Service Corporation International (SCI), the continent’s largest Death Care provider, reported their 1st Quarter of 2026 financial results late Wednesday. You can access a copy of the press release on that report here. Here’s what Tom Ryan, the company’s Chairman and CEO commented in a prepared statement included in the press release:…
Over the last month or so we have followed a growing discontent in Fresno County, California, and specifically an area along the San Joaquin River about the process of Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) remains being spread on public land. As you can read in this recent article from the Desert Sun “Fresno County officials…
I’m not an economics major but I know that the price I can charge for my goods or services is somewhat dictated by the supply and demand of those goods and services. Is that true of cemetery space – everywhere? When the price gets “too high” as determined by the intended consumer that…
Over my years as an active funeral director I would be called to the place of death and eventually ask the family before I left, “Are you thinking about burial or cremation?” If you’re not a funeral director it is a question that needs an answer because how the funeral director would take care…
Preneed continues to grow. . . .but is the growth enough? That is a great question and, among other things, we will look at the percentage growth of preneed on a “revenue per preneed contract” basis in this article. Statistics on Preneed are difficult to find because of the private nature of the…
BUSINESS
Price: Calculated by Supply and Demand
I’m not an economics major but I know that the price I can charge for my goods or services is somewhat dictated by the supply and demand of those goods and services. Is that…
Are we asking the right question?
Over my years as an active funeral director I would be called to the place of death and eventually ask the family before I left, “Are you thinking about burial or cremation?” If you’re…
Georgia-based Fidelity Memorial Group acquires Deal Funeral Directors of Statesboro
We recently learned, from this article, of the acquisition of the Deal Funeral Directors of Statesboro, Georgia, by the Fidelity Memorial Group based out of Garden City, Georgia. According to the article, the…
FINANCE
SCI 1Q 2026: Revenues up, but lots of challenges
Service Corporation International (SCI), the continent’s largest Death Care provider, reported their 1st Quarter of 2026 financial results late Wednesday. You can access a copy of the press release on that report here.…
Georgia-based Fidelity Memorial Group acquires Deal Funeral Directors of Statesboro
We recently learned, from this article, of the acquisition of the Deal Funeral Directors of Statesboro, Georgia, by the Fidelity Memorial Group based out of Garden City, Georgia. According to the article, the…
Park Lawn situation: In Substack article, author Russo opines on the events of last week
On Monday of this week Substack, under their “On Deathcare” platform released a very well researched article by author Tony Russo titled, “Why are we still pretending Homesteaders is ‘just’ a Park Lawn investor?”…
REGULATIONS
California county sees fit to restrict Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) remains
Over the last month or so we have followed a growing discontent in Fresno County, California, and specifically an area along the San Joaquin River about the process of Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) remains…
Harvard business professor: Time to pay funeral expenses of organ donors
According to this recent article authored by Alex Chan of the Harvard Business School and Kurt Sweat of The School of Public Health at the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center “In the U.S.,…
Heating homes with cremation emissions: An ethical question?
Energy transfer is not a new science. Yet I was surprised when I read this recent article published in The World – Public Radio that was titled “How cremations are helping to heat…
CEMETERY
California county sees fit to restrict Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) remains
Over the last month or so we have followed a growing discontent in Fresno County, California, and specifically an area along the San Joaquin River about the process of Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) remains…
Price: Calculated by Supply and Demand
I’m not an economics major but I know that the price I can charge for my goods or services is somewhat dictated by the supply and demand of those goods and services. Is that…
Are we asking the right question?
Over my years as an active funeral director I would be called to the place of death and eventually ask the family before I left, “Are you thinking about burial or cremation?” If you’re…
CREMATION
Price: Calculated by Supply and Demand
I’m not an economics major but I know that the price I can charge for my goods or services is somewhat dictated by the supply and demand of those goods and services. Is that…
Are we asking the right question?
Over my years as an active funeral director I would be called to the place of death and eventually ask the family before I left, “Are you thinking about burial or cremation?” If you’re…
Heating homes with cremation emissions: An ethical question?
Energy transfer is not a new science. Yet I was surprised when I read this recent article published in The World – Public Radio that was titled “How cremations are helping to heat…
PRENEED
Survey finds continued growth in the Preneed market . . but, there are cracks in the armor
Preneed continues to grow. . . .but is the growth enough? That is a great question and, among other things, we will look at the percentage growth of preneed on a “revenue per preneed…
Park Lawn situation: In Substack article, author Russo opines on the events of last week
On Monday of this week Substack, under their “On Deathcare” platform released a very well researched article by author Tony Russo titled, “Why are we still pretending Homesteaders is ‘just’ a Park Lawn investor?”…
Propel Funeral Partners First-Half FY2026 continues upward trends
When you look at the First-Half of the 2026 Fiscal Year for Propel Funeral Partners you will not notice anything “earth shattering”. From my point of view, when that is the case with an…
PRODUCTS
California county sees fit to restrict Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) remains
Over the last month or so we have followed a growing discontent in Fresno County, California, and specifically an area along the San Joaquin River about the process of Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) remains…
Parting Stone hires former customer and industry award recipient, continues march forward with funeral home partners
Parting Stone, the pioneer in solidified remains, announced last week in a press release that they have hired the 2025 recipient of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Inspiration Award, Katey Houston, “. .…
Batesville makes investment in Eterneva, will “leverage” client relationships
Last week Batesville announced in this press release that they had “made an equity investment in Eterneva and formed a strategic partnership with the company to expand access to custom memorial diamonds.” Batesville also…
