By Thomas A. Parmalee
Everstory Partners has released its 2025 Year in Review, outlining a year focused on operational strengthening, property investment and continued positioning within an evolving deathcare marketplace.
Lilly Donohue, CEO, said in a post in LinkedIn announcing the availability of the report, “I’m incredibly proud of the work our teams have done as we’ve strengthened and evolved Everstory over the past three years.”
She added, “Building a strong company doesn’t happen all at once. It takes steady, disciplined progress. In 2025, we continued that work by focusing on what matters most: caring for families, investing in our people, and strengthening how we operate across Everstory.”
The company, which operates funeral homes and cemeteries across multiple states, emphasized its commitment to enhancing both the physical environment of its locations and the experience delivered to families.
According to the report, in 2025, the company:
- Achieved a 54.9% increase in net operating income.
- Served 66,603 families with 2,525 employees.
- Generated about $430 million in revenue.
- Enjoyed a 16.2% increase in preneed sales.
The company says it is the second-largest deathcare provider in the nation, with 374 cemeteries, 73 funeral homes and 13 cermatories for a total 460 locations.
Property Improvements and Family Experience
A central theme of the report is reinvestment in facilities. Throughout 2025, Everstory continued upgrading funeral homes and cemetery properties, with a focus on creating more welcoming, modern environments for services and visitation.
These efforts reflect broader industry trends, as operators respond to changing consumer expectations around comfort, personalization and gathering spaces.
Expansion and Market Positioning
Everstory also highlighted its growing national footprint, building on recent acquisition activity that has significantly expanded its presence. The company now operates hundreds of locations nationwide, reinforcing its position among the larger consolidators in the profession.
Leadership indicated that growth remains a priority, with a continued emphasis on strengthening market density and improving performance within existing regions rather than pursuing rapid, scattered expansion.
Cemetery Development
The report noted, Across our cemeteries, teams completed nine mausoleums and a niche-only building featuring more than 1,000 glass-front and granite niches. These additions expand options for families while preserving the beauty and permanence of our grounds.”
Completed projects include:
• Resurrection Cemetery (Bensalem, Pennsylvania).
• Mt. Lebanon Cemetery (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).
• Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery (Springfield, Pennsylvania).
• Onslow Memorial Park (Jacksonville, North Carolina).
• Lakeview Memorial Park (Greensboro, North Carolina).
• Fort Hill Memorial Park (Lynchburg, Virginia).
• Wayne Memorial Park North (Dudley, North Carolina).
• Deland Memorial Park (Deland, Florida).
• Montlawn Memorial Park (Raleigh, North Carolina).
The company also said, “Over the past three years, we have invested more than $75 million to improve grounds, infrastructure, equipment, and facilities across our 460 properties. This work has included landscaping enhancements, road and drainage improvements, memorial
restoration, irrigation upgrades, and modernization of fleet and maintenance equipment. There is more to do, and we remain committed to continuous improvement.”
Alignment with Industry Trends
The report underscores Everstory’s alignment with several macro trends shaping funeral service:
-
Rising cremation rates, driving demand for new memorialization options and cemetery offerings.
-
Increased interest in personalization, including customized services and permanent memorial products.
-
Growth in preneed planning, as more families seek to make arrangements in advance.
-
Digital transformation, aimed at improving both internal operations and the family experience.
These trends are widely influencing how consolidators allocate capital and evolve their service mix.
Operational Priorities
In addition to physical upgrades, Everstory pointed to ongoing investments in systems, training, and operational consistency across its network.
The company noted a continued focus on:
-
Standardizing processes across locations.
-
Supporting field teams with centralized resources.
-
Enhancing technology infrastructure.
Such efforts are designed to improve scalability while maintaining service quality at the local level.
Additional Data Points
The report from Everstory also noted:
- Employee turnover reduced by 14%.
- Average Google rating increased from 3.3 to 4.3.
- Regulatory complaints went down by 34%.
- Revenue in 2025 increased 10% compared with 2024.
- Field operating income increased 48%.
Industry Context
Everstory’s update comes amid continued consolidation across the deathcare profession, driven by demographics and succession trends. A significant portion of independently owned funeral homes are expected to transition ownership in the coming years, creating ongoing acquisition opportunities for larger operators.
At the same time, operators are balancing growth with the need to preserve local trust and community identity—an ongoing challenge for consolidators.
Read the full report from Everstory Partners.
Follow FuneralVision.com on LinkedIn.
Follow FuneralVision.com on X.
Follow FuneralVision.com on Facebook.
