Albuquerque-based death educator Gail Rubin, CT, was recognized by the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) with their prestigious Community Educator Award at the organization’s annual conference in Houston on April 11, 2024. ADEC’s Community Educator Award honors an individual in a non-academic setting with expertise in the field of thanatology, the study of death, dying and bereavement. The award recognizes excellence in developing community focused teaching materials and events that are innovative and cutting edge. Jakob van Wielink, Partner at the Netherlands’ De School vo ..read more

Purchase Enhances Company’s Product Line Through Broader Container Selection Richmond, IN – Starmark, a leading manufacturer of innovative funeral products, has announced the acquisition of AMA (Airline Mortuary Associates) Containers in Houston, TX.  The addition of the AMA Containers brand provides a more comprehensive offering of shipping container solutions to Starmark customers.    AMA Containers was established in 1991 by Jon Bumbaugh.  Bumbaugh had previously worked in the airline industry where he developed a professional mortuary shipping program.  His airline ..read more

The Grand Canyon State may have been one of the last to be admitted to the union, but Arizona can now proudly claim a spot as number eight in the list of trailblazing states that have officially legalized the process of natural organic reduction. On March 29, 2024, Governor Katie Hobbs signed HB 2081 — alternately called the “Grandpa in the Garden” bill and the “Circle of Life” legislation — into law. The bill was introduced to the Arizona House in January, passing with 47 ayes and only 8 nays; it was equally successful in the Senate, passing that hurdle with a 26-to-2 aye-to-nay vote in Febru ..read more

Welcome to the hundred-and-thirty-fourth edition of Morticians’ Monday Morning Mashup, 4M #134, where we’ll serve up bite-sized, easily-digestible nuggets of the deathcare news you need to crush conversations in the week ahead. Bon appetit! Today’s 4M is sponsored by Return Home, an incredibly cool and kind company committed to sharing all things Terramation with Connecting Directors readers.  Here’s a Challenge for Connecting Directors Readers Terramation is sweeping the nation! Yep, last week Arizona became the eighth state to legalize natural organic reduction, and Delaware is just a g ..read more

DISCLAIMER: None of the F’s in FFFW stand for “facts.” Enjoy the jokes and satire. Happy National Grilled Cheese Day. That’s right. The “Grilled Cheese” is an underrated sandwich. Now, granted, it has zero nutritional value, but it tastes so good. In a lot of ways, it’s the grandfather of the Pop Tart, which is something that needs to be respected. Now, I will say that I despise when people try to fancy up the grilled cheese. I’m writing this in Nashville, where we’re still living in the fallout of the 2014 hipster attacks. So, I’ve seen my fair share of “bougie grilled cheeses.” And I want th ..read more

Take it To The Bank 03 explores the remarkable journey of Tim Bridgers, a multifaceted individual who transitioned from basketball dreams to a successful career in music, banking, and farming. Tim’s story is guided by faith and his grandmother’s prophecy, leading him to Live Oak Bank, where he helps small business owners in the funeral industry. He emphasizes the importance of support, education, and innovation in the industry’s evolution. Tim’s inspiring journey exemplifies resilience and the pursuit of excellence in every endeavor. Tim Bridgers can be reached at 910-233-5865 Read the article ..read more

Virtual Funeral Professionals Peer Support Meeting in April WHEELING, IL— All of us remember that call (likely there’s more than one) that stays with us. The arrangement, service, embalming, removal or burial that really tested our composure in front of the grieving family. This month’s virtual Funeral Professionals Peer Support Meeting focuses on those cases that stick with us, the ones that trigger our own feelings of grief at work, and explores how we can process these experiences. Join the conversation Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 5pm PT. As a licensed funeral director and ..read more

Welcome to the hundred-and-thirty-third edition of Morticians’ Monday Morning Mashup, 4M #133, where we’ll serve up bite-sized, easily-digestible nuggets of the deathcare news you need to crush conversations in the week ahead. Bon appetit! Today’s 4M is sponsored by Return Home, an incredibly cool and kind company committed to sharing all things Terramation with Connecting Directors readers.  Do you know NOR? Natural organic reduction. Human composting. Whatever you call it in your neck of the woods, it’s the next wave in disposition … and you need to have your surfboard ready to go. Mica ..read more

WAUNAKEE, WI — Tribute Technology, a leading provider of technology solutions for funeral directors, is proud to announce its partnership with Treasured Memories®, a premier consultancy and benefits provider for independent funeral homes. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in making advanced technology more accessible and meaningful for funeral directors and the communities they serve across North America. Treasured Memories has been a beacon of support for funeral homes across the U.S. since its inception in 1988. Led and championed by Jimmy Altmeyer Jr., a fourth-generation funeral di ..read more

West Des Moines, Iowa — Homesteaders Life Company SVP-Strategic Markets Will Bischoff announced today that Scott Morris has been promoted to VP-Business Development. “I’m honored and humbled to begin this new chapter of my career,” said Morris. “Homesteaders is committed to bringing growth, innovation and exceptional customer support to the funeral profession, and I’m excited to be a part of such an accomplished team.” “Since joining Homesteaders, Scott has demonstrated a unique ability to match client’s needs with proven preneed solutions,” said Bischoff. “In his new role, I’m count ..read more