Cedar Hill Funeral Home Unveils Extensive Renovations

Second chapel, other key elements to assist grieving families, now open

Suitland, Md. (December 15, 2025) – Everstory Partners, one of the nation’s largest deathcare providers, is transforming its funeral homes to emphasize hospitality and comfort for families.

This weekend, Cedar Hill Funeral Home became the latest Everstory Partners location, under the Memorial Planning brand, to be transformed in this new direction.

“We want our guests to feel as comfortable as possible as they say goodbye to someone they love,” said Matt Sobon, senior vice president of operations, Everstory Partners. “We have researched deathcare approaches around the world, and everything shows our industry needs to focus on hospitality and how we care for our customers.”

Cedar Hill Funeral Home is one of the busiest locations in the Memorial Planning network. Serving Cedar Hill Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, and Washington National Cemetery, the funeral home hosts nearly 1,400 services each year.

“Cedar Hill Funeral Home provides a welcoming and caring space,” said Reverend Jerome (Sam) Tarver, pastor, Maple Springs Baptist Church and emcee of the December 13 ribbon cutting. “More importantly, a haven for peace and hope. It’s more than bricks, mortar, and fresh paint; more than a Java bar or new meeting rooms. It’s about ministry that walks with families in difficult times.”

Throughout the funeral home, the renovations introduce modern design elements, including updated colors, furniture, and fixtures, to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

The highlight of the renovation is a second chapel, doubling the existing capacity and now accommodating services for up to 200 guests.

Key renovation highlights include:

• Redesigned reception areas that create a warm, welcoming first impression.
• A dedicated family suite offering a private, intimate space for loved ones.
• Well-appointed meeting rooms designed for planning funeral and cemetery services.
• A Java bar where guests can relax and enjoy refreshments.

“Cedar Hill Funeral Home and its cemeteries have been a central part of this community for more than a century,” said Sheria Jennings, funeral home manager, Cedar Hill Funeral Home. “These renovations show our commitment to this area, providing comfort for families during their times of need.”

About Memorial Planning

Memorial Planning, the parent brand of Cedar Hill Funeral Home, is a family-focused network of cemeteries and funeral homes, offering personalized end-of-life services. With over 450 locations, Memorial Planning providers proudly serve over 66,000 families a year.

Visit memorialplanning.com to learn more and for a list of locations.   

About Everstory Partners

Everstory Partners’ mission is to create supportive spaces where individuals and families can find solace, meaning, and hope in the midst of loss. Since 1999, the company has grown to include 463 cemetery, funeral, and crematory locations serving more than 65,000 families a year across the United States (including Puerto Rico) on both a pre-need and at-need basis. Everstory is the brand promise, created in April 2023 to destigmatize death care with a unique blend of long-standing traditions of caring for the deceased with a fresh perspective that death is a natural and beautiful part of the human experience that should be planned and celebrated.

Visit everstorypartners.com to learn more and memorialplanning.com for a list of properties and contact information.

Celestis Unveils Mars300: Humanity’s First Memorial Spaceflight to Mars

Continuing 30 years of pioneering space memorials, now, to the Red Planet.

Houston, Texas — Celestis, Inc., the pioneer and iconic global provider of memorial spaceflights, announces Mars300, the first memorial mission to carry symbolic portions of cremated remains and human DNA to Mars (www.Celestis.com/Mars300). This historic project extends humanity’s presence to another world while upholding rigorous planetary-protection standards. 

Building on a record of history-making missions, Celestis has opened reservations for the first 300 participants aboard Mars300. The mission will fly as a secondary payload on a future Mars-bound cargo spacecraft. Participant payments will be held in a dedicated, bank-maintained, federally-insured trust account under the client’s control until the launch date and provider are confirmed. 

Celestis is uniquely positioned to offer this service. Since 1997, the company has conducted 24 memorial spaceflights, including to the Moon and to deep, heliocentric space, serving 3,000+ clients worldwide and maintaining bank-managed trust accounts for families around the globe. With a 10% down payment, families may reserve a place among the first humans to symbolically reach Mars. Celestis has flown 100% of its scheduled missions and will add Mars300 to that manifest. 

All Celestis missions are engineered and conducted to maintain strict preservation of the space environment. For Mars300, Celestis will conform to COSPAR planetary protection protocols, ensuring the payload is biologically inert and sterile for the Martian environment. 

Each participant’s DNA or a symbolic portion of their cremated remains are received by mail and prepared through carefully controlled processes. Under a licensed funeral director’s supervision, cremated remains are sealed within a custom-engraved, aerospace-grade aluminum flight capsule engineered to remain inert under Martian conditions. DNA cheek swabs are preserved through a proprietary process that captures the participant’s entire genome within a biostable matrix, a durable white powder designed to withstand the rigorous demands of interplanetary travel. Once prepared, all capsules are hand-delivered to the launch provider for integration onto the spacecraft bound for Mars.

How It Works 

• Collection & Preparation: Celestis securely collects and encapsulates cremated remains or DNA in aerospace-compliant capsules designed for stability and sterility. 
• Integration & Launch: Capsules are integrated onto the spacecraft under Celestis supervision to maintain exacting quality and safety standards. 
• Commemoration: Celestis hosts a series of launch-centered memorial events, including a memorial service, astronaut hosted reception, and private viewing experience, uniting families in a shared moment of remembrance and celebration.

“This mission represents humanity’s next responsible step toward the stars,” said Charles Chafer, CEO and co-founder of Celestis. “By sending cremated remains and human DNA to Mars, we unite science, exploration, and legacy in a way that speaks to our shared destiny beyond Earth.” 

For more than 30 years, Celestis has helped families transform loss into legacy, sending their loved ones’ memories among the stars. With Mars300, that legacy now reaches the Red Planet, where each capsule will rest as a timeless testament to life, love, and our shared journey through the cosmos.

About Celestis, Inc. 

Founded in 1997, Celestis (www.Celestis.com) conducts sustainable memorial spaceflights that celebrate life as an eternal journey. From launches to space with return, Earth orbit, the Moon, and deep space, Celestis unites aerospace precision with the timeless human desire for meaning and remembrance, while upholding space-environment and planetary-protection standards. 

Tukios Unveils Enhanced Event Management/RSVP Software

Ogden, UT – August 27, 2025 — Tukios, a leader in funeral technology solutions, is proud to announce enhancements to its Event Management and RSVP software, a powerful feature designed to streamline event planning, registration, and payment processing for funeral directors. Tukios saw the need for these enhancements as funeral directors were often relying on generic-mainstream solutions, so this software was built specifically with the funeral home industry in mind.

With improved usability, customization, and performance, this feature makes it easy for funeral homes to manage events directly on their websites. These can include community workshops, grief support groups, memorial services, and educational seminars. By combining simplicity with robust functionality, this upgraded tool empowers funeral directors to strengthen connections with the communities they serve while improving operational efficiency.

Key Features and Benefits

The Event Management and RSVP feature provides funeral professionals with a comprehensive suite of features, including:

• Event Creation and Customization – Create and publish events online, complete with details, images, and personalized registration options.
• Online Ticketing and Payments – Set ticket prices, accept secure payments, and manage transactions without additional systems.
• RSVP Tracking – Monitor attendance at a glance, with real-time updates for smooth planning and coordination.
• Participant Information Collection – Gather custom registration details to better prepare for each event.

By centralizing all aspects of event management into your backend website dashboard, funeral directors can save valuable time while offering a convenient, user-friendly experience for participants.

Meeting the Evolving Needs of Funeral Homes

The continued development of the Event Management and RSVP software reflects the growing importance of event-based services within the funeral profession. Families are increasingly seeking personalized, meaningful experiences to celebrate life, and funeral homes are responding by hosting a wider variety of gatherings and programs.

Industry Impact

This advancement represents a major step forward for funeral service professionals who want to grow their community outreach, modernize operations, and enhance their websites with practical, revenue-generating features. Beyond efficiency, the upgraded tool also helps funeral homes stand out as trusted event hosts, strengthening their reputations and building lasting relationships with families.

Availability

The enhanced Event Management and RSVP software is available at no cost to funeral homes hosting their website with Tukios. Funeral professionals are encouraged to contact their Tukios account manager to learn more about integrating the software into their existing website.

About Tukios

Tukios creates software to improve funerals. Their innovative platform powers thousands of funeral home websites, stunning video tributes, and streamlined e-commerce experiences. Tukios is known for leading the profession in AI technology, offering tools that simplify day-to-day tasks, elevate the online experience, and keep funeral homes visible and relevant in an ever-changing digital landscape. Whether it’s a family visiting a website or an AI assistant looking for answers, Tukios ensures your story is told clearly and beautifully every time.

Dead Ringers Welcomes Industry Veteran Brent Thomas and Unveils Enhanced Customer Experience Support Services for Deathcare Professionals 

Cincinnati, Ohio – May 22, 2025 – Dead Ringers, pioneering customer experience expert for the deathcare profession, officially announces the appointment of Brent Thomas as Head of Business Development—alongside a slew of new service options designed to support businesses at a higher level. 

With nearly a decade of research encompassing over 50,000 mystery calls to funeral homes and cemeteries, Dead Ringers has evolved beyond mystery shopping to become a premier training partner for deathcare establishments seeking measurable growth. 

“Bringing Brent Thomas on board represents a pivotal moment in Dead Ringers’ journey,” says Mandie Hungarland, COO at Dead Ringers. “To date, we’ve relied on word-of-mouth to grow—which has worked surprisingly well, but it’s time the world sees what we’re really capable of. Brent’s industry expertise and proven track record in developing effective sales and training strategies align perfectly with our mission to transform CX in the deathcare profession.” 

Brent brings over 28 years of experience in the deathcare profession, beginning his journey in cemetery and funeral preneed sales before quickly advancing into sales leadership roles. Joining Batesville in 2002, he has played instrumental roles, including helping to launch a pet cremation startup, serving as a cremation subject matter expert, and consulting on key accounts. More recently, Brent led the sales training and development team at Homesteaders Life Co. He’s gained award-winning recognition as a business consultant, trainer, coach, mentor, and strategic sales leader. 

“I am thrilled to join Dead Ringers because of the company’s innovation and stellar reputation,” Brent shares. “The extensive training Dead Ringers provides to deathcare professionals daily is remarkable, though often underappreciated. I knew I had to be part of this impactful journey to help funeral professionals deliver the best possible customer experience.” 

In conjunction with this strategic hire, Dead Ringers has formally unveiled its enhanced service offerings. The company’s cornerstone “Growth Plan” establishes a long-term partnership with funeral home and cemetery owners, delivering comprehensive leadership strategy, one-on-one staff coaching, group training sessions, and ongoing CX evaluations. 

Complementing this hands-on approach is CXpertise, Dead Ringers’ new on-demand learning platform featuring video modules, downloadable resources, monthly webinars, and specialized classes. When utilized together, these programs enable professionals to achieve “Dead Ringers Certification,” a new milestone for customer experience excellence in deathcare. 

The results speak for themselves: Clients implementing the Dead Ringers Growth Plan have experienced remarkable revenue increases ranging from 11% to 33%—a figure that is anticipated to increase with the launch of the CXpertise platform. 

This powerful combination of industry-leading expertise and innovative training solutions positions Dead Ringers to continue its mission of elevating the customer experience and helping deathcare professionals thrive. 

About Dead Ringers 

Dead Ringers is the customer experience expert for the deathcare profession, specializing in providing telephone CX evaluation, training and coaching. Through proprietary data collection, comprehensive training programs, and on-demand learning platform, Dead Ringers empowers deathcare professionals to deliver exceptional customer experiences while achieving measurable business growth. For more information, visit deadringers.co.

Across Borders, Across Traditions: NFDA Unveils Historic Global Study

Report underscores NFDA’s global leadership in funeral service research. 

Brookfield, Wis. – Reinforcing its position as the world’s leading funeral service association, the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) has released the first-ever global study of consumer attitudes toward funerals and funeral professionals. Across Borders, Across Traditions: A Global Study of Funeral Preferences is a landmark research report that offers an unprecedented look at how consumers in 20 countries across six continents view funerals, grief rituals, burial, cremation and the role of the funeral director. The full report is available at no cost to anyone in the funeral service profession at NFDA.org/Research. 

“This is a game-changing moment for funeral service,” said NFDA Chief Marketing officer Stephanie Wagner. “No other organization has undertaken a study of this scale, depth and cultural diversity. As the global conversation about death, grief and remembrance continues to evolve, NFDA is leading the way with innovative research that empowers funeral professionals to adapt, innovate and serve families more meaningfully than ever before.” 

NFDA designed and funded the study with guidance from its Global Advisory Group and support from funeral service leaders worldwide. The findings are based on more than 4,000 consumer surveys conducted across Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Europe and North America. Key insights from the report include:

• The power of funerals is universal – Nearly 96% of respondents found funerals to be healing experiences, regardless of culture or disposition method.
• Burial and cremation both have emotional impact – While cremation rates are rising, more respondents found funerals with burial “very helpful” for healing than those with cremation.
• Consumers need guidance – Nearly half of respondents have never planned a funeral, highlighting the importance of education and support from funeral directors.
• Cultural traditions influence service elements – Flowers, personalized music, photo tributes and personalized eulogies emerged as the most important features of funerals worldwide.
• Sustainability is on the rise – Nearly 70% of consumers are interested in green or eco-friendly funerals, reflecting growing environmental consciousness. 

In addition to the report, NFDA created a complimentary action plan to help funeral professionals apply the survey’s findings in their day-to-day work and better serve today’s diverse and discerning families. 

“This study cements NFDA’s role as the global thought leader in funeral service,” said Wagner. “We’re proud to offer funeral professionals the insights they need to meet this moment with confidence, compassion and cultural awareness.” 

Download Across Borders, Across Traditions: A Global Study of Funeral Preferences, along with other pivotal NFDA research, such as a first-of-its-kind look at funeral preferences in the United States by generation, at NFDA.org/Research. 

NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and more than 40 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit NFDA.org. 

ICCFA Wraps Up 2024 Leadership Summit, Unveils Exciting Changes for 2025

STERLING, Va. (Nov. 6, 2024) – The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) recently concluded its 2024 Leadership Summit, held Oct. 15-17 at the St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. With 120 deathcare professionals in attendance, the summit provided hands-on learning, growth and networking opportunities.

Summit Highlights

The 2024 Leadership Summit featured transformative sessions designed to equip leaders with innovative insights and tools:

• Educational Excellence: Christie Pink of The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center facilitated “A Culture of Excellence: Building Success from Within,” captivating attendees with strategies to elevate employee engagement and customer experience.
• Brave Leadership: Executive coach Kristi Mallory presented “Brave Leadership Through Boundaries and Beyond,” which focused on empathetic, resilient leadership.
• Advocacy and Legal Updates: The Government & Legal Affairs Committee shared critical updates on legislative and regulatory issues impacting the deathcare profession.

Networking and Social Events

Attendees enjoyed a range of networking events, including:

• A golf tournament at Brackenridge Park.
• A wine tasting featuring local selections from Becker Vineyards.
• An open discussion hosted by the Women in Leadership (WIL) Committee following the wine tasting, open to all attendees.
• A tour of Mission Park Funeral Chapels, Cemeteries, and Crematories offered insights into the historic and modern practices of San Antonio’s oldest family-owned cemetery.

Scholarship Winner Testimonial

The ICCFA Educational Foundation awarded scholarships to emerging leaders to attend the summit. Pierce Dempsey, a scholarship recipient from Leaf Cremation, shared his experience: 

“Attending the ICCFA Leadership Summit was a fantastic experience, packed with insights and real connections. Hearing from Christie Pink from The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center was especially inspiring—she had incredible insight into delivering top-notch service with organizational excellence. Beyond the presentations, the best part was probably the group discussions. Sitting down with other owners and leaders, we shared challenges and swapped solutions, learning directly from each other’s experiences. It was also a great chance to connect with others in the industry and build relationships that I know will be valuable going forward. Overall, it was time well spent with people who get what we do and want to make it better.”

DEAD Talks Returns to Las Vegas

ICCFA is excited to announce the return of DEAD Talks, the annual sales conference scheduled for Feb. 4-6, 2025, at the Park MGM in Las Vegas. DEAD Talks will feature:

• Keynote Speaker: Matthew Pollard, an internationally recognized consultant, speaker, and entrepreneur known for his expertise in rapid business growth. Founder of Rapid Growth LLC, Pollard has built five multimillion-dollar businesses and transformed over 3,500 small businesses. He is the bestselling author of The Introvert’s Edge and has been featured on FOX, NBC and top podcasts.
• Keynote Speaker: Arthur Sarkissian, an experienced Learning and Development professional and founder of Here and Now Consulting. Sarkissian brings over 12 years of global leadership experience with Starwood Hotels & Resorts and specializes in Convergence Executive Coaching. He helps senior leaders unlock team potential, manage stress triggers, and build high-performing teams. His keynote will offer insights into fostering resilient teams and driving organizational success.
• Latest Trends: Insights into recent innovations shaping the industry.
• Networking Opportunities: Connections with peers and industry experts.
• Actionable Takeaways: Practical strategies for immediate impact on sales and growth.

Announcing “The ICCFA Experience” – A New Approach for 2025

In April 2025, ICCFA will debut “The ICCFA Experience,” a reimagined Annual Convention & Expo, April 15-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Highlights include:

• Extended Expo Hours: More time to explore industry innovations.
• Educational Sessions in the Expo Hall: Interactive learning experiences on the expo floor.
• Keynote Speaker: Clint Pulver, a renowned speaker, author and workplace culture expert known for his motivational insights into employee retention and engagement. Known as “The Undercover Millennial,” Pulver has inspired audiences globally by helping leaders create workplaces where people stay not out of obligation but because they want to. His keynote will offer strategies to foster engagement, trust and a purpose-driven workplace.

Attendees can expect a revitalized event with fresh content and insights tailored to the deathcare profession.

Save the Date: 2025 Leadership Summit in Knoxville, Tennessee

The 2025 Leadership Summit is scheduled for Oct. 21-23 at the Marriott Knoxville Downtown in Knoxville, Tennessee. The summit promises more transformative sessions, networking and professional development.

For more details on ICCFA’s upcoming events, visit https://iccfa.com/iccfa-events. ICCFA looks forward to welcoming attendees to DEAD Talks, The ICCFA Experience and the Leadership Summit in Knoxville.

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Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all cemetery, cremation, funeral and memorialization segments. The association is comprised of more than 10,000 members in the cemetery, funeral home and crematory industries, supplier and related businesses worldwide.