In this week’s episode, Tony Russo breaks down a highly unusual and contentious development in the National Funeral Directors Association election. We also look at a major expansion for Earth Funeral on the East Coast, a massive overhaul for crematory inspection laws in Illinois, and the looming financial struggles facing small and church-run cemeteries.
Key Topics Covered
Drama in the NFDA Election (00:02:22) For the first time in years, the election for NFDA secretary has turned incredibly contentious. Tony discusses a controversial endorsement video released over Memorial Day weekend by Georgia funeral home owner Richard Robinson. Additionally, allegations of race-related social media attacks have surfaced, and the NFDA has seemingly taken down its election pages. Tony is continuing to investigate and will publish a full story later this week.
Earth Funeral Expands to Maryland (00:07:37) Natural organic reduction is making a major move East. Earth Funeral has opened a massive, 36,000-square-foot facility in a Baltimore suburb. Launching with 56 vessels, the facility aims to serve up to 2,000 families per year, providing East Coast residents with a more local option for human composting.
Illinois Passes Strict New Crematory Regulations (00:09:09) Illinois lawmakers have unanimously passed a sweeping regulatory overhaul for inspecting crematories. The new bill, now headed to the governor’s desk, brings back unannounced surprise inspections and grants inspectors the power to immediately shut down non-compliant operations. It also establishes a strict 60-day limit to complete cremations.
The Crisis of Underfunded Cemeteries (00:12:52) Drawing from a detailed report by the Minnesota Star Tribune, Tony explores why small and church-run cemeteries are struggling to survive.
Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Earth Funeral Feature: Read Tony’s full write-up on Earth Funeral’s new Maryland facility: Earth Funeral Comes to Maryland
Illinois Legislation: Deep dive into the new crematory inspection laws: Unanimous Vote Grants Illinois Regulators Power to Conduct Surprise Crematory Audits
Minnesota Star Tribune Article: Read the full investigation into struggling local cemeteries and perpetual care funds: As caretakers age, some small Minnesota cemeteries struggle to survive
