For the latest issue of The Independent magazine, OGR caught up with Kiera Scanlan-Wepestad, owner of Scanlan Funeral Home in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, for a chat about her funeral home, her career, and the latest trends in funeral service. Check out the article below, and OGR members can read the full issue in our magazine archive.
Tell us a little about how your funeral home got started and how it has evolved over the years.
My grandfather moved our funeral home to a 3-acre piece of property in Pompton Plains from the city of Paterson, NJ, in 1954, branching off from the second-generation business he was operating with his brother (his father had started the business in Paterson in the 1880s). Since moving to our three-acre property in this residential suburb, we have served our community honestly, steadfastly, and with pride, providing funeral services for more than seven generations of residents in our area.
As the first woman in my family to lead this business, I've brought a different perspective, shaped by changing consumer needs and expectations. We understand that a funeral home is not a place anyone ever hopes to visit, but when people do find themselves here, our mission is to make the experience as comfortable, supportive, and even therapeutic as possible. From the moment families walk through our doors, they are met with a space that is light, welcoming, and grounded in the highest standards of hospitality.
While our purpose remains the same - to help families through their hardest days - we do so in a modern way, with a strong emphasis on personalization, meaningful memorialization, and services that truly celebrate the life being remembered. Beyond the day of the funeral, we've expanded our commitment to the community through a robust aftercare program, including monthly Grief Tea with Kathleen Edwards Chase, quarterly Guided Meditation & Sound Bath evenings, plant therapy, and educational sessions led by licensed counselors, attorneys, and other trusted professionals.
Most excitingly, due to my grandfather's investment in a great piece of property here in Pompton Plains, we are about to expand on a new structure on our property, and are looking at expanding our services to include repasts. In 2019, NJ Mortuary Law was amended to allow funeral homes to begin serving food, so this is not something that is common in our area. By investing in a modern, beautiful space on our campus, we aim to provide our families with a space to gather together, comfort one another, and celebrate in a way that feels most natural and calming to them. We're ready for the next generation of funeral service, and we can't wait to be leaders in our neck of the woods.
Why was it important for you to keep your funeral home independently owned and operated?
Independence matters to me because it gives me control over our direction, our values, and our standards of care. Being independently owned allows us to serve families in a way that feels personal, flexible, and true to who we are, without answering to anyone but your community and ourselves.
What do you find most meaningful or rewarding about working in funeral service?
I often joke that we measure our success in "hugs." When a handshake won't do, and a family insists on embracing you to show their gratitude, you know the care you provided was deeply felt.
There is no denying the heaviness that comes with funeral service. Anyone who has spent time in this profession carries that weight with them. But alongside the sorrow is a profound clarity about what truly matters. We are invited into moments of deep sadness, yes - but also into moments of extraordinary love.
Being present for families during these times is both humbling and grounding. It serves as a daily reminder to focus on what is truly important in our own lives, and to let go of what is not.
What do you believe distinguishes your funeral home from other funeral homes?
What truly distinguishes our funeral home is the intention behind everything we do, beginning with the space itself. We regularly hear families comment on how beautiful, warm, and inviting our home feels. Recently, a woman drove nearly 45 minutes to meet with us for preplanning because, as she said, "If you've put this much thought into your space, you must really care about your families." She was right, we do.
That care extends far beyond aesthetics. As a team, we go above and beyond each day to support families through some of the hardest moments of their lives. We are also intentionally working to change how people experience death, dying, and funerals. Funerals do not need to be a terrible or impersonal experience. Funeral directors have a responsibility to create meaningful, deeply personal, and sacred events; to host gatherings that truly reflect the life being remembered. When done thoughtfully, a funeral can feel grounding rather than overwhelming, comforting rather than frightening. It becomes a space where grief is honored, love is visible, and families are given a strong foundation from which to move forward. Creating that kind of experience is central to our mission, and it is what truly sets us apart.
What does your funeral home do in order to create a strong community presence?
Creating a strong community presence means being present long after the funeral service ends. While we are honored to serve families at the time of death, we believe our responsibility does not stop there.
We have intentionally built a robust aftercare program that offers ongoing support, connection, and education for our community. Through monthly Grief Tea gatherings, guided meditation and sound bath evenings, and other wellness-focused events, we provide safe, welcoming spaces for people to process grief, find connection, and feel supported - often months or even years after their loss.
In addition to aftercare, we regularly host educational programs and community events that encourage open conversations around grief, end-of-life planning, and remembrance. By opening our doors in this way, we aim to normalize conversations around death and loss, reduce fear, and reinforce that our funeral home is not only a place of mourning, but a place of care, healing, and community.
What growing trends have you noticed in the funeral service industry?
One of the most notable trends we are seeing in funeral service is the rise of low-cost, direct cremation providers. While these providers are not typically aligned with the families we aim to serve, they are increasingly capturing a segment of families who once would have chosen a traditional funeral home for all arrangements.
At the same time, we are seeing those same families return to us later to host memorial services or celebrations of life. This shift reflects a broader trend: today's families are more informed, more price-aware, and more intentional. They are researching online, comparing options, an unbundling services in ways that feel right to them.
As a result, funeral homes must adapt. A strong digital presence is no longer optional. Clear websites, transparent information, thoughtful content, and investment in SEO and smart marketing tools are essential to meeting families where they are. More importantly, funeral professionals must be prepared to educate, guide, and add value beyond basic disposition.
Ultimately, this trend underscores a growing demand for flexibility, personalization, and trust. Families may choose a simple cremation, but they still want meaningful ways to gather, remember, and honor a life, and funeral homes that can provide that experience will continue to be relevant and valued.
What do you value most about OGR? Why did you become a member?
What I value most about the Order of the Golden Rule is its shared commitment to ethical, independent funeral service and the way it fosters meaningful connection and mentorship among its members.
I was introduced to OGR through one of our newest team members, Angelyna, who spoke so highly of her experience with the organization during her internship at a previous firm. Hearing how impactful that mentorship and peer support had been for her reinforced my belief that OGR plays an important role in shaping and supporting the next generation of funeral professionals.
Joining OGR felt like a natural fit, aligning our firm with a community of like-minded professionals who are committed to doing this work thoughtfully, ethically, and with intention.
What's something people might be surprised to learn about you or your funeral home?
People are often surprised to learn how collaborative my leadership style is. While I carry the responsibility of owning and operating a fourth-generation funeral home, I rely heavily on my team's insight and experience, and I value learning from those around me regardless of title or tenure.