Homesteaders Blog

Rowing Together: Lessons from The Boys In the Boat for Funeral Professionals

Every four years we get to watch the world’s best athletes represent our country in the Summer Olympics. Watching these athletes pour their years of hard work and entire talent into one performance is motivating; and as funeral professionals, we can relate to some of the daily challenges these athletes face. Inspired by the start of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, our marketing team read the book The Boys In the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown. This story takes place in Washington during the Great Depression and follows the lives of the nine boys who rowed their way to gold at the Olympics.

This book includes many themes that you can bring into your day-to-day work as a funeral professional. Recommended by Board Chair, President and CEO of Homesteaders Steve Shaffer, this book serves as a beautiful demonstration of the power of teamwork and the value of everyone pulling their weight to reach a common goal.

Let’s explore each theme and unpack some takeaways for any funeral professional.

Reflecting on 10 years of the Homesteaders Life Company Blog

Funeral service professionals need and deserve reliable sources of information that they can depend on to help them better serve their customers, stay up to date on the latest trends and continue to develop their skills. Ten years ago, our team established the Homesteaders Blog to help bring those insights to anyone who can benefit from that expertise.

What We Experienced at the NFDA Professional Women’s Conference

Savannah, Georgia was a busy place April 28-30, 2024 for women in the funeral professional attending the NFDA Professional Women’s Conference. Homesteaders was a proud sponsor with several Homesteaders employees in attendance.

How Your Funeral Home Can Deliver Consistent Customer Service

Losing a loved one is one of the most challenging experiences anyone can endure. As funeral directors, your role extends beyond mere logistics; families entrust you with providing comfort, support and a sense of closure during their darkest moments. Ensuring customer satisfaction isn't just about delivering a service, it's about offering compassion and empathy throughout the entire funeral process – and doing it consistently.

Dispelling Myths About the Funeral Profession

With the internet and copious amounts of information at our fingertips, sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between myth and fact, even in the funeral profession. You will likely require a funeral professional’s services sometime in your life, and you may have uncertainties about what to expect throughout the process. With the expertise of some Homesteaders’ account executives who have worked in or with funeral homes for many years, this post sheds light on the reality of funerals and the funeral profession.

What Nature Teaches Us About Death and Grief

In the journey of life, death and grief are threads we all must weave into our existence. While daunting or painful, these experiences also hold profound lessons, many of which nature imparts to us. From the cycle of seasons to the delicate dance of life and death in ecosystems, nature offers insights that can guide us through the labyrinth of loss and sorrow.

Resources to Help Your Funeral Home Stay Ahead in 2024

Homesteaders’ 2023 annual report is now available, and we’re grateful to share what we accomplished during another outstanding year at Homesteaders. We have a lot to celebrate, including offering double-digit growth rate increases in the first quarter of 2023 and again in January of 2024. It’s just one example of how our solid financial position helps our customers get – and stay – ahead.

3 Ways Funeral Homes Can Support Bereaved Spouses

It goes without saying that the basis of a funeral professional’s job is organizing the necessary logistics of a funeral arrangement for families and individuals experiencing the recent loss of a loved one. But there are many ways to provide additional care and compassionate support that go beyond the rudimentary details of the service.

3 Unexpected Roles of a Funeral Director

Funeral directors’ jobs are sometimes characterized by their most visible role: ensuring funeral services run smoothly for families who have lost a loved one. But funeral professionals wear many hats as they help families through some of the most difficult times. We are going to unpack some of the unexpected roles that funeral professionals have, and why those traits are so important to their work.

What We’re Looking Forward to at 2024 Conventions

2024 convention season has arrived, and we are excited for what’s in store this year! From thoughts on why conventions are important to what we’re looking forward to and which conventions we will attend, some of Homesteaders’ senior account executives share their thoughts below.