OGR Announces Nominees for Prestigious Industry Awards

Indianapolis (March 17, 2025) – The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is proud to announce this year’s finalists for OGR’s Professional Service Awards. We congratulate these funeral homes that have exhibited outstanding compassion for the families they serve and a commitment to their community. Nominees will be recognized at the Golden Circle Celebration on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at OGR’s signature event, PROGRESS, held in Riverside, Calif.

OGR is the world’s leading professional association dedicated to making independent funeral homes exceptional. The Golden Rule Community Service Awards are awarded in recognition of a funeral home’s outstanding community service as demonstrated by activities benefiting local organizations or community events.

2025 Community Service Nominees:

• Arlington Memorial Chapels, Inc. | Quezon City, Manila, Philippines
• Veterans Funeral Care | Clearwater, FL
• Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory | Yankton, SD
• Brunswick Memorial Home | East Brunswick, NJ

The Exemplary Service Awards are given to firms for outstanding customer service provided to families during their time of loss. Nominees were selected based on comments families provided through OGR’s Family Contact Survey Program.

2025 Exemplary Service Award Nominees:

• Jakubs – Waite Funeral Home | Cleveland, OH
• Freitag Funeral Home Service | Bridgeton, NJ
• Koch Funeral Home | Ellicott, MD
• Harrod Brother’s Funeral Home | Frankfort, KY
• Moore Family Funeral Service | Tulsa, OK
• Heafey-Hoffman-Dworak-Cutler Mortuaries & Crematory | Omaha, NE
• Plummer Funeral Services, INC. | Litchfield, IL
• Stewart Family Funeral Home | Tyler, TX
• Oliverie Funeral Home | Manchester, NJ
• Moore Funeral Service | Hattiesburg, MS
• Farmer & Son Funeral Home, Inc. | Geneva, NE
• Brunswick Memorial Home | East Brunswick, NJ
• Pray Funeral Home, Inc. | Charlotte, MI
• Osborne Funeral Home | Williamsport, MD

“This type of work helps bring communities together. It is exceptional OGR members like these that embrace and encourage community involvement and excellence in service year-round,” said Wendy King CAE, CVA, OGR’s Executive Director.

###

About the International Order of the Golden Rule

Since 1928, the International Order of the Golden Rule has been the leading professional association dedicated to promoting high ethical standards and outstanding service in the funeral and memorialization profession. OGR members represent the elite in the industry, consistently providing compassionate and personalized care to families in their time of need. OGR is headquartered in Indianapolis. For more information, visit www.ogr.org.