned funeral firms are Service Corporation International (SCI) and Carriage Services.

Interestingly, in the past couple of weeks both of those companies and Death Care supplier Matthews International were all in the news for various reasons.  Here’s a short synopsis of why.

First of all, SCI was involved as a participant at the Bank of America Leverage Finance Conference.  They were represented there by Senior Vice-President and Treasurer Aaron Foley who took part in a question and answer period with Bank of America Securities Larry Bland.  You can read a full transcript of the Q & A here from Seeking Alpha.

There is a lot of information for people interested in Death Care business in the Q & A.  I’ll note three items I found somewhat interesting and pretty much on trend with what I’ve heard around the profession in the past year.

• Cemeteries have great opportunities going ahead.  There is a market for “Premium Memorialization”.  Here’s what SCI’s Aaron Foley said about that issue:  “Cemetery side has continue(d) to be strong as well. We — as I know that we’ll talk about later, have a dynamic within our pre-need cemetery sales that has large sale dynamics but a core consumer dynamic as well. . . . . . But those large sales make up about 10% to 15% of our total cemetery preneed sales. And we’ve got teams out there that are constantly driving and trying to grow that.”  (Editor’s Note:  SCI considers sales of $80,000 and over Large Sales”

• The Pull-Forward effect on pandemic deaths has probably caught up and we have reached normalcy for death rates.  Here’s what SCI’s Foley said about that in the Q&A:  “I think where we stand today, it seems that, that has all kind of normalized out. . . . . .As we began our 2025 planning, we came out of this expectation after having seen in ’22, a decline of volume of 6% in ’23, 4% in ’24, we were down 2.5%. We expected 2025 to be about flat to slightly down. . . . . So seeing all those trends together kind of gives me some heart to say, I feel like we’re kind of at this normalized trend now for volume.”

• Cremation Growth has started to moderate.  Here’s what SCI’s Foley said on that dynamic in the Q&A:  “And where we stand at this 58% or so type cremation mix, when we’ve looked at other kind of Western cultures where the cremation mix has seemed to stabilize, that’s around that 70% to 80% type range. And so as we get closer to that, you would expect that, that slope should start moderating. But then when you look at a lot of the cities and urban areas that we do operate in the top 10 or 15, there’s a good chunk of those that are already kind of at or near that 70% to 80% type range. And so we’re expecting less of a pressure from that (growth of cremation) front going forward.”

Matthews International has sold their Warehouse Automation Business for $230 million.  As you may know, Matthews International operates in different business segments, with the largest, by revenue, segment its Memorialization Segment.  That segment consists of its Matthews Aurora business, The Dodge Company business, and businesses in the cremation and cemetery categories.

According to this information from Globe Newswire, “The proceeds from the transaction, net of taxes and transaction costs, will be primarily used to significantly reduce outstanding debt, further strengthening the Company’s balance sheet and enhancing its capacity to pursue future strategic initiatives.” 

Again, according to the press release, “The Warehouse Automation business generated sales of $72 million for fiscal 2025.”

If you follow the public stocks it is hard not to notice that Carriage Services has been on a deliberate plan to modernize not only their businesses but also their business plan and strategic outlook going forward.  It appears that what they are doing is being noticed not only by those of us in the Death Care business world but those who rate credit as well.

According to this note, S&P Global has elevated the Carriage Services to a B+ credit rating from a B rating.  S&P Global notes this upgrade is reflective of continued operational improvement and an anticipation of lower leverage going forward.

More news from the world of Death Care:

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,201 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

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

News from Suppliers and Practitioners that you can use:

“Tribute Technology has announced a new partnership with Family Shield Credit, the first fintech platform designed by funeral professionals to offer flexible, budget-friendly payment options for funeral homes and their client families. This collaboration integrates Family Shield’s proven financing platform into Tribute Technology’s ecosystem, making it easier than ever for funeral homes to provide families with the services they need without the burden of immediate financial constraints.”

For more complete information on this announcement click here. 

Tukios has introduced the New Horizon Obituary Template, the newest addition to the Tukios obituary lineup. This thoughtfully designed template brings a fresh, contemporary look to online memorials while staying true to what matters most, celebrating a life well lived.

According to a Tukios release, New Horizon pairs beautifully with their new video obituary cover art, giving families and funeral homes a cohesive visual experience across both video and web. Multiple stock video options are available, making it easy to customize each obituary to fit the tone, personality, and style of every service.

For more complete information on this announcement click here.

According to a press release from CANA, a growing membership and an emphasis on aligning content strategy with CANA’s mission and values has resulted in new and reorganized staff responsibilities. CANA Board President Lindsey Ballard praises these appointments and invites you to offer “Congratulations to Brie Bingham and Sara Corkery in their new roles and welcome Kenjuana Hall to CANA! Brie and Sara have brought decades of experience to CANA, increasing our reputation and shaping CANA’s voice. Kenjuana will bring fresh eyes to membership initiatives in the newly created role of Membership and Operations Manager.”

With these moves CANA continues to widen its focus to help member businesses recruit and retain a vibrant, diverse, and well-trained workforce and educate and best serve their families.  CANA continues to promote best practices in cremation through education, innovation, and collaboration.

For more information from CANA click here.

According to a release from PR Newswire,  Fortitude Research and Marketing announced the launch of Guidant, a technology company pioneering digital commerce solutions for cemeteries and funeral homes. The patented platform enables families to purchase cemetery property and related services directly from cemeteries, completely online — what they say is a “first for the deathcare profession”.

To learn more about Guidant you can click here.

A press release from PR Newswire that ended up being picked up by Yahoo Finance announced “that DFS Memorials, a network for connecting families with local, licensed funeral homes offering low-cost direct cremation services throughout North America, and Canadian Funerals Online, a family-run Canadian funeral planning platform, announced a formal partnership to enhance access to affordable, transparent direct cremation providers for families across Canada.

To learn more about this relationship you can click here.  

In an article from Insurance Edge we learned that Golden Leaves Funeral Plans, one of the United Kingdom’s most trusted and established pre-paid funeral plan providers,  announced the landmark acquisition of Avalon Funeral Plans. This transformative deal represents a major milestone for the sector, positioning Golden Leaves as one of the leading funeral plan providers across the UK and Europe, and the only FCA-regulated (Financial Conduct Authority) company dedicated to serving customers in both domestic and international markets.

To learn more about this acquisition click here.

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,201 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

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

Funeral Director Daily take:  Today is the day that the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in what I refer to as the “Tariff” case.  As most Americans know President Trump has actively set tariff rates on different countries around the world by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act  (IEEPA).  It is the first time that act has been used by a President for the implementation of tariffs since it was enacted in 1977.

From my layman’s point of view, the case centers on if the President has the power to impose tariffs, unilaterally, under this act.  Being a revenue issue tariffs have historically been a power that was thought to rest with Congress.  However, over the years Congress has delegated certain powers to the Executive branch of government and it is the President’s opinion that tariffs, at least in certain instances, are one of them.

Part of the President’s argument will be that tariffs are no longer simply a tax and spending issue.  The President believes that how we deal with the economics of the world are now a part of our national defense strategies as well as part of our economic strategies.

Here are a couple of articles that might help you in understanding what is involved:

Funeral Director Daily take:  I’ve brought up the “K-shaped” economy before.  Some statistics are believed to show that the upper asset end of the American consumers have fared very well, with asset growth and income, in the last few years and the lower asset group of Americans have fared not near as well —  actually not being able to bring in an income to simply pay their bills, much less having any chance to build their assets.

There is actually a little more evidence to that thought as in the past week credit reporting bureau TransUnion issued a report that the number of consumers classified as “low-risk, super prime borrowers” is on the rise.  The report states that in the past six years those with these very strong credit ratings has grown from 37.1% of Americans to 40.9% of Americans.

On the other hand, the report indicates that “the subprime segment, or riskier consumers with credit scores of 300 to 600, has also increased, . . while, the percentage of consumers in the in-between levels — near prime, prime, and prime plus — is lower than it was pre-pandemic, as more Americans shift to either extreme of the credit risk spectrum.”

Article — More consumers are slipping into the riskiest credit segment.  Yahoo Finance

Funeral Director Daily take —  Last but not least, and almost missed within the election and tariff court news, is the fact that last week the members of the Federal Reserve Board lowered the Federal Reserve rate by 1/4 of a percentage point.  That was somewhat expected, and will lower the cost of borrowing in America, however, there were some that thought the rate would be lowered by 1/2 of a percentage point.

Funeral Director Daily take —  What businesses may feel it next?. . . .The “it” being that Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright says is “Young Americans face growing student loan bills, slower wage growth and an unfavorable job market” which is reducing the amount being spent at what are referred to as “quick service restaurants” such as Chipotle.

Article — Younger Americans are dining out less.  Restaurants are feeling the the Squeeze.  Yahoo Finance

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,201 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

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

In a new world order that includes cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, and natural organic reduction it is sometimes forgotten that over 1 million caskets are sold in the United States every year.  To that discussion we will bring you some news from a couple of casket companies today.

Batesville, long known for its casket products, is continuing their transition to a total solutions company for funeral homes.  To that end they are introducing their “Remembrance Store” which will be a co-branded turnkey e-commerce storefront designed to generate incremental revenue streams for funeral homes.

According to this recent press release from Batesville,  “families are increasingly turning to outside providers and often shopping online for urns, remembrance jewelry, keepsakes, and other memorial products, leaving funeral homes vulnerable to both lost revenue and relationships”.

According to that press release:

• 58% of pre-need and 64% of at-need families researched funeral products such as urns and jewelry online, highlighting a need for shoppable digital resources consumers can access prior to contacting the funeral home.

• 30% of families buy urns before contacting a funeral home.

• 38% of pre-need and 37% of at-need consumers purchased remembrance products through Amazon.

• 32% of pre-need and 36% of at-need families consider shopping online to be a more ideal place to purchase memorialization products vs. only 20% at funeral homes.

Batesville’s “Remembrance Store”  will give families who prefer to shop online the convenience of purchasing through their trusted funeral home, which would allow funeral homes to capture that online revenue that may be going to other sources at this time.

Private Label Caskets, operating out of Indianapolis, Indiana, recently posted the following notice to their website:

Another Announcement ––  While we didn’t see it as a press release on the Batesville website we did receive the following notice from Batesville on their Facebook page which appeared on our Facebook scroll on October 28:

“We’re honored that Private Label has chosen Batesville as their recommended domestic supplier for their customers.  In times of change, we believe strength comes from partnership — and we’re committed to making this transition seamless for every funeral home they serve.  At Batesville, we’re proud to honor the tradition that defines this profession while driving the transformation prepares it for the future.”

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) recently released this report which predicts that traditional burial in a casket will drop from today’s selection rate of 33.2% to approximately 13.0% –  a number that is lower than was originally thought —  by 2045.

We question what that might mean for casket companies in raw numbers.  Here’s some available statistics and some projected ideas that may give meaning to that answer.

In 2024, the United States reported approximately 3.1 million deaths with a 33.2% burial rate.  Extrapolating those numbers would mean that about 1,029,000 caskets were needed for those burials.

In 2050, projections tell us that the United States will grow to about 380 million people and the death rate per thousand people will grow from today’s level of about 9.06 deaths per 1,000 people to about 10.3 deaths per 1,000 people because of an “older average age”.  Projections tell us extrapolating those numbers would bring about a raw number death total of about 3.9 million residents.  At a 13.0% casket useage that would mean that about 507,000 caskets would be needed for those deaths.

Total US Population
1950 = 148 million, 2010 = 309 million, 2025 = 343 million

So, if those population, death rate, and disposition projections hold up over the next two decades you can see that only about 1/2 of the caskets used today will be needed in 2050.  If those numbers hold up there will probably be casket company consolidations and, as Batesville is doing, branching of the company into other segments.

U.S. Death Rate
1950=9.65/1000, 2010=8.00/1000, 2021=10.40/1000, 2021 represents a rise per pandemic

More news from the world of Death Care:

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,201 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

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

OneRoom, the trusted funeral streaming provider, has appointed Justin Whatley as Chief Revenue Officer.

With more than 15 years in the profession and a family legacy in funeral service, Whatley brings deep industry knowledge and senior leadership to OneRoom’s work with funeral homes throughout North America.

“Justin knows the profession, and a lot of the people in it,” said Brady Cox, CEO of OneRoom. “He’s respected and understands what matters to funeral homes. As our platform continues to evolve, having someone of his calibre leading in the US gives us the senior focus and direct support our customers deserve.”

“OneRoom offered me the opportunity to give something truly valuable back to families,” said Whatley. “It allows people to attend remotely, but more importantly, it offers families the ability to go back and hear the poignant moments that reflect a loved one’s life well lived. That’s transformative.”

Based in Colorado, Whatley will lead OneRoom’s work with funeral homes across the United States and Canada He’ll focus on helping funeral homes reduce operational workload and provide families with a high-quality record of the service. With tools that work and leadership grounded in the profession, OneRoom is here to back funeral homes in doing their best work.

“COVID created this space, and for better or worse, it left some funeral homes unsure about how streaming fits,” Whatley added. “OneRoom has made it their mission to take the complexity out of it. I hope to show homes that this can be simple to offer, meaningful to families, and genuinely profitable. Profitability and serviceability do not have to be mutually exclusive.”

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is proud to announce that Lesley Witter, MPA, CAE, Senior Vice President, Advocacy, has been named one of the 2025 Top Lobbyists by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (NILE).

This prestigious, merit-based honor recognizes 100 government affairs professionals nationwide who have demonstrated exceptional legislative success, innovation, integrity and a commitment to ethical advocacy.

While the award celebrates an individual, it also reflects NFDA’s powerful leadership and unwavering presence in Washington, D.C., as the only funeral service association with a full-time presence dedicated to representing the profession on Capitol Hill

“For decades, NFDA has served as the strongest and most trusted voice for funeral service in our nation’s capital,” said NFDA CEO Christine Pepper, CAE, MBA. “Lesley’s recognition as a Top Lobbyist underscores the strength and credibility of our advocacy program. Her expertise, dedication and integrity make her a force in our Nation’s Capital. I am honored to work alongside Lesley as we ensure that the needs of funeral service professionals and the grieving families they serve are represented with compassion, integrity and impact.”

Witter has led NFDA’s advocacy efforts for nearly 19 years, shaping federal policy on behalf of thousands of funeral homes, funeral directors and grieving families nationwide. Her recent achievements include securing protections for embalming under the EPA’s final Risk Evaluation of formaldehyde; driving awareness of the need for oversight of the body donation industry; and advancing bipartisan legislation to honor and protect veterans and their families

“Lobbying and government affairs are essential to democracy because they give everyone a voice,” said Witter. “I chose to advocate for funeral service because I believe every voice deserves to be heard, not just the loudest or most powerful. This profession is about service, and lobbying in this space allows me to combine strategic advocacy with purpose-driven work. It’s about fairness, representation, and ensuring that those who serve others are not forgotten in the decisions that shape their ability to do so.”

Funeral Director Daily take:  As a person who enjoys the dynamics of politics, understands the intricacies and art of compromise, and has worked with legislators, I immensely enjoy Ms. Witter’s annual recap of her efforts on behalf of the NFDA membership.  It is presented each year at the NFDA Convention and while it is over for this year — it was on Sunday — make sure you take it in at future NFDA events.

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.”

Parting Stone, the pioneering company transforming cremated remains into solid, touchable stones, has announced the launch of their new Pre-Need Plans, making it possible for individuals to plan their memorials in advance and choose stones instead of ashes for their loved ones.

Justin Crowe, Founder and CEO of Parting Stone, says that Pre-Need planning with Parting Stone provides both emotional relief and a sense of legacy. This empowers individuals and their families to no longer wonder what will happen with their ashes. With Parting Stone, they can create a lasting tribute that is comforting, shareable, and tangible.

Since launching in 2019, Parting Stone has served more than 12,000 families across the United States and Canada. The addition of Pre-Need Plans makes the company’s innovative solidified remains service more accessible, empowering individuals to take control of their memorial choices.

Accessing and creating a Pre-Need Plan is simple and can be done entirely online through Parting Stone’s dedicated website. With just a few straightforward steps, individuals can secure their legacy and give their families lasting peace of mind.

Tribute Technology is partnering with Homesteaders Life Company 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.

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,201 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

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

News from Suppliers and Practitioners that you can use. . . .

From a Press Release from Foveo :

Foveo Memorial Services Inc. (“Foveo) and Tukios, one of the profession’s leading funeral home website platforms,
today (October 8) announced a first-of-its-kind integration that lets funeral homes book and embed live stream broadcasts directly into Tukios obituary pages with a single click.

The collaboration delivers the simplest way yet for funeral directors to live stream services for families.

Foveo CEO Trajan Schulzke made these comments in the press release, ““When you think of easy-to-use technology for funeral directors, Tukios leads the way.  We were excited to bring our streaming platform directly into the Tukios obituary workflow. Together, we’ve made professional live streaming effortless and 100% integrated within a platform funeral directors already know and trust.”

You can learn more about this product at the Foveo website here.

From a recent article in TechCrunch:

Nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook is now an investor in an “end-of-life” planning start-up.

According to this article from TechCrunch, company founder Donnell Beverly, Jr. approached his friend Russell Westbrook about becoming an investor in Eazewell.  The article then says, “Westbrook was in. Four-time NBA All-Star Kemba Walker also joined, and the trio launched Eazewell.”  

Again according to the article, “Eazewell is an AI-driven platform that helps families navigate and automate the administrative aspects of end-of-life and funeral planning. The startup’s AI agent gives people a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week resource and helps users with everything from finding and booking a funeral home to canceling credit card accounts for a deceased person.  

The company partners with different service providers, like hospice care, funeral homes, and various insurance companies, which allows the platform to be free to use with the option of paying for more premium features.”  

To access Eazewell’s website click here. 

From a press release from Anthem Partners:

Anthem Partners. . . has announced a new partnership with Chptr, a cutting-edge digital platform dedicated to honoring and celebrating lives through personalized storytelling. This collaboration will introduce Chptr’s suite of digital memorial tools—including custom video tributes, service listings, and digital death notices—across select Anthem locations, offering families new ways to share memories and preserve legacies online.

Chptr’s platform empowers funeral professionals to deliver beautifully branded memorial videos and digital death notices that can be shared across social media and local news outlets. By blending storytelling, video, and community engagement, Chptr helps extend the reach of each service and brings people together in remembrance.  The platform also reduces the time and cost historically associated with obituary writing and slideshow creation.

“We’re launching this exclusive partnership with a phased, market-by-market rollout,” said Chad Jackson, Executive VP of Operations at Anthem Partners, in a prepared statement in the press release.  “Our initial focus will be on three strategic markets where we anticipate a strong reception from the families we serve. This initiative not only enhances our service offerings but also strengthens our brand presence in communities.”

According to the press release, Anthem Partners is a privately held operator of funeral homes and cemeteries across North America. Founded by industry professionals and backed by long-term investors, Anthem is committed to honoring legacy, respecting community traditions, and supporting funeral professionals through sustainable growth.

To learn more about Anthem Partners click here.

From the Pinnacle Funeral Service Website:

Rollings Funeral Service and Pinnacle Funeral Service have formed a strategic partnership with Precoa and National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL).

According to the Pinnacle Funeral Service website, “Rollings Funeral Service and Pinnacle Funeral Service, two of the nation’s leading private funeral home operators, have formed a strategic partnership with Precoa and National Guardian Life Insurance Company  (NGL).

In a prepared remark on the website, Pinnacle VP of Operations Chris Hamiel made this comment, “This is a natural next step as we continue to invest in our operations and strengthen our ability to serve communities nationwide. Precoa’s model and NGL’s focus are exactly what we were looking for to support long-term preneed growth.”

Again, according to the website, “Rollings and Pinnacle are two of the fastest growing private funeral home operators in the nation. Combined they serve approximately 15,000 families annually from 95 locations throughout the United States and continue to grow through both operational initiatives and acquisitions.” 

To learn more about this strategic partnership click here.

From an e-mail bringing us new updates and features from Tukios:

We received an e-mail from Tukios recently telling us how they have updated their product in several ways to give more value to funeral home clients. . . .

• To learn how Tukios websites are leading the way with Generative Engine Optimization (the new SEO) click here.
• To learn how Tukios is partnering with Foveo and OneRoom to make livestreaming easier click here.
• To learn about Gift Snap, Tukios new way to showcase Gifts and Flowers on obituaries click here.
• To learn what is new in the Tukios Photo Gallery Option click here.
• To learn more about Tukios new Video Backgrounds for Obituaries click here.

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,201 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

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

It always seems to me that when the calendar turns to October I’m in for reacquainting with many of my friends in funeral service and meeting many new ones.  I’m guessing that is because the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) annual convention rolls around in that time period and I also look for opportunities to catch up with my continuing education credits before the end of the year.

If you can’t be at the NFDA gathering in Chicago in late October, and even if you can, Tribute Technology is hosting what they call Summit ’25 in early November in Longboat Key, Florida.  The event to take place over the dates of November 10-12, 2025, will offer many topics led by industry leaders.

For more information about the event click here.

From the Milestone Funeral Partners website:

Click here to learn about this headline “Inspiration meets UrnSpiration:  A Maine funeral collaboration.”

The article is about how Milestone Funeral Partners teams with Mainely Urns to transform the funeral arrangement experience.

To get more information about Mainely Urns click here.

More and more funeral directors, funeral home owners, and retired Death Care executives are interested in learning about how philanthropy and the idea of helping others with donations and gifts can become a bigger part of their lives.

“Join Community Giving for a conversation on the 2025 tax law changes and what the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) means for your charitable giving, estate planning, and corporate philanthropy strategies. This session will equip you with insights on how planning techniques—such as donating appreciated assets—can help you reduce tax burdens while maximizing impact. We’ll also discuss forward-looking approaches, including bunching gifts and utilizing donor-advised funds, to help you in navigating upcoming deduction limits.”

This event will take place on Thursday, October 30, 2025 via Zoom.  To learn more and to register click here.  

From a press release in OpenPR:

“Funeral home owners and directors now have access to actionable insights for modernizing their businesses. In Episode 10 of the 6 Feet Ahead Podcast, host Oscar Guerrero sits down with Jonathan Kepner, Co‐Owner and Licensed Funeral Director at Raymer‐Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, to discuss family legacy, operational innovation, and community engagement.”

To access this podcast click here

From an e-mail about the latest “2 Guys and a Question” podcast:

“In this episode of “Two Guys and a Question”, Alan Creedy and Danny Jefferson confront a hard truth: mediocrity is quietly shaping funeral service. Through decades of research and firsthand experience, they reveal how passive cultures, fear of change, and outdated habits keep funeral directors from achieving their true potential.”

To access this podcast click here 

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,201 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

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

Sunset continues to redefine their process of finding assets for families.  They recently announced that they have a new website that makes the search for assets even easier.

Sunset is a free service who earns their fee from bank partners after discovered assets sit in an estate account.

It’s a great service that funeral homes can offer their client families and may even be a way to find assets that a client family didn’t even know existed.

To learn more about Sunset you can access their website here.

From a press release from OneRoom:

From a press release from Tribute Technology:

Tribute Technology has announced the launch of a suite of new artificial intelligence tools designed to reduce administrative work for funeral professionals, cut down on online spam, and create a smoother online experience for families.

To learn more about Tribute Technology click here.

From a press release from Tukios:

Tukios, a leader in funeral technology solutions, is proud to announce the launch of an updated Photo Gallery feature, designed to give families a more meaningful and uplifting way to honor their loved ones online.

 

This introduces two new updated fresh, modern designs to choose from. These are located under the obituary section, allowing visitors to easily browse cherished images and relive memories through a beautifully presented gallery.

 

The updated Photo Gallery feature brings both style and substance to the online tribute experience. Photos beneath each obituary now appear in an elegant, refreshed format that brings memories to life. Visitors can then click “See More” to expand the gallery and browse additional images. Families and funeral homes can choose from three newly updated gallery styles, giving each memorial page a layout that best reflects the tone and personality of the tribute.

 

For funeral homes, the feature provides a modern look and feel that elevates the overall appearance of websites with a clean, contemporary design. It also integrates seamlessly, automatically updating under the obituary section without requiring additional setup. Tukios website users now have the ability to go onto any obituary and custom select which gallery style appears, offering greater flexibility and personalization. These features are created to put funeral homes at the center, giving them easy-to-use tools that allow them to serve families with confidence and care.

 

For families, the gallery offers more than just aesthetics, it creates a meaningful space to celebrate the life of their loved one through pictures. Each layout is designed to present memories in a respectful and uplifting way, ensuring that every image is displayed tastefully. Together, these updates make it easier for funeral homes to serve families with warmth while giving visitors a comforting place to reflect on treasured moments.

 

The Photo Gallery feature is available at no additional cost for funeral homes hosting their websites with Tukios. Funeral professionals can reach out to their Tukios account manager to learn more.

 

To learn more about Tukios click here.

CRON Specialties Launches Revolutionary Funeral Product Inspired by Social Media Frustration

From a press release from CRON Specialties:

Developed and perfected over seven years, the BodyGuard by CRON Specialties is crafted from durable 6 mil polyethylene plastic. Unlike conventional unionalls, the BodyGuard can be heat-shrunk to conform tightly to the body using a standard heat gun, eliminating excess bulk and minimizing noise. It’s cremation-safe and produces fewer chemical emissions than traditional alternatives.

 

Creator Ron Gresham, who has handled thousands of challenging cases—from trauma victims to advanced decomposition—recognized the need for a more adaptable solution. After extensive field testing through his trade embalming service, he launched CRON Specialties in May 2025. The response has been overwhelming, with orders pouring in from across the globe.

 

In response to requests from fellow funeral directors, Gresham has expanded the BodyGuard line to include heat-shrinkable pants, sleeves, and stockings, allowing targeted coverage for specific areas such as limbs. These additions further enhance the product’s versatility and ease of use.

 

“I’m not done yet,” Gresham shared. “There are more ideas in the pipeline to support embalmers and funeral professionals. This is just the beginning.”

 

To learn more about BodyGuard products click here. 

From a press release from the Living Urn:

Element by The Living Urn, a division Biolife, LLC that works exclusively with funeral homes, is excited to announce that it will be introducing a series of new and innovative U.S. made urns and keepsakes at the National Funeral Directors’ International Convention and Expo that takes place October 26-29, 2025 in Chicago.

 

Based in Colorado, Element by The Living Urn is committed to developing and providing unique cremation urns, keepsakes, and cremation jewelry serving families looking for afterlife options that can be more meaningful and personal. Its growing market leading product offering includes the patented Living Urn^®, the leading bio urn and planting system designed to grow a tree with cremated remains, The Living Urn^® Indoors, the Eco Scattering Urn, a unique bamboo urn for scattering ashes, the Eco Water Urn, a proprietary urn that floats and gracefully frees ashes in water, and various keepsakes including bracelets, pendants, and cremation stones that hold ashes. The company is developing additional proprietary cremation urns and keepsake urns that it will be introducing in the next few months.

See the complete press release from The Living Urn here. 

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,201 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

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

Funeral Director Daily distinguishes itself by being the Death Care “business daily” written by a life-long funeral home professional.  The goal is to bring news and thoughts that today’s Death Care professionals can use to move their current businesses forward.  That is accomplished by publishing thought provoking, original content on one subject per day.

However, there is also a necessary reason for letting those business leaders know what else is happening in the profession.  Funeral Director Daily has reached the point where almost all those who touch on the Death Care professsion supply us with information about their companies quite regularly.

We’ve decided, at least for a test period, that we will use one afternoon edition periodically to bring you some of that news.  It will be in simple one or two sentence formats with links available, when available, if you want to inquire further on a subject.  Today is our first day of trying this endeavor which we hope will allow you to keep even more up-to-date with the profession.

Foundation Partners Group names Leviathan Winn as Chief Financial Officer.  For more information click here.

Tukios is excited to share that it is releasing a new “Gift Snap Feature” – a much-requested feature designed to help funeral homes beautifully showcase tokens of love shared in memory of their loved ones.

Previously, gifts were only displayed on an obituary page only if they were purchased through a funeral home’s website. With Gift Snap, your staff can now add images and messages for any gift – whether purchased online, delivered locally, or handmade – making it easy to include every gesture of support for your families.

To learn more about the “Gift Snap Feature” and Tukios in general click here.

Security National Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: SNFCA), the parent company of Security National Life Insurance Company, will ring the opening bell of the NASDAQ Stock Market at 9:15 AM ET on Wednesday, September 24^th (tomorrow), in New York City.  Founded in 1965, Security National Financial Corporation has grown from its roots in Salt Lake City into a national leader in life insurance, funeral services, and mortgage lending. Over the decades, the company has stayed true to its founding mission: providing families with financial security, dignity, and peace of mind during life’s most important moments. 

To learn more about Security National Financial Corporation click here.

To learn more about Security National Life Insurance Company click here.

From Funeral Women Lead — Learn about their upcoming Women’s Leadership Academay

The Women’s Leadership Academy is a personalized, intimate experience designed to grow women’s leadership abilities. Through our customized curriculum, group gatherings, discussions and one-to-one coaching, we address the unique needs and challenges of you – a woman in the death care and funeral profession. The aim of this academy is empower women to become successful future leaders, managers and owners.

To Learn more about the Women’s Leadership Academy click here.

Starmark Funeral Products is pleased to announce a new partnership with Spencer, a global leader in casket handling equipment and body removal systems.

Spencer’s top-quality equipment is now available through Starmark, providing funeral professionals with access to Spencer’s industry-leading solutions alongside Starmark’s Guaranteed Best Pricing, Apples to Apples, Every Time products.

To learn more about Starmark Funeral Products click here.

To learn more about Spencer’s products available through Starmark click here. 

Continuing Education — As you look to secure your Continuing Education requirements for calendar year 2025 there are at least two organizations who can help you do so online.

For information from the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) and their online education programs click here.

For information from Wilbert and the WilbertEDU online education program click here.

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,201 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

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