By Thomas A. Parmalee Bill Forsberg, owner and president of ADDvantage Casket Co., was a 9-year-old kid growing up in Canada when his father died. “Interestingly, for a 9-year-old boy who was so enamored with the funeral directors' classy suits, impeccable manners and their big, fancy cars, it wasn’t any…
Read MoreBy Thomas A. Parmalee The internet lit up in a gush of sadness, admiration and respect as word spread that perhaps the world’s best-known funeral director, Todd W. Van Beck, died unexpectedly May 23. He was 71 years old. While he was not born into the profession, Van Beck was…
Read MoreThe International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association’s Government and Legal Committee returned to Capitol Hill on March 21-23, 2023, after a few years of virtual meetings, the ICCFA announced in a news release. During the visit, the committee met with the offices of several senators and representatives, as well as…
Read MoreSympathy Brands and its family of brands, including shiva.com, eCondolence.com and Cemetery.com, are committed to making it easier for those in the death-care profession to do their jobs. That is why they are excited to introduce a time-saving feature, the Digital Fingerprint Storage Solution. With this new offering, funeral directors…
Read MoreHomesteaders Life Co. announced Feb. 13 that its longtime marketing officer, Dean Lambert, is retiring from the company after nearly 25 years of service. “Dean joined Homesteaders as the company sought to enhance its brand and continue as major player in the preneed insurance funding market," said Steve Shaffer, president,…
Read MoreSometimes, it just makes sense to sell some funeral home real estate. Molly Ann Farms promises to "spread happy across our employees, clients and the communities we serve" -- and it will be housed at a former Haledon, New Jersey funeral home that has served thousands of families over the…
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