Lawmakers in New York consider legislation to protect people from funeral scams. A police dog bit a man at a New York City Police Department detective’s funeral. And a South African woman declared dead after an accident is found breathing in morgue freezer room. These stories and more are in the week in funeral news.

NEWS

Staten Island Lawmakers Considering Legislation to Safeguard New Yorkers from Funeral Scams
By Erik Bascome (silive.com)
Residents of Staten Island, NY, who were scammed out of money they had paid for future funerals can take some solace in the fact that their local elected officials are working to ensure no one else suffers the same fate. Read more here.

“Green” Burials Are Helping Restore Texas Land; Not Everyone Digs the Trend
By Maggie Gordon (SAN)
Denise Manos stood under the hot Texas sun, staring at the 68-acre prairie springing to life ahead of her. She’d come here, to the newly opened Blazing Star Sanctuary in Brookshire, TX, “to face the unfaceable,” she said. Her eyes scanned the flat, grassy expanse where conservationists are revitalizing the soil so it can become home once again to the tallgrass prairie that once covered 20 million acres of Texas land. Someday, Manos decided, she will call this soil home, too–or at least, her body will. Read more here.

Ardmore, PA, Artist Uses Human Ashes to Craft Ceramic Memorials
By Kenny Cooper (WHYY)
Through Daniel Hoffman’s hands, ashes of the dead receive new life as art for the living. Grieving customers send a small scoop of cremated remains to Ahava Memorials where Hoffman transforms the last vestige of a loved one into a ceramic memorial. Read more here.

Man Assisting in Autopsy Arrested for Stealing Gold Ornaments of Victim
By The Hindu
Police in India have arrested a 32-year-old former contract employee at a hospital mortuary for allegedly stealing earrings and a gold chain from the body of a 13-year-old who was among 11 killed in the stampede at a victory celebration. Read more here.

Police Dog Seen Biting Man at Funeral for Slain NYPD Detective
By Eyewitness News
A police dog was seen attacking people at the funeral for NYPD Detective Didarul Islam, who was killed in a Manhattan shooting. Video shows the dog darting at several people in the Bronx. The dog then bit a man. Read more here.

Mortuary Worker in South Africa Opens Refrigerator and Realizes the “Dead” Was Breathing
By Telegrafi
A South African woman has woken up from “death” in the freezer room of a morgue after being pronounced dead by emergency crews following a traffic accident. Read more here.

The recently unveiled New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association app now has even more information and features that members can use.

In Phase II of the app rollout, members will be able to access important articles in The FORUM and browse listings in the app’s Classifieds section.

Also, the app will contain a wealth of information about the 2025 Funeral Directors Convention and Expo, to be held from September 16 through September 18 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

To begin using the NJSFDA app, search “NJSFDA” in the App Store or Google Play. Once the app is downloaded, log in using your NJSFDA website credentials. If you need assistance with logging in, call Membership Services at 800.734.3712.

The following is a look at the app’s new features.

The FORUM

What was the “News” button on the app’s homepage has now been rebranded as “The FORUM” and moved to the bottom navigation bar. Members can now stay on top of industry developments, trends and insights, and they’ll be able to like, comment, share and save articles right in the app.

This puts information that can help your business right at your fingertips, allowing you to access important stories right on your cell phone or tablet.

Classifieds

The app’s new Classifieds section is designed for job seekers and buyers alike. Funeral directors and interns can search and apply for positions directly in the app, and users can explore opportunities to acquire funeral homes.

2025 Convention and Expo

The Events section of the app will be integral for those attending the 2025 Funeral Directors Convention and Expo. Attendees will be able to view the schedule of speakers and events and access a virtual floorplan of the casino to navigate where the featured events, seminars and exhibitor booths are located.

They will also be able to access seminar materials, evaluations and polls, all from their phones. There’s also built-in functionality to engage with speakers and exhibitors during the Convention. The Convention information will be available only to those registered for the event.

Member Directory

While not yet available, the Member Directory is coming later in the rollout. Once live, it will allow users to search by name or funeral home and connect with members through one-touch calling, email, in-app messaging and geolocation.

In the meantime, members are encouraged to upload a professional headshot  to help colleagues match names with faces and strengthen professional connections across the Association. To do so, follow these four easy steps:

1. From the home screen, tap on the circle that contains your initials (located in the top left corner)
2. Click on the “pencil” icon on the top right corner of the screen
3. Click on the “pencil” icon on the right side of the circle
4. Take or upload a professional photo by using the “camera” or “picture” icon at the bottom of the screen

Those seeking more information or who have trouble downloading and using the app can call Membership Services at 732.974.9444.

By Passages International

Are you ready to meet the moment as consumer expectations shift dramatically toward sustainability funeral experiences?

Join Darren Crouch, CEO of Passages International, at the 2025 New Jersey State Funeral Directors Convention and Expo at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City for a transformational session that explores how to align with the modern funeral consumer’s values.

“Green Light on Green Funerals” dives into the heart of a growing phenomenon. Families are seeking eco-friendly alternatives, and dignified ways to celebrate and honor their loved ones, with meaningful experiences that more closely reflect their values in life. Yet, when those options aren’t available, many families default to the least expensive path, often opting for direct cremation with no products or services, or choosing a provider that better meets their values.

Drawing from powerful consumer data and case studies, this session highlights that more than 84 percent of people would consider a green burial if offered, and over half have already attended non-traditional funeral services. Despite this, many funeral homes are missing an opportunity to engage these families in meaningful ways. The presentation introduces ideas and concrete methodology on how you can meet families where they are and dramatically increase revenues as soon as you return home.

You’ll hear how funeral homes are transforming their business by replacing basic cardboard containers with the clean-burning bamboo containers. Not only did this change significantly boost average cremation spend and customer satisfaction, but it also positioned their services as more meaningful and environmentally responsible.

Cremation is now the norm, with rates surpassing 60 percent, but service revenues are decreasing because consumers perceive it as impersonal and low value. This session will show you how to change that perception and reintroduce value by offering beautifully designed, clean burning and sustainably-sourced alternatives that both families and the planet appreciate.

Beyond products, you’ll be introduced to the digital memorial map, Etern.life. As nearly 45 percent of people plan to scatter cremated remains in a sentimental location, Etern.life offers a powerful solution to the challenges of scattering. Families can now memorialize those sacred spaces by creating a digital tribute tied to the exact GPS location, complete with photos, stories and a virtual map that is always accessible. This not only provides a place to which to return, but also builds a worldwide community of remembrance for those who chose to celebrate life beyond traditional cemetery boundaries.

Ultimately, “Green Light on Green Funerals” is more than a presentation, it’s an invitation to reimagine the role of the funeral home in a changing world. This session will empower you with tools, insight and inspiration to meet customers with confidence. Whether you're looking to grow revenues, enhance your product selection, educate your team, offer greener options or tap into emerging trends, this is your chance to embrace meaningful change and grow your business in the process.

Darren Crouch will present his seminar, Green Light on Green Funerals, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 16 and from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17 during the 2025 Funeral Directors Convention and Expo at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Register for the event here.

George R. Kelder Jr., CFSP, CEO/Executive Director

Let’s not sugarcoat this–like it or not, one of them will be governor.

In a matter of months, one of two people will be elected governor of our state. Whether you're excited, disillusioned or rolling your eyes so hard you’ve given yourself a headache, the outcome is the same: one of them will be sitting in the big chair, wielding real influence over our professional and personal lives.

And yet, we’re seeing a troubling reluctance from some of our own–volunteer leaders, district associations and longtime members–when it comes to engaging with our candidate events. Attendance is lower than it should be, and financial support, well frankly, has been lukewarm. Some have told us they “don’t like either candidate.” Others say they “don’t trust the process.” Still others question why we should be involved at all.

Here’s why: Because this is how influence works.

It’s easy to sit back and grumble about policy decisions after they’re made–after a budget is cut, a regulation is passed or a license requirement is changed. It’s much harder, and far more effective, to build the kind of relationship that allows us to be heard before those decisions happen. We don’t get that access by waiting to see who wins. We get it by showing up now.

Our association has spent years earning respect at the Statehouse. That doesn’t come from nameplates or titles. It comes from being known as the people who are present to represent funeral service–in conversations, at events and, yes, when there are checks to be written. The political reality is this: campaign contributions and event participation matter. They open doors. They create goodwill. They build trust. And whether you’re a true believer or a committed skeptic, the fact remains that when we show up, our issues are harder to ignore.

Supporting these candidate events isn't about endorsing everything a politician says or does. It's about ensuring that our profession and the families we serve are not afterthoughts in the next administration. It's about making sure the new governor, whoever it is, has a real face, a real handshake and a real connection to our community. It's about being smart enough to invest in the relationships that protect our ability to do our work, our way.

So, if you're sitting this next one out because you're frustrated with politics in general, I hear you. Truly, I do. But sitting out doesn’t exempt you from the consequences. Decisions will be made with or without us. And our choice is simple: be in the room or be on the menu.

We need you.

We need your presence.

We need your financial support.

And we need you to remember that advocacy isn’t about loving the game; it’s about refusing to let others play it without us.

Tara M. Scarponi-Danniballe, President

As I close my chapter as New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association President and prepare to pass the torch on September 1, 2025, I find myself filled with gratitude, pride and a profound sense of humility. Serving as President over the past year has been one of the greatest honors for me–a journey marked by accomplishments and the unwavering spirit of fellow funeral directors.

From day one, I set out with a bold aspiration: to ensure that I maintained a voice for the small family-owned funeral homes. Never in a million years did I think that while serving as President and running the daily operations of my two family funeral homes, that I would become the director for the Funeral Service Program at Eastwick College. While it seemed like a tremendous amount for one person, the transition has been remarkably smooth, with everything aligning seamlessly. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed my year as your President.  It has been a rewarding experience to work alongside such a dedicated and passionate team.  Being involved in leading our initiatives and seeing the impact the NJSFDA has made have been an honor and a privilege. 

A very special thank you to NJSFDA Executive Director and CEO George R. Kelder Jr., CFSP, and NJSFDA Secretary/Treasurer John K. Baltz for your invaluable guidance and support. Your insight and leadership made a meaningful difference in my journey, and I have learned so much from both of you. I truly appreciate the time and care you have invested in helping me grow. 

To your next President, current President-Elect Ryan M. Buckland,  I extend my warmest wishes. You are stepping into a role that is as demanding as it is transformative. May you be guided by conviction, compassion and courage. I believe in your strength and in the goodness of the organization you will now serve.

To all my fellow funeral directors, thank you for your trust, support, words of wisdom, resilience and belief in me. The honor has been mine.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the 2025 Funeral Directors Convention and Expo in Atlantic City, held on September 16 through 18.  Let us continue reaching for higher ground–together.

Much luck and continued success to all of you!

Kerstein

Our sincerest condolences to Essex, Union and West Hudson Funeral Directors Association members Karen and Eric Kerstein on the death of their husband and father, Gary I. Kerstein, who died on July 29, 2025.

Cohen

Our sincerest condolences to Essex, Union and West Hudson Funeral Directors Association member Joyce A. Hodges on the death of her sister, Helene D. Cohen, who died on July 23, 2025.