Funeral Women Lead is proud to announce the promotion of Patty Neuswanger to executive director, effective immediately. Since joining the organization in 2025 as senior director of operations, Neuswanger has brought a clarity of vision, depth of experience, and a quiet but unmistakable force of leadership that has already begun reshaping what is possible for women in funeral service.
With more than two decades of leadership in nonprofit strategy, education, events, and organizational development, Neuswanger is not stepping into this role as a newcomer to the work. She arrives having already earned the trust of the team, the profession, and the women this foundation exists to serve.
Neuswanger’s path to Funeral Women Lead is one shaped by genuine commitment rather than convenience. Her career includes senior leadership roles at the National Funeral Directors Association, where she served as vice president of education and meetings, and at Selected Independent Funeral Homes, where she led member engagement programming with a particular focus on women in funeral service, next-generation leaders, and first-generation funeral professionals.
What This Moment Means for Women in Funeral Service
This promotion is more than an organizational milestone. It is a signal of what Funeral Women Lead was built to model: that when organizations invest in developing women as leaders, the return extends far beyond the walls of any single foundation.
Under Neuswanger’s leadership as executive director, Funeral Women Lead will continue to grow its annual Leadership Academy, Leadership and Wellness Summits, mentoring and coaching programs, community conversations, and scholarship opportunities, all designed to meet women where they are and walk alongside them toward where they are capable of going.
For the Passionate Professionals who show up every day committed to this work, and for the Dedicated Advocates who invest in making sure the next generation of women leaders has a real path forward, Neuswanger’s elevation to this role is a sign that the foundation is building for what comes next.
“Patty has earned this expanded role through her commitment to the mission and her deep understanding of the women we serve. She brings both the operational rigor and the human insight that this work demands. I am proud to see her step into this chapter of leadership, and I know the profession will feel the impact of her presence for years to come,” said Lisa Baue, founder, Funeral Women Lead
Neuswanger’s leadership instincts extend beyond professional life. She has long been active in volunteer roles supporting underserved communities through organizations including the Woodfield Children’s Association, Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoptions, United Methodist Women, and Literacy Services of Wisconsin. This breadth of experience reflects a woman who shows up for people across contexts and across communities.
When she is not leading, you might find her on a trail, discovering a new restaurant, cheering on her husband Kurt’s bands, or somewhere in the world feeding her love of travel and lifelong learning. These are not footnotes to her work. They are part of what makes her the kind of leader who knows how to connect, how to listen, and how to build something that lasts.
About Funeral Women Lead
Funeral Women Lead is a 501(c)(3) foundation that believes women are key to the future and sustainability of the funeral and deathcare profession. It pursues its mission to unleash greatness in the women of the funeral and deathcare professions through outreach, coaching and mentoring, a leadership academy, wellness initiatives, and scholarships for professional development. Bringing together leaders, sponsors, researchers, and supporters, Funeral Women Lead champions women as essential architects of next-era leadership in funeral service. To learn more about the foundation and Neuswanger, visit www.funeralwomenlead.org.
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