funerals matter
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Care You Can’t Buy: The Value of Relationship in Funeral Service
People often assume choosing a funeral director is a simple, transactional decision—pick a place, sign a few papers, and the rest somehow takes care of itself. But from where I stand, behind the arrangement desk and beside the grieving, the choice is far more intimate than most people realize. And when a family chooses a…
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Celebrating Friendship and Career Journeys: Our StoryCorps Interview
Last month, my best girlfriend, Doris, and I were interviewed by StoryCorps about our lengthy careers as funeral directors. The interview was posted today and is also being aired throughout the day on NPR. It was truly enjoyable to share stories, reminisce about our careers, and discuss our friendship with listeners. These moments of reflection…
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The Myth of Running Out of Cemetery Space
One of the prevailing myths is that we, as a country, are running out of cemetery space. While some of the cemeteries that were established in the 19th century may be short of space (although there are still graves available), that is definitely not the case on Long Island. I was happy to be able…
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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 in five days. You can read the article on their site (with their title change): I’m A Funeral Director And These Are The 12 Parts Of The Job I Can Honestly Say Nothing Prepares You For
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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 becoming increasingly important for many people. This trend highlights the desire for a more intimate and meaningful farewell, one that captures the essence of the person and celebrates the person’s life. The trend is driven, in part, by the…
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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 I sat in a pew, listening to the priest’s homily, in which he referenced the deceased’s work for the community, my thoughts turned to another colleague – and friend – we lost a month earlier. Andrea was a legend…