Anthony Russo

Delmar

Associate Editor at Funeral Service Insider

Pencil-sharpening enthusiast, author Dragged Into the Light Book: https://t.co/A9iooUJvtj Blog: https://t.co/fkpVeg0Kh1

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Articles

Ryan Reyes: From Funeral Assistant to Global Consultant

1 week ago | kates-boylston.com | Anthony Russo

Ryan Reyes and Dignity Solutions got a lot of attention recently for leading a lobbying effort that changed the way LinkedIn saw funeral service, but the account of why he even knew about the social media site’s death-care blind spot is salient. At the bottom of it, there’s a story about finding an alternate route into funeral service and then plotting another alternate route for the future.
Navigating the Horizon: A New Bill and the Future of Death Certificates

1 week ago | kates-boylston.com | Anthony Russo

A while back, we mentioned the move in Colorado aimed at expanding the death certificate process to allow funeral directors to report a person’s gender at death, even if it is different than the assigned gender at birth. Recently, the measure passed both houses of the Colorado legislature and is bound for Gov. Jared Polis’ desk and his expected signature.
Beyond Service: Crafting Unforgettable Experiences with Damon Wenig

1 week ago | kates-boylston.com | Anthony Russo

Damon Wenig understands the funeral service industry from the ground up. As a licensed funeral director and embalmer, he’s sat with families navigating the difficult journey from preneed planning to aftercare. Now, as director of partner marketing at Homesteaders Life Company, he’s bringing a fresh perspective to the industry, emphasizing the crucial shift from mere customer service to a holistic customer experience.
Service Beyond Stereotypes, Australian YIMBYs, and Interactive AI Memorialization

1 week ago | kates-boylston.com | Anthony Russo

In the April edition of American Cemetery & Cremation, there is a story that I wrote about a direct aquamation company that has become a full-blown funeral home and tripled in size in the last year–and–a–half or so. The story felt like the latest in a series of young people with no funeral home experience starting a company from scratch and becoming wildly successful by undermining expectations about funerals and funeral homes.
Leadership Changes, Green Innovations, and a Little LinkedIn Love for Last Responders

3 weeks ago | kates-boylston.com | Anthony Russo

It’s always a little odd when stuff happens “on deadline” because it’s so rare. Funeral service news tends to develop over time, so quick, out-of-the-blue announcements can be tricky. That happened this week when we got the news that Jack Lechner had resigned as president of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.
Calvin Amato Takes His Death-Care Education Beyond the Basics

1 month ago | kates-boylston.com | Anthony Russo

If a mortuary school student can be said to have burst upon the scene, that’s what Calvin Amato seems to have done. Part of it is a timing thing; his particular skills and views fit well with what many believe will be required of a funeral director of the future, though that’s not why he took the route he took. Instead, there’s something of an openness to experience, a combination of “can-do” and “why not?” that has positioned him well for a future on the shifting sands of death care.
Great Expectations, Buying and Selling Problems, and Remembering COVID

1 month ago | kates-boylston.com | Anthony Russo

Happy belated National Funeral Directors and Morticians Recognition Day. Before we get started, I want to let you know (also belatedly) that we have a new look for our newsletter email. We’ve made a bunch of changes that I’ve been teasing for the last year, and I want to give you a sense of them going forward. Each Sunday we send out a news and commentary email that acts as a wrap-up of the week’s news (you’re reading it now).
Nebraska Funeral Home Unveils Patriotic Hearse

1 month ago | kates-boylston.com | Anthony Russo

SCHUYLER, Neb. – A small-town funeral home has found another way to honor the veterans they serve. Moravec Johnson Mortuary, owned by Michaela Moravec and Zach Johnson, recently unveiled a hearse newly adorned with a patriotic wrap. The vehicle, a first in the area, is a testament to their commitment to the community and their deep respect for those who have served their country. The idea for the patriotic hearse was sparked by a chance encounter on social media.
Nothing Succeeds Like Succession and Other Honest Talk

1 month ago | kates-boylston.com | Anthony Russo

One of the great perks of my job is asking naive questions of really smart people. In my regular life, I like to tell people that I collect hobbies, which is shorthand for asking experts about their expertise. Earlier today (it's Friday as I write this), I interviewed a banker, a digital marketer, and a funeral home owner for three different stories. What's interesting, though, is the facts that they told me and the insights those facts provided will show up in another 10 stories.
As Earnings Season Ends, a Look at Revenue Drivers, M&A, AI, and Other Letters of Note

1 month ago | kates-boylston.com | Anthony Russo

This week we’re going to take a deep dive into what Carriage’s earnings report has to offer operators of all sizes and reimagine what a busy year of acquisitions might look like.