Dan and Emma Ford join Danielle Burmeister in our funeral home owner series where they share about family legacy, evolving expectations and modern challenges in funeral service. Dan is the president of Buckmiller Ford Mengacci Funeral Home and his daughter Emma serves as the administrative assistant and social media lead. In their chat, Dan and Emma cover what it was like growing up in a funeral home, navigating changing consumer needs, balancing affordability with rising overhead and finding meaningful ways to serve every family. They also talk about working together as father and daughter, adapting to digital communication and staying deeply rooted in service and giving back to the community and the profession. Learn more about their unique experiences and perspectives in this thoughtful, down-to-earth conversation.

Chapters:

1:02 · Finding direction.
Did Dan always know he wanted to enter funeral service — and what an FDK really means

1:41 · A calling confirmed.
Moments of doubt, shifting from firefighter to full-time funeral director and eventually funeral home owner

3:03 · Growing up in it.
Emma’s perspective on being raised in the funeral home and choosing to join the family business

4:22 · A heart for helping.
The natural overlap between social work and funeral service

5:13 · All hands on deck.
How funeral service becomes a family affair, with everyone pitching in when needed

12:17 · Facing today’s challenges.
What Dan and Emma see as the biggest pressures and pain points in the profession right now

17:53 · Hospitality in a digital world.
Representing warmth, care and connection online

19:26 · The power of personalization.
How family stories, playlists and small details transform services — including their experience with Dan's mother’s funeral

26:07 · Starting strong.
Their advice for those entering the profession in their early days

29:30 · Serving beyond the funeral home.
Why volunteering with associations and giving time to the profession matters

32:37 · On the nightstand.
What's next on their book lists

34:53 · Fueling the fire.
What is giving them energy and inspiration today