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!

Can Your Funeral Stationery Platform Do This? Eulogize Just Made Personalization Even Easier. 

If you’ve seen the Eulogize stationery and video platform in action, you might think the guys behind it would be well pleased with their product. After all, it’s been less than a year since Australian co-founders Ben Sutton & Nick Kelly introduced Eulogize Memorials to the United States, and already, deathcare professionals in 13 states have used it to engage families and create stunning, personalized memorials. Despite this success, however, Kelly and Sutton won’t be satisfied until they’ve reached one goal.

“We’re constantly working to make the platform so intuitive that it’s almost impossible to make something look bad, the goal is to help anyone, no matter their tech experience, end up with something they’re proud to share ”says Kelly.  “This is still the North Star and the rule we apply to all new features, products, and options.”

Easier Than Ever

While this commitment to continuous improvement is impressive, you have to wonder what else the Eulogize team could possibly do to make their intuitive platform even easier to use. Well, if “hold my beer” means the same thing in Australia as it does here in the U.S., imagine Kelly and Sutton saying that as you read this partial list of recent Eulogize updates:

• Multiple AI-powered image editing tools, including instant photo enhancing and background removal,
• The ability to embed Eulogize tributes into any online obituary or funeral home website as a digital flipbook, with optional integration of a button leading to your sympathy store,
• Printing & Delivery available nationally on a range of premium paper options, and
• More and more optimization & customization features being implemented on a regular basis.

“Because Eulogize only does online tribute creation, 100% of our focus and improvements go towards making that experience better for our users” explains Sutton. “We have a long list of new features we can’t wait to keep rolling out”.

These enhancements complement the impressive features that set apart Eulogize from its competitors from the get-go, including:

You CAN do this

It’s highly likely that most deathcare professionals don’t hold degrees in graphic design or computer programming. Luckily, you don’t need either of these skills to create truly beautiful funeral programs, bookmarks, service cards, thank-you cards, and tribute videos in a matter of minutes. In fact, the idea to create a more approachable, easy-to-use memorial platform came to Ben Sutton after his mom struggled with the process of creating tributes for his grandmother’s funeral service.

“We always joke that we beta-test every new product with our moms,” Sutton told Connecting Directors last year, “but it’s really not a joke. If they can’t use it the first time, we rebuild it.”

Eulogize is now fully integrated within three leading case management platforms, and the team is working to launch several new integrations throughout 2025. In addition to shaving time off of the design process, these integrations also reduce the potential for errors in the final product.

Personalize your platform

Getting started with the all-in-one Eulogize platform is risk free, with no setup fees and a highly personalized onboarding experience. You and your team can decide which features and themes you’d like to use in addition to the level of collaboration and access you’d like to offer the families you serve.

While a picture is worth a thousand words, seeing Eulogize in action is worth a million. Nick Kelly and Ben Sutton are taking their show on the road this year to share the platform with as many funeral professionals as possible. You’ll find them at the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association state conference in Norman on April 6-8, in Las Vegas at the ICCFA Experience on May 1-3 and at the Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska Tri-State Expo in Kansas City May 4-7. 

And of course, one of the easiest ways to learn more about Eulogize is to book a complimentary demo with the team or reach out via the Eulogize website.

Register for Free Webinar

Thacker Caskets Introduces “Impressions by Thacker” – Personalization Redefined

Monrovia, MD – Thacker Caskets, Inc., the nation’s leading family-owned funeral supply company, is  excited to announce the launch of the newest personalization program, Impressions by Thacker. The  Impressions program is led by a brand-new innovation in funeral personalization, Thacker’s “Lid Art.” Lid  art is a graphic that is affixed to the casket via a magnet that creates the same effect as wrapping a  casket in a much more affordable and time efficient manner. 

In addition to the lid art, Thacker’s Impressions program features matching insert panels, memorial  portraits and photo inserts in various themes and designs. Families can reflect on their loved ones’ lives by choosing one of over forty designs, including hobbies and interests, religion, armed forces, and more.  This new program provides funeral homes with the option to offer families meaningful ways to honor  their loved ones and celebrate the life lived. Key features of this program include: 

Magnetic Casket Lid Art: A more affordable and timely solution for families who show interest in getting  a casket wrapped, the lid art is a full-length magnet that is easily installed on the lid of a casket. It is  available for most metal and ceremonial caskets. 

Insert Panels: Personalizing the insert panel of a casket adds a touch of individuality and allows for a  meaningful tribute to the departed loved one.  

Memorial Portraits: Showcasing a personalized memorial portrait provides a visual representation of  the departed, offering comfort and peace for family and friends.  

Photo Hardware Inserts: Available for Thacker’s Recollection Line of caskets, inserting photos on the  hardware allows families to showcase 4”x6” pictures in the hardware. They can choose to keep the  theme cohesive by selecting from Impressions, or they can provide personal photos for a completely  customized tribute.  

Danielle Thacker, VP of Marketing said, “We have recognized the growing interest by consumers of  unique methods of personalization. Consumers have begun going to sources outside the funeral  industry to achieve this. A great example is those consumers who have begun purchasing vinyl wrapped  caskets, just like a vinyl wrapped car. Thacker has answered this growing funeral consumer demand in a  way that is much more affordable and can be done on a traditional at-need delivery timeline with its  new lid art product.” Thacker went on to add, “Thacker also has created a ‘one-stop-shop’ for this  personalization in being able to provide funeral directors other add on items, like memorial portraits  and casket insert panels, that are within the same theme.” 

Thacker Caskets, Inc. has been a trusted partner to funeral professionals since 1939. Family-owned and  operated, Thacker is committed to delivering high-quality, innovative products. For more information, or  to learn more about Impressions by Thacker, please visit thackercaskets.com or call 800.637.8891.

Terrybear’s QuickProofs™ Technology Ends the Insanity of the Antiquated Personalization Process

Ever had a conversation like this?

The last thing you want to do is let a family down or even make them wait, but you have to admit that the traditional process of personalizing an urn to a family’s exact specifications can test your patience. And the worst part is that preparing for that meeting is just the half of it. There’s still faxing in your drafts to the manufacturer (better make sure you have an extra roll of circa 1990 thermal paper!), emailing the family proofs for approval, emailing them again with a reminder, and finally calling them to make sure they can sign off on the final version — if that is, indeed, the final version. 

It’s time to stop the insanity of the manual 20th-century paper-pushing personalization process and try Terrybear’s timesaving, all-digital QuickProofs™ technology through the Memory of a Lifetime online portal.

Specifically built to simplify your life

Highly-personalized deathcare products and services aren’t just a trend or occasional request; today, they are expected. They’re also your opportunity to turn a simple cremation into a truly memorable experience. 

“Personalization turns an urn into a memorial,” says Brent Thorson, Manager of Client Success & Growth at Terrybear. “And it’s a value-add for the funeral home. But I’ve seen so many funeral directors who dread it because of a complicated process. Terrybear’s QuickProofs process changes that for them.”

Thorson explains that Terrybear approached the QuickProofs™ personalization technology with the mindset of a funeral director. 

“They need an easy way to get a family to sign off,” he says. “They need an easy way to showcase the product with the customization and to show a couple of features. And they need the ability to let the family see different options. We want them to stop doing this manually.”

Save paper, time, and your sanity

Terrybear introduced its online platform, MemoryofaLifetime.com, in 2019 to give funeral homes easy access to the products in their extensive catalog. The platform allows directors to let a family browse for urns and other products as well as create an engraving proof while they’re still in the arrangement room. 

You can also create a unique URL to email to families who just aren’t ready to select a product during the arrangement session. QuickProofs™ displays what they type in real time so they can see exactly what it will look like on the selected product. Families can save multiple drafts with different fonts, art, or words to share with others for additional feedback, as well. This is just one more time-consuming task that Terrybear’s portal removes from the funeral home’s list of responsibilities.

This 24/7 online shopping option allows families to shop from the comfort of their own homes on their own timetable. When an order is placed, you’ll receive a notification and details so you can still manage the order. The Terrybear team takes it from there, providing lightning-quick turnaround on all orders.

“We have a full staff dedicated to personalization,” says Thorson. “It’s blown up at our company, and I don’t think it’s going to slow down. With QuickProofs™ and Memory of a Lifetime, we’re offering that Etsy-like experience. Families can go to a digital tool, type in the text, select everything they need, and never even have to talk to a person. But they’re not buying from Etsy; they’re buying from your funeral home.”

Customized for you, too

“One of the things we’ve heard in the last several years is that families are ordering their urns online; they’re going to Amazon, they’re going to Etsy,” Nikki Nordeen, Terrybear’s Director of Marketing & Business Development, shared with Connecting Directors recently. “We wanted to offer funeral homes the ability to have their own ecommerce site so they can compete with the Amazons and the Etsys and offer a great, beautiful user experience — and not lose those sales to online vendors.”

The recently revamped Memory of a Lifetime portal allows  you to customize and brand the site and make it your own, complete with your own logo, unique URLs, and your firm’s retail pricing. 

“The site looks like it’s part of your funeral home’s website,” said Nordeen. “You can upload your retail prices so the families will see all of the pricing that matches exactly the way you want to sell it. It’s not like we choose a price and you make a commission. With the new site, you choose 100% how much money you want to make. It’s 100% in the hands of the funeral home.”

The new pricing feature also helps you adhere to The Funeral Rule and ensures that your online pricing matches your General Price List.

Don’t wait any longer

It’s time to stop pushing paper, feeding a fax machine, and spending hours of your already-limited days chasing after approvals. Terrybear’s QuickProofs™ technology will forever change the way you approach personalization, and your families will thank you for it.

You can try out Terrybear’s Memory of a Lifetime digital portal at absolutely no cost, and trust that Terrybear will deliver the quality, service, and support you’ve come to expect. To get started, simply visit Terrybear.com/join to register. If you need additional assistance do not hesitate to call Terrybear directly at 1.888.588.8767, they will ensure you get set up to begin using this free tool.