Funeral Service Insider: The Podcast

In this episode we have update on Barington Capital, commentary on the FTC's revived report, continued success in celebrations of life, and more. Kates-Boylston Holiday Subscription Offers Barington Announces Board Picks FTC Still Naming and Shaming a Year Later Recent ‘SendOff’ Funerals Make News Ohio Funeral Directors Expand Event Offerings with Alcohol

From the pages of American Cemetery and Cremation we bring you a Christmas travel story that ends where all stories must.  Click here for the full story.

In this episode of Funeral Service Insider, we speak with Angela Woosley, a funeral director who has taken a solo approach to the business, catering to families with requests other funeral directors often won’t accommodate. Modern Funeral Preferences: What I was hearing was not, “Oh, we really want this mahogany casket and this expensive, lined outer barrel container!” and “Absolutely, I love seeing embalmed people. They look so natural and lifelike, and certainly not like a mannequin!” Rethinking Traditions: Everything we do with the dead, when you think about it, is really unpleasant. Everything. So, whatever we find for that particular family or person or client that resonates and feels good for them, for that person, that’s what we should be doing. Celebration of Life: What truly matters about that person is not that they became a beautiful corpse, but that they lived a beautiful life and made an important imprint on other people’s lives. Honoring Tradition: We took her out of her casket and placed her on a mattress and box spring that the family had gotten together. They brought red velvet ropes to separate her from grievers because her mom didn’t want people to cry on her (which is unlucky), and it was just the way that she wanted. Breaking Down Barriers in Grief Support: The less we gatekeep and the more that we invite families in and partner with them rather than “serve” them or “guide” them or “direct” them, I think the more satisfied they’ll be with our services and the better their grief will be as well.

Here are the stories we reference in this week’s In Case You Missed It. Holiday Subscription Special Major Investor Calls for Matthews Shake-up, Will Nominate New Board Mercy University and Pierce Colleges of Funeral Service Agreement Park Lawn Expands Presence in Illinois Response to Park Lawn Expansion White Marsh Saga Continues No Jail for Casket Thief

Welcome to another episode of "Funeral Service Insider," the podcast In this week's episode, we're bringing you the highlights of notable events and discussions from recent weeks. HR & Leadership Forum Registration Kates-Boylston Announces Newly Formed Advisory Board Termination Gone Wrong Amigone Funeral Home Crematory Ordered to Close Under New York Law Unclaimed Remains Stories Unfortunate Time for a Repair

Jennifer Lindell-Roys, location leader for Kersey Funeral Home in Auburndale, Florida, is the American Funeral Director magazine 2024 Funeral Director of the Year. Breaking Barriers in the Funeral Business: “The guy told me that I would have to probably work at Kmart because women weren't really supposed to be in the funeral business at that time.” Breaking into the Funeral Industry: “I came into one funeral home in in Hollywood, Riverside and talked to the secretary, and then the funeral director came out to see me. And he says, ‘Oh, absolutely. We would love to have you.’” Old-School Anatomy Lessons: “The one thing that we had to do is when we had anatomy, we had these plastic bodies in front of us and all these plastic pieces that like a puzzle that would be put in there. And we had to listen to a cassette tape on, you know, where this part went and what this part did and, you know, how many bones are there.” The Challenges of the Holiday Season: “Christmas is a hard time for everybody. And it's even double hard when you've lost somebody. So we try to help them, make it through and let them know that we're here.” Growing Community Support: “We do a business expo, which we have in March or April, and it's gotten bigger and bigger and bigger every year.” Curiosity in the Classroom: “There was one kid that was really interested in it. He had so many good questions. He wanted to know all about the, the cremation and what happens and the embalming and what happens.” Balancing Funeral Directing with Site Management: “I want to meet my families. I wanna be with my families and help them.”

At Kates-Boylston's Dec. 10 HR & Leadership Forum, we will explore strategies for funeral professionals to retain top talent and enhance preneed programs.In this bonus epiusode, we speak with Wanda Sizemore, onboarding specialist at Envision Strategic Partners, about how she built her career as a preneed sales expert and her goals for the upcoming talk.  You can register for the Dec. 10 here. Click here for complete show notes.

In this episode, we cover key industry developments including a preview of Matthews International's earnings, the impact of funeral home consolidations, and the looming Federal Trade Commission rule changes. We also explore unique stories like a Japanese coffin café and delve into the challenges facing a Pennsylvania funeral home company as they navigate financial difficulties. Join us as we unravel these stories and more, offering insights and commentary on the death care industry. Whether you're a funeral director, cemeterian, mortuary professional, or simply interested in the evolving landscape of funeral service, this episode has something for you.  Holiday subscription special. Four Years in, Anthem’s Will Andrews Is Still Willing to Make Big Changes Matthews Earnings Preview FTC Report Coffin Cafe Monument Company Fiasco  

In this episode of Funeral Service Insider, Tom Nondorf, editor of American Cemetery & Cremation, speaks with Domenic Antinucci, a program manager at Brownyard Group, about the specialized insurance needs cemeteries and crematories contend with. Antinucci also discusses how personal experiences and an unlikely career path enriched his appreciation for death care. On Specialized Insurance for the Funeral Industry: "We launched this in 2017 because ... there was not a carrier that specialized in 10 to 15 lines of coverage in just cemetery, crematory, and funeral home risks nationally." On Mishandling During COVID: "COVID brought to light a lot that could go wrong in a cemetery that is overwhelmed or not ready to manage the unfortunate amount of deaths that occurred in that amount of time." On Managing Cemetery Hazards: "However they are managing their cemetery or their daily duties for their staff (it is important) that their staff keep an eye out for any potential hazards –whether it be a divot in the grass or a sinking of the grass from a recent burial – and to mark it with a marker.” On Cemetery Safety Concerns: "I would suggest as much as possible, depending on their budget and availability, install as many security cameras as possible because we all know there could be some bad actors out there." Be sure to click here to listen and then subscribe to get show notifications. Also, check out our “In Case You Missed It” video series.

Welcome to the latest edition of ICYMI from Funeral Service Insider. As always, we are here to keep you informed about the latest funeral service happenings and trends. Here's what we have on deck this week. New Jersey License Changes CANA Announces Dues Increase Barbara Kemmis Podcast Green Burials Return to Billings