As cremation rates rise and consumer preferences shift, funeral homes are innovating in surprisingly unconventional ways so they don’t die out.The New York Times reports that “Making It Work” is a series that focuses on small-business owners who are struggling to survive during difficult times. When a young hunter passed away, Lanae Strovers, a director at Hamilton’s Funeral Home in Des Moines, Iowa, went above and beyond to fulfill his family’s wish for one last hunt with him. She had his cremated remains put into shotgun shells and helped plan a hunt in his honor. This is just one example of how Ms. Strovers has been using her creativity and compassion to help families honor their loved ones in unique ways.
In recent years, the national cremation rate has increased significantly, leading to a decline in profits for funeral services. At the same time, the costs of running a funeral home have risen. This has forced funeral directors like Ms. Strovers to think outside the box and come up with new ways to serve their clients.
Ms. Strovers has organized a mock baseball field for a beloved Little League coach, a circus for a child who passed away too soon, and even a fashion show for a former model and designer. She believes that funeral directors need to be open to new ideas and be willing to help families create meaningful and personalized services for their loved ones.
“I don’t want to say that we’re going to become party planners,” Ms. Strovers says. “But I think that those two lines are crossing over and we just need to open up our thought process and be there to help the families.” With the funeral industry facing uncertain times, it is clear that innovation and adaptability are key to making it work.
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