Candace Hawkins is a 35-year-old funeral director and care center supervisor at Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, Inc. in Hamburg, New York. She also serves as the location manager for one of their offices.

Many funeral directors may be struggling to cope with their own grief overload

For many funeral directors, COVID-19 has been a nonstop wrecking ball, decimating families and communities. And who’s in the midst of this crisis providing care to the hundreds of thousands of dead and their grieving people? The funeral home staff whose vocations have placed them squarely in the wrecking ball’s path.

OGR asked some of its international members to offer perspective on how the coronavirus pandemic is playing out in their cities and countries.

The value of demographic analysis and revenue forecasting in market positioning and financial management

The rituals and ceremonies that mark the death of a human being undergo constant evolution and personalization to reflect the endless variety of beliefs, traditions and family preferences.

The John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home has been in the Ferry family since 1890 and a member of OGR since 1955. The business is currently run by 5th generation funeral directors Daniel, 36, and Patrick Ferry, 40. Their father Thomas L. Ferry, III, 71, recently retired as a precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This fall, OGR’s board of directors will embark on the development of a new three-year strategic plan for our great organization. Arguably, there has not been a time in our 92-year history when purposeful and thoughtful planning has been needed in our industry more than it is now, and OGR is ready to do its part to help us all ensure we are able to continue to be the best of the best when it comes to providing exceptional funeral care.

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 8, 2020) – The Order of the Golden Rule is excited to announce that four of its members were recognized by the National Funeral Directors Association as the "Best of the Best" for 2020 as part of their annual Pursuit of Excellence Awards.

OGR members continue to meet and share best practices, ask questions and offer support during coronavirus. During OGR’s online round table, members discuss challenges and relevant tips for facing the COVID-19 pandemic. A summary of last week’s discussion is below.

by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.