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”

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”

With all that is happening in our econony it is very difficult to get an idea of where that economy is heading.  With all of the different indexes in place today and many seeming to go in opposite directions it is hard to get a barometer of where the United States economy is heading.  Yesterday, I was again reminded how difficult it is to see a downturn coming and an article in Yahoo Finance’s daily bulletin gave some rather different indications on why we might be seeing one soon.

The article, which you can read here, gave a couple of indications that the economy was slowing.  These weren’t your normal indications such as quantifiable numbers like interest rates, tariff revenue, and the consumer price index.  No, these were much more interesting.  Here’s a couple of indicators that the author looked at:

Cardboard Box Production —  “Cardboard box demand is sometimes seen as an indicator of economic health, since the majority of what consumers purchase touches corrugated cardboard. Here’s the not-so-great news: Right now, US box makers are cutting back on production.”  That was one of the quotes at the beginning of the article.

If you think looking at cardboard box production is an unusual bellwether of the economy, the article states that former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan tracked cardboard prices during his tenure.

Furthermore, here’s what Virginia Tech economist Jadrian Wooten says, “The cardboard box industry is incredibly large — we’re talking close to $100 billion in revenue.  What I always tell my students at Virginia Tech is that it’s four times as big as the NFL, and they hear about the NFL every day, on TV, on social media, there are video games about it. We don’t have that about the cardboard box industry. It’s so much more important.”

Wooten continued, “This is actually the peak time for the holiday season that we would expect to see ramp-ups in cardboard box production happening.  That’s probably the biggest concern in terms of a pending recession: Companies are not ordering cardboard boxes to put their products in to then send to Target or Walmart for the holiday season.”

Home Depot Skeleton sales —  Apparently there are “lackluster sales” at Home Depot for their 12-foot Halloween skeleton figures.  At least one person is watching the sales of these items to gauge how the economy is handling discretionary sales.  And the results show that in 2023 the entire inventory of these $299 items were sold out within one hour of being put on the floor.  Last year they were sold out by noon on that first day and this season after one day of sales Home Depot still showed 3,000 of them left in inventory.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  The article called these and other indicators “less than traditional measures to watch” and I feel the same way.  On the other hand it was interesting to read of them and I thought the readers of Funeral Director Daily probably have some items of their own to look at when discussing the state of the economy.

I thought readers of Funeral Director Daily would enjoy this little off-the-beaten-track method of projections, but just to make sure it fit in my purveyance of Death Care related business news and thoughts I decided to include this article from MKS&H Business Consultants titled “Preparing for Economic Downturns:  Financial Resilience in the Death Care Industry“.

Death Care is a good place to be during an economic downturn as your demand will not go down.  However, how consumers handle their specific situation when a death occurs may be different that when times are good.  The linked article gives some good, common sense advice for operating in a down economy.

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”

Who’s Watching Over Deathcare Workers? Meet the Patron Saints of the Profession

Every job has its heroes. Doctors look up to Hippocrates, firefighters honor St. Florian, and bakers have St. Honoré keeping watch. But did you know that deathcare professionals also have saints watching your backs?

The concept of patron saints — heavenly helpers who protect and work alongside certain individuals, groups, or members of a certain profession — has been a Catholic tradition for centuries. When it comes to occupations, the actions or missions of a saint often guide who is chosen to be their patron. 

Considering the emotional, physical, and sometimes spiritual weight of deathcare, it makes sense that funeral directors, cemeterians, and crematory operators would have their own set of protectors. If you haven’t selected your own patron saint of deathcare, luckily, you have five to choose from. Some are obvious choices, others a little surprising, but all carry lessons that resonate with anyone who works in deathcare today. 

The First Undertaker: St. Joseph of Arimathea

If funeral directors had a Hall of Fame, St. Joseph of Arimathea would be front and center. His claim to fame? He’s the guy who, according to the Gospels, bravely went to Pilate after the crucifixion and asked for Jesus’s body. He wrapped it in linen, placed it in his own new tomb, and made sure Christ was buried with dignity.

That’s why Joseph is often called the “first undertaker.” He didn’t have a hearse, embalming machine, or casket showroom—but he did have courage and compassion, two traits that remain at the core of the profession. For funeral directors today, he’s the ultimate role model: someone who stepped in during a moment of crisis to make sure the body was treated with honor.

St. Peter: Keeper of the Keys

We usually think of St. Peter as the gatekeeper of heaven, but in some traditions, deathcare workers have looked to him, too. After all, while funeral professionals prepare the body for burial here on Earth, Peter is the one said to swing open the pearly gates. It’s a fitting partnership—one handling the earthly passage, the other handling the eternal.

The Good Thief: St. Dismas

Here’s one you might not expect: St. Dismas, better known as the “Good Thief” who was crucified next to Jesus. In medieval times, burial guilds often prayed to Dismas when they laid to rest the poor, the forgotten, or those who had no family to claim them.

For modern funeral directors, especially those who take on county or pauper cases or care for the growing number of unclaimed, Dismas is a reminder that every life has value. Even in tough circumstances, compassion and dignity matter.

St. Anthony and St. Roch: Helpers in Hard Times

Two other saints sometimes get an honorary mention in the funeral world:

• St. Anthony of Padua, famous for helping people find lost things, was also invoked for the souls of the dead. Funeral guilds used to ask for his help in guiding souls to their final resting place.
• St. Roch, a patron saint of plague victims, became a hero to undertakers during outbreaks. When others fled, undertakers stayed behind, burying the dead at great personal risk. Roch’s story of self-sacrifice resonated with those who saw their work as both dangerous and holy.

Why It Matters Today

Now, most funeral homes don’t keep a shrine to St. Joseph of Arimathea in the prep room. But there’s something powerful about knowing that this profession has sacred roots that go back thousands of years.

The saints tied to deathcare represent courage, guardianship, compassion, remembrance, and sacrifice—the same values funeral directors live out every day. When you’re arranging a service for a grieving family, or making sure a person no one else claimed still gets a proper burial, you’re carrying on the spirit of Joseph, Peter, Dismas, Anthony, and Roch.

In other words, you’re part of a much bigger story. Undertakers, morticians, and funeral directors have always been more than just practical problem-solvers—they’ve been guardians of dignity, guides through grief, and keepers of community memory. And whether or not you believe in saints, it’s hard not to feel a little pride in knowing your profession has heavenly company.

In the last couple of years we’ve had “The Burial” and most recently “The Mortician” series to pound unflattering stereotypes of the Death Care profession to the consumer world via streaming platforms.  “The Burial” was based on the true life story of funeral home consolidation company The Loewen Group and some of their alleged corrupt business practices.  And, “The Mortician” series was based on the true-life antics and out-of-the-norm, including mass cremation, practices of Los Angeles mortuary and cremation company Lamb Funeral Home and one of their owners David Sconce.

It’s probably fair to say that neither production was good public relations for the businesses and people who work hard every day to bring memorialization options and grief relief to hundreds of thousands of Americans.

In late July Shudder Productions announced that they are in the process of producing a full-length movie based on the popular fictional video game “The Mortuary Assistant“.   In general, the game and movie are based on young student Rebecca Owens who takes a job as a mortuary assistant at the fictional River Fields Mortuary based in Connecticut.

According to this article in Deadline, actress Willa Holland has been cast in the role of Rebecca Owens and actor Paul Sparks (from House of Cards fame) has been cast as mortuary owner Raymond Delver.

According to various sources the movie is currently filming in Missouri and is planned to be released in 2026.

Additional Information —  “The Mortuary Assistant” information from IMDb.

Related — “The Mortuary Assistant” video game information from Wikipedia

More news from the world of Death Care:

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,199 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

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

Tribute Technology Announces 2025 Tech-Enabled Funeral Home Award Winners, Honoring Innovation Across the Funeral Profession

Celebrating Leadership, Technology Adoption, and Excellence in Family Care

WAUNAKEE, WI — Tribute Technology is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Tech-Enabled Funeral Home Awards, which recognize funeral service professionals and organizations who are advancing the profession through thoughtful use of technology. These annual awards highlight leaders who are redefining the family experience, streamlining operations, and strengthening community connections through innovation.

“The 2025 award recipients continue to inspire the profession by embracing digital tools that create more meaningful, accessible, and compassionate experiences for the families they serve,” said Courtney Gould Miller, President of Commercial Markets at Tribute Technology. “Each honoree demonstrates how purposeful use of technology can transform funeral service while preserving the care and human touch that defines it.”

2025 Tech-Enabled Funeral Home Award Recipients

Innovation Impact: Water Cremation Technologies:
Tom Tierney, Owner of The Green Cremation

Outstanding Organization-Wide Innovation:
Lindsay Granson, Chief Operating Officer at Heritage Family Funeral Services

Unified Service Through Technology:
Ryan Johnson, Funeral Director at Knapp-Johnson-Harris Funeral Home

Leader in All-in-One Technology:
Anthem Partners

Leader in Personalized Memorial Experiences:
Givnish Funeral Homes

The Connected Care Award:
Brian Joseph, President of Verheyden Funeral Homes

Website Connected Video Displays:
Paul St. Pierre, President of St. Pierre Family Funeral & Cremation Services

Marketing Thought Leader for ObitShare:
Bob Arrington, President and Founder of Arrington Funeral Directors

About Tribute Technology:

Tribute Technology’s mission is to bring the best technology to all funeral homes, to help communities around the world celebrate life, and to pay tribute to loved ones. Over 9,000 end-of-life providers already use Tribute Technology’s software and product offerings, including websites, marketing services, management software, online planning, personalized memorial keepsakes, payment processing, and other solutions. Tribute Technology is focused on innovating to help funeral directors save time on tasks, so they can focus more on connecting with the families who have lost a loved one. The company’s goal is to give funeral directors everything they need to run their business in one place, making their lives easier.

Photo Caption:  Courtney Gould Miller, President of Commercial Markets at Tribute Technology, announces the winners of this year’s Tech-Enabled Funeral Home Awards—honoring firms that are pushing the profession forward through innovative and strategic use of technology.

Tech Turbocharge in Baltimore to Elevate the Deathcare Profession with Digital Tools and Insights 

Join Your Peers on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 

When you come to Tech Turbocharge: Digital Tools to Elevate the Deathcare Profession, you’ll learn how to put technology to work for you, your staff, and most importantly – the families you serve.

On Dec. 11, 2025, some of the most trusted experts in deathcare will come together at the DoubleTree by Hilton Baltimore – BWI Airport to reveal why it’s so important to embrace new technology solutions and which tools can help your funeral home, crematory and/or cemetery boost market share. You’ll walk away with a blueprint so you can:

• Enhance the family experience: Modern tools provide personalized, seamless communication, helping families feel more supported during difficult times.
• Boost operational efficiency: Automation and integrated systems reduce administrative burdens, allowing staff to focus on compassionate service.
• Improve revenue streams: Advanced marketing and analytics tools can drive more preneed and at-need cases by reaching the right families at the right time.
• Future-proof your business: Early adoption of technology ensures long-term competitiveness as consumer expectations continue to evolve.

Visit www.TechTurbocharge.com to learn more about the event – or just click on the events tab on FuneralVision.com.

Continuing education applications for the event, which is hosted by FuneralVision.com, are underway.

“Whether it’s communicating with families over the phone, using technology to make services more personal, streamlining business processes or leveraging the potential of artificial intelligence, technology is increasingly at the core of funeral service,” said Thomas Parmalee, founder of FuneralVision.com. “We’re excited to offer an event that focuses on how funeral homes, crematories, combination operations and cemeteries to use technology to retain and boost market share, while also enhancing customer satisfaction and profitability.”

Speakers include:

Matthew Bailey is a sixth-generation licensed funeral director and embalmer, certified celebrant, certified crematory operator and celebrant trainer. He owns Connecticut Life Tributes, which includes B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, Bailey Funeral Home and Carpino Funeral Home. He will deliver a session titled “Tech that Touches: Using Technology to Enhance the Human Experience in Funeral Service.”

Minh Reid, manager of e-commerce and web strategy at Carriage Services, is a strategic leader in digital merchandising, e-commerce and site optimization, recognized for driving meaningful improvements in user experience and digital performance.  As manager of e-commerce and web strategy at Carriage Services, she spearheads initiatives that combine data-driven insights with compassionate design, helping funeral homes and cemeteries create digital experiences that are as supportive and accessible as in-person care.  

Brent Thomas, head of business development at Dead Ringers, has more than 28 years of experience in the deathcare profession. He began his journey in cemetery and funeral preneed sales before quickly advancing into sales leadership roles. He went on to work at Batesville and also led the sales training and development team at Homesteaders Life Company. He will deliver a session titled “Beyond the Call: Using Analytics, Learning and AI to Elevate the Customer Experience.”

Welton Hong, founder and CEO of Ring Ring Marketing and the secret weapon behind some of the deathcare profession’s highest volume firms, will deliver a presentation titled “Tech-Savvy Growth: How AI and Digital Marketing Can Elevate Your Business.”

Cole Waybright is the vice president of sales optimization at Homesteaders Life Company. He formerly was an executive at Foundation Partners Group, serving as vice president of sales operations, director of preneed and as a preneed manager. He will deliver a session titled “Breaking Silos: Maximizing Efficiency with Integrated Technology.”

Reserve Your Seat Early and Save Money! 

The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Baltimore – BWI Airport is 10 minutes from Baltimore/Washington International Airport, with a free 24-hour shuttle both ways.

Its location near I-195 offers easy access to downtown: Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium, and the Inner Harbor are eight miles away. Enjoy a warm chocolate chip cookie when you arrive!

Register for Tech Turbocharge before Sept. 12 and you will pay only $229 per ticket, which includes breakfast and lunch. After the early-bird expires, everyone pays $349.

Reserve your hotel room at our special rate here:  https://group.doubletree.com/9nhuvg

Tech Turbocharge would not be possible without our generous sponsors, including our Platinum sponsor, Homesteaders Life Company; and our Gold sponsors, Celebrate Life Co., ASD – Answering Service for Directors, Nomis Publications and Ring Ring Marketing.

Don’t miss your chance to join your peers and move your business forward by signing up for Tech Turbocharge.

Don’t forget: Visit www.TechTurbocharge.com to learn more about the event – or just click on the events tab on FuneralVision.com.