From the Spring 2025 issue of The Independent magazine. 

OGR was excited to partner with Monument Builders of North America (MBNA) for a collaborative piece titled "Funeral Home Relations." As independently owned funeral homes committed to ethical excellence, OGR members were invited to share insights into their experiences working with monument builders, what's working, what's not, and where we can grow stronger together. 

Honoring Craft and Collaboration

MBNA initiated the conversation by gathering feedback from its own members of skilled memorialists who expressed both pride in their craftmanship and concern over growing pressures in the profession. Many pointed to challenges in working with some corporate funeral providers that prioritize profits over quality, and stressed the importance of building respectful, collaborative relationships with funeral directors who value permanent memorialization. 

MBNA Members' Message to Funeral Homes

Monument professionals expressed the desire for funeral homes to: 

• Prioritize local expertise over corporate supply chains. 
• Refer families to trusted, local monument companies for personalized care. 
• Recognize the specialized knowledge and risks monument builders assume in crafting permanent tributes. 
• Collaborate on education, so funeral directors can confidently guide families through the monument process. 

OGR Members Share Their Experiences

In response, OGR member firms offered thoughtful feedback. Twenty-five OGR members responded to a short survey with practical, honest insight. Here's what was shared: 

Key Challenges

• Timelines & Delays: Common frustrations included granite availability, lengthy design approvals, and long installation windows. 
• Managing Family Expectations: OGR members are often the face of the timeline, tasked with explaining delays and design limitations to families. 
• Navigating Cemetery Requirements: Smaller funeral homes, especially those without a dedicated monument partner, expressed challenges managing varying cemetery regulations. 
• Lack of Digital Tools: Many of us want modern design software or visual mockups to help families better imagine the final product and stay engaged in the process. 

"We need a tool that lets families design a monument like they'd build a car online, seeing changes as they go."

To read the full article including more survey data, takeaways from monument builders, and more, OGR members can log-in and visit the Digital Magazine Archive in the OGR Member Portal.