Cremation Boom Forces Funeral Homes to Rethink a 24/7 Business
By Taylor Kase As cremation becomes the top choice for U.S. families, funeral homes are reworking staffing and services to meet shifting preferences while protecting profits in a 24 hour, 7-day-a-week business. Factors such as declining religious affiliation and personal preferences are driving the trend, rather than concerns about land availability or pressure from large corporations, said Chris Robinson, past President of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). About 66% of baby boomers are now choosing cremation, which is higher than any other generation, according to NFDA data. The generational shift is particularly significant for funeral homes because baby boomers currently represent the largest percentage of the deathcare market. Unlike previous generations, many boomers are opting for less traditional funeral rites, forcing the industry to stray from the customs that shaped it. With cremation on the rise “services are the primary source of revenue for funeral ho...