The National Funeral Directors Association is collecting information from funeral homes that have received the remains of donors from Organ Procurement Organizations that would be considered difficult to prepare for family viewing.

Because federal lawmakers are investigating OPO accountability and the treatment of donor remains they want to hear from New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association members who have prepared remains for viewing post-procurement.

If you or your staff have witnessed or documented cases of OPOs returning remains in what you would consider unacceptable condition, NFDA wants to hear from you.

They are especially interested in documentation that illustrates what you’ve encountered.

When a donor’s body is returned in a state that makes it difficult for families to view, it places the burden to repair those remains on funeral directors. Your insight can help Congress better understand the practices of OPOs operating in the United States.

Please contact:

Lesley Witter, NFDA Senior Vice President, Advocacy, LWitter@NFDA.org no later than Wednesday, November 5.

Witter will guide you on how to share your story and maintain family anonymity while helping advance this effort.

George R. Kelder Jr., CFSP

If you’ve been reading these columns for the past 10 years, you know I don’t shy away from uncomfortable truths. So, here’s one that’s been gnawing at me lately: Our profession has become far too comfortable with confusing maintenance with stewardship.

We talk about “preserving traditions” and “protecting our way of life,” but, let’s be honest, what most of us are really doing is maintaining lifestyle. And in the process, we’re letting the foundation crumble under our feet.

Stewardship isn’t about keeping things the same. It’s about ensuring there’s something worth keeping. It’s about building, mentoring, educating and occasionally tearing down what no longer serves the mission. Somewhere along the way, many funeral directors traded that in for the illusion of safety and the notion that, if we just hold on tight enough, things will stop changing.

They haven’t.

Our industry is standing on the edge of a demographic cliff. Ownership is aging, recruitment is lagging and succession planning, when it exists at all, often looks like a last-minute fire sale wrapped in a prayer. The people who could be leading the next generation aren’t being trained, mentored or even encouraged. They’re told to “wait their turn” in a system that doesn’t seem to realize the clock is running out.

And yet, we still hear the same refrain: “No one wants to work anymore.” Really? Or is it that no one wants to work for someone who refuses to adapt? Because there’s a difference between being a steward of the profession and being a gatekeeper of our own comfort zone.

If current owners and leaders truly embraced education, growth and leadership, we’d be in quite a different position right now. We’d have successors ready to take the reins. We’d have staff who understand not just how to serve families, but why this work still matters. We’d be seen as mentors not as obstacles to be outlasted.

But that requires effort, humility and the willingness to admit that what worked in 1990 doesn’t necessarily work in 2025.

Many funeral homes are operating like museums carefully dusting the artifacts, giving tours and insisting the world outside hasn’t really changed that much. Meanwhile, the public has moved on. Families expect transparency, flexibility and connection. The businesses that survive will be the ones willing to meet them there, not the ones waiting for them to come back to the old way.

This isn’t about abandoning tradition. It’s about understanding which parts of it are still alive and which are just being propped up for nostalgia’s sake. True stewardship means planting seeds, not guarding the garden gate. It means making sure someone else knows how to tend it when we’re gone.

The uncomfortable reality is that self-preservation feels easier than stewardship until it’s too late. We can keep the doors open, keep doing what we’ve always done and even convince ourselves that we’re “holding it together.” But holding it together isn’t the same as leading. And it isn’t the same as preparing the next generation to lead.

If that sounds harsh, it’s meant to be. Because I believe our profession can do better. We just must stop pretending that standing still is a solution.

The funeral profession has always prided itself on service but service without stewardship is just customer maintenance. And maintenance without vision? That’s a problem.

Stewardship is uncomfortable. It requires us to care about something beyond ourselves and involves getting our hands dirty again.

So maybe it’s time we stop talking about what we’re trying to preserve and start talking about what we’re willing to build. Because we can’t preserve something by standing still, all that does is let dust settle on what used to matter (to us).

Ryan Buckland, President

As the seasons are swiftly changing and the leaves are showing signs that fall is finally here, we can all take a moment to realize that what once was, is no longer.

The beauty of the green leaf that at one time would sway back and forth to the sounds of the wind blowing through the air is now pivoting to the magnificent reality that nothing is here to stay forever. The leaf now gives up their chlorophyll, and the tree pulls in valuable nutrients from them and stores them in their branches and the trunk for the next growing season. That leaf that once offered shade and sometimes protection has not become a memory.   

Human life is a collection of moments that together form the stories we tell ourselves and others. Creating memories is more than just capturing experiences; it is an act of preserving meaning, deepening relationships and shaping personal identity. Memories link our past, present and future, grounding us in who we are while providing a sense of continuity and purpose.

Memories play a crucial role in emotional well-being. When people recall meaningful moments–family gatherings, personal milestones or quiet acts of kindness–they experience gratitude, joy and hope. These reflections become emotional anchors during times of stress or uncertainty.

As we turn the corner towards the holiday seasons, let us take special moments to make precious memories with our families and loved ones. Let us be motivated and intentional in trying to build a repertoire of lasting impressions that we can lean on when the leaves of our lives begin to fade away.

Creating memories will ultimately foster growth and meaning in all our lives. Memories remind us that life’s value is not measured solely in achievements, but in the relationships and moments that touch our hearts.

We see the flowers fading, the days getting shorter and the leaves falling. One thing that can never die is the memories we have of something or someone. You will one day be glad that you took the time to create a lasting memory, because when you need to reminisce, you can smile and may even laugh, knowing that the memories that you share will be with you forever. They will never die.

November is your last chance to earn CEUs from the New Jersey Funeral Service Education Corporation in 2025.

Funeral directors seeking mandatory CEUs in Ethics, NJ Preneed and OSHA have only a few days to register for the Wednesday, November 12 and Thursday, November 13 continuing education webinars.

Registration for the events closes at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2025, so those wishing to attend should sign up immediately. Those wishing to register for Ethics and/or NJ Preneed webinars on November 12 can do so here. Those seeking to attend the OSHA webinars on November 13 can do so here.

The following are descriptions of the webinars:

NJ Preneed

Preneed Recordkeeping and Notifications will begin with a review of the fundamental requirements for prepaid funeral agreements, followed by an in-depth exploration of the essential contents and retention protocols for preneed funeral ledgers, files and records. Attendees will learn best practices for recordkeeping, whether utilizing a trust, insurance product or providing a price quotation. Additionally, the course will cover key events that necessitate communication with regulatory boards and consumers, such as business closures, relocations, ownership changes (including the death of an owner) or bankruptcy. The webinar will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on November 12.

Preneed Consumer Considerations will examine the key factors influencing a consumer’s decision to make preneed funeral arrangements and explore how funeral directors can support consumers in understanding the purpose and process of these arrangements. Attendees will learn how to effectively guide consumers through the steps of preneed planning and inform them of the legal rights and protections available. The course will cover relevant laws and regulations, including the New Jersey Master Trusting Statute, funeral service advertising guidelines and prepaid funeral agreements. Attendees will also engage in case studies and discussions to respond to common consumer scenarios. The webinar will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on November 12.

The two NJ Preneed webinars, worth two CEUs, will be presented by Jonathan R. Bender, a licensed funeral director and corporate governance manager for the NJSFDA.

Ethics

Ethical Dilemmas in Funeral Service will explore the intricate challenges of ethical decision-making in the funeral profession. Through practical discussions and real-world examples from the industry, participants will examine core business ethics and how they apply to daily operations. Attendees will gain insight into how funeral directors can implement ethical practices to minimize the risk of misconduct or unethical behavior. The course will also feature case studies and interactive debates, allowing participants to engage in the analysis of ethical dilemmas commonly faced in funeral service. This webinar, worth one CEU, will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. November 12. It will be presented by licensed funeral director and New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association Executive Director and CEO George R. Kelder Jr., CFSP.

OSHA

OSHA Paperwork Obligations, which will focus on Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations pertinent to funeral service personnel with oversight responsibilities, will allow participants to gain a comprehensive understanding of the importance of maintaining a written communication plan, along with the necessary forms, documents, releases and associated paperwork, including retention requirements. Funeral homeowners, managers, compliance officers and staff responsible for written OSHA compliance plans will find this educational opportunity particularly beneficial. Additionally, the course will review OSHA’s standards regarding Bloodborne Pathogens, Formaldehyde and Hazard Communication. The webinar will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on November 13.

Preventing Injuries in Funeral Service will recommend essential precautions funeral home employees should take to prevent back and spinal injuries while performing their duties. The webinar will cover safe work practices related to various tasks, including removals and transfers of human remains, embalming, dressing and casketing, handling and lifting caskets, transporting remains within a facility, and receiving and stocking supplies. The instructor will encourage participants to conduct a self-assessment of their current practices concerning the physically demanding aspects of funeral service. Additionally, the course will emphasize the effective application of safe work practices to enhance employee safety and minimize the risk of injury. The webinar will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on November 13.

These two webinars, worth two CEUs, will be presented by Jonathan C. Krowicki, a licensed funeral director and member field service representative for the NJSFDA and Thanexus.

More details on the dates, times and topics covered during the webinars, as well as comprehensive biographies of the presenters, can be found here.

In Colorado, the Catholic Church is providing a place to inter cremated remains for those who can’t afford a niche or burial. A Louisiana court castigates a coroner for “reckless and outrageous misconduct.” And a private equity firm in Great Britain is seeking to purchase one of the country’s largest funeral providers. These stories and more are in the week in funeral news.

NEWS

New Orleans, LA, Coroner Loses Appeal in Misconduct Case
By David Hammer (WWL)
A Louisiana appeals court has strongly rebuked New Orleans, LA, Coroner Dwight McKenna, using his own words against him to uphold a lower court’s ruling from March that his office engaged in “reckless and outrageous misconduct.” Not only did the appellate judges agree that McKenna’s office was liable for cremating a man’s remains without notifying his family, but they also awarded the family five times more money for their pain and suffering. Read more here.

For Families Keeping Ashes at Home, the Church Offers a Place of Peace
By Deacon Mark Nestorick (Denver Catholic)
For more than three years, she kept a small wooden urn on the corner of her bedroom dresser. Inside were the cremated remains of her son. She loved her son deeply, but she also carried a quiet guilt. She didn’t know what to do with his remains. The idea of scattering them felt wrong. A private burial seemed financially out of reach. So, the urn stayed on the dresser–waiting. When I told her about the Crypt of All Souls, a ministry of Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of Colorado that receives cremated remains for interment at no cost, Maria broke down in tears. Read more here.

Family Forced to Move Brother's Body Eight Years after Burial in Macon, GA, Cemetery Mix-Up
By Hunter King (WMAZ)
Eight years after burying her brother at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Macon, GA, Sarah Threatt received a phone call she never expected. The cemetery needed to move Leroy Thomas Jr.'s body. Another family owned the plot, managers said, and they needed it back for a recent death. Read more here.

Private Equity Firm to Bid for Funeral Provider Pure Cremation in Great Britain
By Mark Kleinman (Sky News)
A private equity firm is plotting a takeover of one of Britain's biggest funeral providers in a deal which could value it at more than 500 million pounds. Sky News has learned that Cinven, a former owner of the fashion brand Kurt Geiger, is among the private equity firms expected to table bids this week for Pure Cremation. Read more here.

Mortuary Operators Warned: Regularize Operations or Risk Immediate Shutdown
By Jemima Okang Addae (Graphic Online)
The Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency in Ghana has directed all unlicensed mortuaries and funeral homes, both public and private, to regularize their operations within one week or face closure. Read more here.

Huge Change to Burials for Millions of Australians
By Paul Shapiro (Daily Mail)
Animal lovers in the Australian state of Victoria will soon be able to be buried with their pets after a landmark reform passed through Parliament. The reform, which will soon become law, allows pets to be buried in family plots for the first time. Victoria is the second state, after New South Wales, to recognize the right for people and their animals to share an eternal resting place. Read more here.

Scottish Funeral Firm Delivered Wrong Body to Cremation as Undertakers Probed over Embarrassing Blunders
By Stuart MacDonald (The Scottish Sun)
Funeral firms in Scotland have been investigated over a series of blunders including the wrong body being delivered to a cremation. A coffin was also buried in the wrong plot while another was so heavy it could not be lowered into a grave. Read more here.

New Jersey now stands in between the legalization of natural organic reduction and the promulgation of the regulations that will govern the procedure.

NOR requires oversight by licensed funeral directors who will need to become certified as natural organic reduction operators and the treatment will be regulated as a mortuary process–not a form of final disposition–in registered mortuaries that become NOR facilities.

To aid funeral directors in discerning whether NOR is an avenue they would like to pursue, the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association is providing information regarding companies that currently provide the equipment needed for natural organic reduction, funeral homes that are offering NOR and the draft regulations the NJSFDA has prepared for consideration by the State Board of Mortuary Science of New Jersey. A copy of the law as signed is also provided.

So here is a short primer on the basics of New Jersey’s natural organic reduction law as its stands today, its timeline and some resources to help you as you consider entering this new market.

The Law

Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill legalizing natural organic reduction on September 11, 2025. It is important, however, to recognize that, even though the process has been legalized, the regulatory framework is just beginning to allow for NOR’s implementation. Written into the bill is a 10-month window before it becomes effective. During that time, the Mortuary Board will craft the regulations, a process which allows funeral directors to fully consider NOR’S potential benefits and drawbacks for their businesses.

There will also be regulatory changes required by the New Jersey Cemetery Board and the Department of Environmental Protection.

The final version of the bill can be found here. The NJSFDA’s suggested regulations for the process can be found here. NOTE: The Board may accept or reject any of the NJSFDA’s proposed regulatory recommendations.

The Process

Sometimes referred to as human composting, NOR is the process of controlled supervised decomposition of a human body resulting in the conversion of human remains into a soil-like product.

During the process, a licensed funeral director places the body in a special vessel with organic materials housed within a registered mortuary that causes microbial activity to quickly and efficiently break down the body into a nutrient-rich soil product. The process usually takes eight to 12 weeks.

Funeral directors should be aware that NOR is not considered final disposition in the New Jersey law. Instead, it is a body treatment and process that needs the oversight of qualified funeral directors and will ultimately require decisions for the disposal of the product.

Who Is Offering NOR Already?

These are the four operating funeral homes in the Pacific Northwest:

Earth: Soil Transformation, Human Composting | Earth Funeral

Return Home: Green Funeral Home | Human Composting - Return Home

The Natural Funeral: TerraCare Partner Program - The Natural Funeral Colorado

Recompose: Recompose | Human Composting | Full-Service Funeral Home

Who Sells the Equipment?

There are currently two vendors, one in the United States and the other overseas that will sell funeral homes the equipment needed to begin offering natural organic reduction. Here are several options:

The Natural Funeral, a company that was present at the 2025 NJSFDA Funeral Convention and Expo, is offering prefab units for installation. The company’s website is: TerraCare Partner Program - The Natural Funeral Colorado

The German company Mein Erde through its website (simply click “translate”) are also selling prefab units in the U.S. The firm’s website is: Frequently asked questions about reburial | MY EARTH

Should I Invest in NOR?

This is strictly a business decision, but those who choose to enter the market should know that startup will require significant investment, from obtaining or retrofitting space to the purchase of the equipment. There will also be training costs.

Those who do invest, however, could see a strong upside as interest in these alternative forms of body preparation increase on the East Coast.