This week on The Rest, we dive into the leadership shakeup at Foundation Partners Group. We also look closely at a recent civil lawsuit in Ohio that underscores the massive disconnect between quick crematory certification courses and hands-on operational experience.
Plus, a Pennsylvania funeral home’s makeshift skylight plan, the defeat of human composting legislation in Illinois, a creative land-preservation cemetery strategy in Canada, and affordable new continuing education workshops from the ICCFA.
Key Takeaways
Foundation Partners Group Leadership Shakeup: Unconfirmed reports indicate CEO John Smith has parted ways with the private equity-backed firm after an 18-month tenure. This marks the second consecutive non-funeral professional to lead the company, raising questions about private equity’s patience and acquisitions-driven revenue.
The High Cost of Inexperience: A $25,000 civil lawsuit against Tidd Funeral Home in Franklin County, Ohio, reveals that an employee mistakenly cremated a woman against her deeply held religious beliefs and explicit prepaid burial contract.
No Permit? Make a Skylight: Frank Duca Funeral Home in Westmont Borough, Pennsylvania, had its storage facility construction halted after building inspectors discovered a hole cut in the roof intended for a future crematory flue. The funeral director’s backup plan if the permit fails? Just turn it into a skylight.
Illinois Human Composting Legislation Fails: Natural organic reduction efforts hit a wall in Illinois.
Cemetery as a Shield Against Developers: In British Columbia, 70-year-old Margaret Waterton is attempting to rezone her 2.5-acre property bordering a forest into a natural burial ground. Under local regulations, burying even a single person on the land legally protects it from high-density housing development.
Accessible Professional Development: The ICCFA is rolling out its new 240 Workshops program. These localized, short, and inexpensive sessions are specifically designed to provide continuing education opportunities to frontline staff who cannot afford to travel to national conventions.
