RICHMOND, Ind. (Nov. 16, 2021) – Starmark, a leading provider of innovative funeral products, is proud to announce that its Artisan Vista cremation container product line has been certified by the Green Burial Council. Starmark joins a number of other funeral and cemetery professionals who share a commitment to creating more sustainable after-death options for families, their communities and the planet.

The information below comes from some of the leading experts and information resources on healthy living. LIG Solutions, an OGR supply partner, has curated these articles to help keep you up-to-date on the latest news, trends and data on leading a healthier lifestyle, which can help save you money and keep your health care costs down when paired with the benefits of your health coverage.

November 11 is a day set aside to honor those who have served in the United States armed forces. What began on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month as Armistice Day, has evolved over the years to include all veterans. 

AUBURN, Ind. (Oct. 27, 2021) - Messenger, a leading provider in funeral stationery, personalization solutions and insurance funding, recognized its top sales representatives with achievement awards during their corporate dinner held in conjunction with the 2021 National Funeral Directors Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

By Halloween, the Christmas displays are up in stores and those who have lost a loved one begin to dread the holiday season. While you may offer a holiday remembrance service or mark the season another way, why not offer something that lasts all year long?

Kimberly Knight a 42-year-old funeral director and office manager at James A. Dyal Funeral Home in Summerville, South Carolina.

Bishop Rick August, president of Infinity Funeral Home in Biloxi, Mississippi, and his children Lasha and Jonathan August - vice president and CFO, respectively - share their experience running a successful funeral home.

OGR asked some of its international members to offer perspective on how the coronavirus pandemic has forced innovations in their cities and countries.

I started Veterans Funeral Care in 2001 with the goal of serving the veterans in my community better than any other funeral home. It was the first funeral home in America that was named after the customer we served rather than the owner. Since then, we have grown to a more than 900-case funeral home and I attribute our growth to gaining the business of disloyal customers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many facets of our lives. That includes changes in how we, as consumers, shop for and purchase goods and services, which in turn change funeral service. 

A 401(k) is how most Americans save for retirement, but many business owners think that a small business retirement plan is too expensive, too hard to manage or not valued by employees. However, more than half of small business owners say offering a 401(k) plan attracts better employees, according to a CNBC small business survey. They also note that nearly 25% of departing employees cite a lack of retirement benefits as part of the reason for leaving.

Dale Carnegie said, “91% will give referrals if asked; only 11% ask.” So, we are asking. We are asking you, our member, to help OGR grow by spreading the word to other funeral directors about all the good things going on at OGR. We hope you have been taking advantage of your member benefits. If not, we need to talk. Just give us a call and we will match you with the programs that best fit your needs. 

You may have noticed in OGR’s InSights newsletter we’re starting to see more frequent notifications of new members joining your association, as well as new and improved member benefits.

While I was attending university many years ago, I had a part-time job at a funeral home right across the street from campus. I was well-positioned in those days as I lived right across the street from the funeral home as well.

Being raised in a home “that was Army-Army-Army everything” built a strong foundation of respect within Jim Rudolph for veterans and the service they give their country. It also afforded him the luxury of naturally being able to “speak veteran” from a young age in a way that many others can take years to figure out.

BILLERICA, Mass. (Sept. 21, 2021) – The Dodge Company is pleased to announce the addition of long-time Dodge employee John “Jack” Kleis to its team of sales representatives. Admittedly, it is always good when one can promote from within the company, and so it is with Jack, who says, “It feels like I’ve been apprenticing for this position for 20 years!”

In 2013, scientists shared a discovery they’d made at a burial site of Natufians, the earliest prehistoric people believed to systematically bury their dead. In these graves, found on Mount Carmel in Israel and dating from between the 13,700 and 11,700, scientists found that a number of the dead had been buried on a literal bed of flowers. This discovery answered a longstanding question of when humans started connecting flowers with the ritual of burial: from the beginning: turns out, we’ve been doing it from the beginning.  

Thumbies’ New Viper and Deception Cigar Cutters add personality to utility with engraved prints from pets and loved ones.

Of all our guests this season, Charles Castiglia may have had the most varied list of "edges" that he's worked to develop over the years, from veterans and their families, to crafting stories, and even founding an entire business to negotiate better credit card service charges for not just his own funeral home, but others as well.

Kelley Romanowski knew she wanted to work in a helping profession. She started on the path toward nursing but realized that wasn't for her, and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer at a family owned and operated funeral home instead.