funerals matter

Celebrating Friendship and Career Journeys: Our StoryCorps Interview

Last month, my best girlfriend and I were interviewed by StoryCorps. The interview was posted today…
The Myth of Running Out of Cemetery Space

One of the prevailing myths is that we, as a country, are running out of cemetery…
12 Things No One Tells You About Being a Funeral Director

Much to my surprise, an article I wrote for BuzzFeed has –so far– garnered 25.4K views…
The Art of Personalizing Funerals: Creating a Meaningful Goodbye

Funeral services have long been seen as traditional and standardized. However, in recent years, personalization is…
No Funeral for the Funeral Director? That Can’t Be Right!

Last month, on a cold February morning, I attended the funeral Mass of a colleague. As…
3 Myths About Green Burials: A Funeral Director’s Perspective

In funeral parlance, ‘green burial’ may be the most hyped phrase around. References to this ‘new’…
Are You Thinking of Hiring a Funeral Photographer?

Today, photographing the dead is making a comeback. But this time it’s not only the deceased…
What You Need to Know When Considering a Home Funeral

In 1911, when newspaper publisher and journalist Joseph Pulitzer died, he was waked in the library…
12+ Things You Should Know About Planning a Memorial Service

Two summers ago, my cousin Elizabeth died. Her death was sudden and occurred less than two…
Post Pandemic Funeral Service – Can We Find Some Normalcy?

As the winter of 2020 turned to spring, the death toll from Covid-19 seemed insurmountable. For…
Home Funerals

Today I participated in my second home funeral. The visitation was held in a magnificent estate…
The Art of Giving a Eulogy – Share the Best Stories and Get Personal About It

Over my long career as a funeral director I’ve heard more than my fair share of…