SCI on First-Quarter Results: It’s Not Market Share — It’s the Death Rate
Service Corporation International reported first-quarter results April 29, and the one big takeaway is this: If you’ve seen a decrease in funeral volumes, it’s not you.
Against that backdrop, however, SCI still performed well, generating adjusted earnings per share of 97 cents compared with 96 cents in the year-ago period – results that would not have been possible without strong preneed production on both the funeral and cemetery side of the business.
The results, however, disappointed Wall Street, as stock analysts had expected the company to earn $1 per share on revenue of $1.11 billion.
Quarterly highlights include:
- Revenue grew $22.3 million to about $1.10 billion, or 2%, over the first quarter of 2025.
- Comparable cemetery preneed sales production increased 10% in the current quarter.
- Comparable total funeral sales average grew 3% over the first quarter of 2025.
- Comparable funeral preneed sales production increased 6% in the current quarter.
- Net cash provided by operating activities increased $22.7 million, or 7% to $333.8 million in the current quarter compared to $311.1 million in the prior-year quarter.
- Adjusted cash provided by operating activities increased $18.5 million, or 6%, to $334.5 million in the current quarter compared to $316 million in the prior year.
Commenting on the results, Chairman and CEO Tom Ryan said, “Comparable funeral service volumes declined 6% year-over-year, reflecting the impact of a particularly strong prior year flu season and aligning with broader demographic trends. Despite this, the company delivered solid underlying performance driven by a resilient average revenue per service and disciplined cost management, with expenses increasing approximately 1% year over year. In addition, preneed funeral sales production remained strong, increasing 6% for the period.”
He continued, “In our cemetery segment, we delivered a strong performance, highlighted by 10% growth in comparable preneed cemetery sales production. This higher production drove 7% growth in comparable cemetery revenue and a 120-basis point improvement in cemetery gross profit.”
While SCI’s quarterly performance was pretty much flat (adjusted earnings went up a penny and net income calculated using generally accepted accounting principles actually went down a penny), Ryan noted that had funeral case volumes remained flat instead of trending down, earnings per share would have been about $1.12 per share, which would have been a 17% percent increase.
The uncertain curve of the death rate is partly why SCI’s guidance range for the year— which it reaffirmed — is so wide at $4.05 to $4.35 diluted earnings per share, excluding special items.
When challenged by a stock analyst on a conference call about the broad range, Ryan noted, “Right now, with the funeral volumes the way they are, you’re probably more likely to be in the lower half of the range versus the higher, but we’re not there yet because, again, if these volumes come back, if we continue the trends we’re seeing in cemetery, we could push in the upper half of this, too.” He added, “So, that’s why we left it where it is. We honestly have a couple of different — a variety of models, and some of which if we get some funeral volume back, we can do really well this year. If you don’t, clearly, you’re going to be on the lower end of that range.”
Even with an anticipated evening out of the death rate, however, SCI said it expects a 1% to 3% decline in funeral volume for the year.
It’s not a market share issue but death rate issue, SCI leaders insisted.
“We don’t have a lot of public competitors, but we do talk to a lot of our friends in the private world, and we’ve got suppliers in different places,” Ryan said. “I’ve mentioned CDC data, we’ve got January and February, and they’re kind of right on where we see – some of our other competitors actually have worse comps. Some of our suppliers have worse comps. So, we feel, number one, that it’s not a market share issue, and therefore, we believe it will bounce back.”
But the bounce back has so far been slow in coming.
“What we saw was out of the gate, really all three months were down,” Ryan said, referring to the first quarter. “I think January and February were a little steeper, and March was slightly better, but still down.”
SCI has seen such periods before, however, and in previous cycles when the first-quarter death rate was down, the second quarter is “still not great,” Ryan said. “You tend to start trending in the back half of the year and seeing that volume come back,” he said. “That’s what we’ve experienced in the previous five times. And I’d tell you right now in April, we’re seeing the same thing. April is still down.”
The decline in services reflects the impact of a strong flu season in the prior-year quarter, Ryan said. “Outside of the COVID-impacted era, over the past 20 years, we have experienced five instances where first-quarter volumes declined from 4% to 9%,” he pointed out. “In each of those periods, we saw a meaningful improvement as the year progressed, with full year results improving by an average of 400 basis points relative to the first quarter’s decline. While each year is different, this pattern reinforces our expectation that performance can improve as we move through the balance of the year.”
Despite the decline in funeral volume, SCI saw the core average revenue per service rise a “healthy” 3.5%, Ryan said, which is more impressive since the core cremation rate increased by a modest 40 basis points.
When one stock analyst pointed asked about the contradiction of lower funeral volumes against the backdrop of robust growth in preneed, Ryan gave preneed seminars a lot of credit.
An important point, however, is the seminars typically aren’t conducted at a funeral home.
“They’re probably at a restaurant, somewhere, a hotel,” Ryan said. “So, the draw that you’re getting for the attendees has nothing to do with your funeral home traffic. So over time, I think we’re pushing more and more of these leads outside of our locations. And therefore, we’re less sensitive to volumes as they walk through the door.”
He also pointed out that SCI only recently got through its transition of working with a new partner in its insurance core business: Global Atlantic. “And we had SCI Direct last year that was transitioning from a trust product to an insurance product,” he said. “So, just think of the forms, the explanation, the presentations. There’s a lot of detail that goes into that, and it was a bit of a distraction over, call it, a 12-to18-month period. And I think what I’m pointing out now is, hey, that’s behind us.”
The average revenue per preneed contract continues to grow, which should drive growth for SCI in the years ahead, Ryan said, noting that as these contracts mature out of backlog, they will have higher cumulative trust earnings.
Cemetery Operations
A bright spot for SCI during the quarter was the performance of its cemeteries, with quarterly revenue increasing by $31 million, or about 7%.
“Core revenues increased by $25 million as a $28 million or 10% increase in recognized preneed revenue was slightly offset by a $3 million decline in at-need revenue,” Ryan said.
The recognized preneed revenue growth came from a $20 million increase in property revenue and another $8 million in higher merchandise and services, SCI reported.
“Other revenue was higher by $6 million compared to the prior year quarter, primarily from an increase in endowment care trust fund income. Comparable preneed cemetery sales production grew an impressive $32 million or 10% in the quarter,” Ryan said, with large sales driving $20 million of the increase and core sales contributing the remaining $12 million.
SCI’s cemetery strength may be a theme that will continue in coming months and even years if early results to cater to cremation families in 10 markets end up being repeatable throughout the organization.
Ryan explained, “It’s our belief based upon some studies and surveys that we did with consumers that there’s a real lack of understanding of what we have to offer to the cremation consumer on the cemetery side,” he said. “So, we worked really hard, and we actually piloted 10 markets in the first quarter. And I would tell you that it was very successful.”
The campaign revolves around communicating with cremation families through advertising, in-lobby presentations, different types of media and presentation materials, Ryan said. “And what we’re seeing was a real difference maker in those 10 markets versus what we saw in the other markets,” he said, adding that the initiative will be piloted in 80 or so additional markets in July.
“When we did this consumer survey research, it really was eye-opening to us, and we learned a lot about, ‘Hey, maybe we’re focusing too much on funeral and burial, and we’ve got to have the tools and the resources to educate these consumers,’” Ryan reflected.
Continued Investment
In the first quarter, SCI invested $66 million of maintenance capital back into its current businesses, according to Eric D. Tanzberger, the company’s executive vice president and chief financial officer.
“Included in this maintenance spend, we invested $41 million into new cemetery development projects, $20 million into our current funeral home and cemetery locations, which improves the overall customer experience, and about $5 million into our digital strategy and some other corporate investments,” he said. “We also invested $17 million of growth capital in the quarter toward the construction of new funeral homes as well as the purchase of some real estate for future new build and expansion opportunities.”
SCI spent $24 million on acquisitions in the quarter, adding locations in several states, including Texas, Massachusetts, Alabama and North Carolina.
“We remain optimistic about the acquisition pipeline and believe we are on pace to achieve our $75 million to $125 million acquisition investment target for 2026,” Tanzberger said.
Carriage Services Announces First Quarter Results
On May 6, Carriage Services announced its financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2026.
Company highlights:
- Consolidated cemetery revenue increased 6% over the prior year, primarily driven by a 10% increase in consolidated preneed sales production as the consolidated average price per preneed interment rights sold grew 11%.
- Financial revenue grew 15.7% over the prior year, primarily driven by an 8% increase in consolidated insurance-funded preneed funeral contracts sold resulting in an increase in general agency commission revenue.
- Operating income declined $6.3 million, primarily as a result of a prior year gain of $7.8 million on divestitures and the sale of real property.
- Adjusted consolidated EBITDA grew 2.4%, or $0.8 million, demonstrating improved profitability despite lower revenue for the quarter versus the prior year.
- GAAP diluted EPS of $0.84 compared to $1.34 in the prior year quarter, resulting in a decrease of 37.3%, primarily driven by the prior year gain on divestitures and the sale of real property.
- Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.86 compared to $0.96 in the prior-year quarter, resulting in a decrease of 10.4%, as the current quarter includes an approximately $0.08 impact from a higher tax rate.
- Leverage ratio lowered to 4.0x from 4.2x at the same period last year.
- Announces an “at the market” equity offering program to offer and sell its common stock with an aggregate offering price of up to $100 million.
Carlos Quezada, vice chairman and CEO (pictured at top), stated, “We are pleased by our first-quarter performance, particularly against a strong prior-year comparison. Total revenue of $106.1 million declined modestly by $0.9 million, driven primarily by a 5.8% decrease in comparable funeral volume. However, our cemetery portfolio demonstrated solid growth, finishing the quarter at $34.4 million, representing a $2 million increase in consolidated cemetery revenue, partially offsetting the volume headwinds.
Our teams demonstrated strong operational discipline, effectively managing costs, and driving improved profitability. Adjusted consolidated EBITDA increased to $33.8 million from $32.9 million last year, with margins expanding 100 basis points to 31.8%.
After three years of disciplined transformation, strengthening our processes, systems, and leadership while expanding margins and delivering improved shareholder returns, we believe Carriage is well positioned to accelerate our return to purposeful growth, which we launched last year with our strategic acquisitions in Florida. To support this next phase, we are announcing a $100 million at-the-market equity offering program that provides flexible, low-cost access to capital. Importantly, this program is not driven by immediate funding needs but rather designed to be used opportunistically to execute highly selective, accretive strategic acquisitions while also enabling us to further optimize our balance sheet, reduce leverage, and lower interest expense over time.
Our capital allocation philosophy remains unchanged, grounded in discipline and focused on deploying capital into opportunities that enhance earnings power, strengthen our competitive positioning, and generate returns above our cost of capital. We will deploy this program when we see opportunities that deliver accretive performance returns. With a stronger operating foundation and enhanced financial flexibility, we are well-positioned to pursue growth in a deliberate, strategic manner while continuing to prioritize balance sheet strength and long-term shareholder value creation.
We entered 2026 with momentum and a clear sense of purpose, and we remain confident in our ability to execute our strategic priorities and deliver sustained, long-term value for our shareholders,” concluded Quezada.
In addition to announcing its financial results for the first quarter March 31, 2026, the company today announced that it has entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and Raymond James & Associates, Inc., serving as sales agents (together, the “Sales Agents”), with respect to its at-the-market offering program under which the company may offer and sell, from time to time, shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $100 million through the sales agents.
View the full earnings release.
Get more insights on the Carriage Services earnings in this article published by FuneralVision.com.
Connecticut Budget Proposal Includes Funeral Fraud Fund
Connecticut lawmakers are moving forward with plans to establish a compensation fund for victims of funeral home fraud following allegations that a funeral director misused prepaid funeral money from more than 128 clients, Eyewitness News 3 reported.
The proposed $1 million fund is included in the state budget and comes after authorities accused Philip Pietras of stealing prepaid funeral funds. Police allege the money was spent on gambling activities and travel expenses.
Under the proposal, eligible victims could receive compensation of up to $10,000 each once the program becomes operational.
Rep. Tammy Nuccio said the investigation revealed gaps in oversight involving prepaid funeral contracts. According to Nuccio, no single Connecticut agency currently regulates those agreements.
In response, Nuccio introduced legislation that would create a working group tasked with reviewing funeral home oversight and developing recommendations for stronger regulation of the profession. She said multiple state agencies currently oversee different areas of the funeral business, creating what she described as a fragmented and potentially confusing system.
The proposed working group would examine the broader regulatory structure surrounding funeral homes and explore ways to strengthen consumer protections to help prevent similar incidents in the future. Lawmakers are also considering long-term funding options to replenish the compensation fund over time.
Nuccio said Connecticut officials are looking at Florida’s model as a possible framework. That system includes a surcharge of roughly $5 on funeral contracts, along with funeral director licensing fees, which are directed into a consumer protection fund.
Family Says Loved One Was Cremated Without Prior Notification
A family in Walnut Creek, California is seeking answers after they say a loved one was cremated without the notification they had specifically requested beforehand, NBC Bay Area reported.
According to the family, Diana McKean Israel died on April 1 following a battle with stage four ovarian cancer. Her daughter, Illana Israel Samuels, said the family made arrangements with Neptune Society in Walnut Creek and asked to be contacted before the cremation took place so relatives could gather for a final farewell.
The family intended to be present during the cremation process as part of their grieving and memorial experience. However, Samuels said the anticipated call never came.
After following up with the cremation provider this week, the family learned that Diana McKean Israel had already been cremated on April 21.
Samuels said the discovery was devastating for the family, especially after they had remained closely involved throughout Israel’s illness and end-of-life journey. She described the missed opportunity as deeply painful and emotionally overwhelming.
According to Samuels, the cremation facility acknowledged that a mistake had occurred and later issued the family a full refund. Despite that gesture, she said the emotional loss cannot be repaired financially.
She also compared the shock of learning about the cremation after the fact to unexpectedly receiving news of a loved one’s death.
In a statement provided to the media, the company said it protects client privacy and therefore does not publicly discuss specific cases involving families it serves.
Samuels said the response did not adequately address the family’s central concern, which is understanding what measures will be taken to ensure another family does not experience a similar situation in the future.
Matthews International Reports Strong Second-Quarter Results
On April 30, Matthews International Corp. reported financial results for its second quarter of fiscal 2026.
For the three months ended March 31, 2026, revenue was $258.6 million compared with $427.6 million in the year-ago period. Non-GAAP earnings were 37 cents per share compared with 34 cents in the year-ago period. The non-GAAP results significantly topped the expectations of analysts, sending shares higher.
Specifically, for the Memorialization segment, third quarter sales were $215.2 million compared with $205.6 million in the year-ago period.
One of the highlights from the company is that it successfully completed the early redemption of $300 million in high-cost senior secured notes, significantly improving its balance sheet and reducing long-term debt by over $240 million. Its investment in Propellus, in which it holds a 40% stake, is performing well.
In discussing the results, Joseph C. Bartolacci, president and chief executive officer, stated:
“We are pleased with our operating results for the fiscal 2026 second quarter. While our GAAP earnings were unfavorably impacted by unusual charges and amortization, we are happy to report non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share growth this quarter compared to last year despite recent divestitures. The Memorialization segment reported higher sales and adjusted EBITDA, and the Product Identification business also delivered higher sales. Although we continue to experience challenges in our energy storage solutions business, customer interest remains very strong. Corporate and other non-operating costs also declined meaningfully compared to last year. We continue to work on additional cost reduction plans to scale our structure as post-divestiture support obligations expire over the coming quarters.”
“Sales for the Memorialization segment for the fiscal 2026 second quarter were higher than a year ago primarily reflecting the recent acquisition of The Dodge Company. This acquisition continues to be nicely accretive to earnings as we leverage the benefits of our Memorialization commercial platform and have already begun to realize cost synergies from integration. Sales volumes of caskets and cemetery memorials declined in the quarter due to lower U.S. casketed deaths. Inflationary price realization offset lower sales volumes of caskets and cemetery memorials in the quarter. The earnings impact of these sales increases and benefits from the segment’s ongoing productivity initiatives were significant factors in the segment’s improved operating margins.”
He later added, “For the remainder of fiscal 2026, we expect the Memorialization segment to continue to deliver modest year-to-year sales growth.” He added, “Based on our results through March 31, 2026, and projections for the remainder of fiscal 2026, we are maintaining our previous earnings guidance of adjusted EBITDA of $180 million (which includes our estimated 40% share of Propelis adjusted EBITDA) for fiscal 2026.”
Local Funeral Home Owner Builds Viral Following Through Social Media
A local funeral home owner in Salem, Ohio is using social media to encourage more open conversations about death while also educating the public about funeral preplanning through a growing online audience, the Morning Journal reported.
Stark Memorial Funeral Home owner Dan Madden said he has maintained an active online presence for the funeral home since purchasing the business six years ago. While much of that focus had previously centered on Facebook, Madden expanded his efforts over the past year by rebranding his personal Instagram account as “danthefuneralman” and launching a TikTok account under the same name.
His humorous and educational videos quickly gained traction online, especially a recurring series called the “FashUrn” show, which showcases unconventional and artistic urn designs. The series has attracted attention well beyond the local community and has generated a significant online following.
One recent video surpassed two million views and drew attention from celebrities and viewers across the country. The popularity of the videos also led Madden to begin selling urns nationwide through a new website, fashurns.com, after viewers expressed interest in purchasing the featured products.
According to Madden, many viewers are surprised to learn how many personalized urn options exist outside of traditional styles. Among the most popular products highlighted in the videos are a leopard-print urn, a butterfly-themed urn, and a biodegradable “living urn” designed to combine ashes with soil to grow a tree.
Tacoma Family Seeks Return of Stolen Remains of 11-Year-Old
A family in Tacoma, Washington is searching for the cremated remains of an 11-year-old boy after they were reportedly stolen during a vehicle break-in, KIRO 7 reported.
Abbirielle Priest said her vehicle was broken into while she was in the process of moving into a new apartment on Sixth Avenue. Multiple items were taken, including clothing, luggage, and personal documents, but Priest said her primary concern is recovering the cremated remains of her younger brother, Bishop Romeo.
Romeo died in 2024 following a paddleboarding accident. Priest said the loss of the cremated remains has reopened the emotional pain associated with his death.
The cremated remains had reportedly been stored inside a suitcase in the back of Priest’s vehicle. After leaving for work the following morning, she discovered the contents of the car had been stolen. The suitcase was later recovered in a stairwell near the apartment garage, but the cremated remains were missing.
The incident also serves as a reminder for funeral professionals to educate families about safeguarding cremated remains during travel or relocation. Funeral homes may want to encourage families to avoid leaving cremated remains unattended inside vehicles, particularly during moves, hotel stays, or long-distance travel.
SCCFA Announces Powerhouse Speaker Lineup for 2026 Convention
The Southern Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association has announced an outstanding speaker lineup for its 2026 Convention & Family Reunion, bringing together some of the most respected voices in the cemetery, cremation and funeral profession.
This year’s program features a standout lineup led by Carlos R. Quezada, chief executive officer and vice chairman of Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE: CSV), and Chris Cruger, chief executive officer of Foresight. Quezada will share leadership lessons on service excellence, culture and operational discipline, while Cruger will present research-driven insights into how changing consumer attitudes are reshaping the funeral and cemetery business model.
They will be joined by an exceptional group of speakers, including Ben R. Upton, executive vice president of sales, marketing, and Fewell Monument for Buchanan Group; Dan Ford, president of Alderson-Ford & Buckmiller Ford Mengacci Funeral Homes and NFDA president; Erin Wilson, senior director of education and program strategy for Funeral Women Lead; John Bolton, vice president of operations for development at Park Lawn Corporation and ICCFA President; Sam James, owner of James Funeral Home and Northlake Memorial Gardens; and Wendy Wiener, regulatory counsel for the Florida Funeral, Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association and Legislative Committee member for SCCFA.
“Year after year, The Southern continues to deliver an incredible lineup of leaders who understand where our profession is headed and what our members need to succeed,” said Jeremy Weaver, president of SCCFA. “From major industry operators to nationally recognized educators, advocates, and innovators, the 2026 Convention & Family Reunion will deliver meaningful ideas, practical strategies, and the kind of fellowship that makes SCCFA so special.”
Hosted in partnership with the Texas Cemeteries & Crematories Association and the South Carolina Cemetery Association, the convention will take place June 14–16, 2026, at the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk.
In addition to education sessions, attendees can look forward to networking, exhibits, family activities, and time to reconnect with colleagues from across the region in one of the country’s most vibrant convention destinations.
Members, suppliers, and industry professionals are encouraged to register now and make plans to join SCCFA, TCCA, and SCCA in San Antonio for what is expected to be one of the association’s most exciting gatherings of the year.
Registration and event details are available at: https://www.sccfa.info/aws/SCCFA/pt/sp/convention
Detroit Man Questions Funeral Home After Disturbing Voicemail
A Detroit man says a voicemail accidentally left by a funeral home employee raised concerns that he could be given the wrong cremated remains during an ongoing disagreement involving his late wife’s cremated remains, Click on Detroit reported.
Curtis Robinson said his wife died April 12 due to complications related to lupus. Although the couple had been separated, Robinson said they were still legally married, making him her next of kin.
According to Robinson, he informed Butler Funeral Home that his wife’s sons could oversee the funeral arrangements. However, he requested a copy of the death certificate along with a portion of her cremated remains.
Robinson said funeral home co-owner Charita Butler contacted him last week to schedule a time for him to complete cremation paperwork. He said the voicemail initially sounded routine but appeared to continue recording after Butler believed the call had ended.
In the message, Butler could allegedly be heard discussing the situation with another employee and suggesting that if Robinson continued asking about the cremated remains, he could be given remains belonging to someone else that were awaiting disposal.
Robinson said hearing the recording left him distressed and uncertain whether he could trust the funeral home to provide any portion of his wife’s remains.
Butler later told Local 4 that she had become caught in a conflict between Robinson and the deceased woman’s sons, who she said did not want Robinson receiving any cremated remains. Butler said her comments were made while she was thinking through the tense situation and that she had not actually decided to take such action.
She stated that no incorrect remains had been distributed and said the conversation captured on the voicemail was only part of a discussion.
According to Butler, she later apologized to Robinson and offered him the opportunity to witness the transfer of the cremated remains into an urn. She also said she purchased a keepsake urn for him.
Robinson said the apology did not resolve his concerns and questioned whether other families may have experienced similar treatment.
Local 4 reported that it found no comparable complaints involving Butler Funeral Home, which currently holds an A-plus rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Robinson said he is still waiting to receive his wife’s cremated remains and is considering possible legal action.
Colorado Funeral Home Under Investigation Over Alleged Storage Violations
The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies is investigating Evergreen Funeral Home following allegations that the facility improperly stored human remains without adequate refrigeration, CBS News reported.
State regulators said the Colorado Springs funeral home was placed on probation after an inspection conducted on Jan. 22. According to investigators, the facility allegedly housed more remains than it had the capacity to properly accommodate. Regulators also claimed refrigeration units were operating above the required 39-degree threshold and cited discrepancies involving documentation and recordkeeping.
Documents filed by DORA indicate the funeral home must now establish an internal auditing system, provide quarterly compliance reports to the state, and disclose any future violations related to the state’s Mortuary Science Code.
Evergreen Funeral Home did not respond to requests for comment.
Tukios Expands Obituary Customization Tools with New AI and Layout Features
Tukios, a leader in funeral technology solutions led by Curtis Funk (pictured at top), has introduced several new features that give funeral homes more control over how online memorials look, read, and function. These updates focus on customization, flexibility, and preserving the voice of each family while improving presentation and readability.
Funeral professionals can now use Obituary Stories to add fully customizable text sections directly within obituaries. This allows for more structured storytelling, including headings, highlighted messages, service details, or personalized notes. Obituary Stories gives funeral homes greater flexibility to organize content and emphasize meaningful parts of a life story without being limited to text only found in the obituary.
Another new feature allows photos to be embedded directly within obituary text. Funeral homes can now place images exactly where they belong in the story, rather than limiting them to a gallery. The editor supports captions, borders, alignment controls, hyperlinks, and adjustable sizing. This makes it possible to create more visually engaging obituaries that follow the timeline of a person’s life.
Alongside these newer tools, Tukios continues to expand customization options that allow funeral homes to tailor obituary presentation. Funeral homes can enhance obituaries with video backgrounds, improved photo display layouts, and additional visual formatting options that help create more polished and personalized tribute pages.
Tukios has also introduced a guestbook post photo safety feature. When AI detects potentially sensitive or unsafe images in guestbook submissions, the photo is automatically hidden. A notice appears in its place, allowing visitors to choose whether to reveal the image. This prevents unexpected exposure while still giving users full control over what they view.
Together, these updates give funeral homes more flexibility to personalize obituaries, improve readability, and create more meaningful tribute experiences for families.
These obituary customization features are now available within the Tukios platform. Availability may vary depending on configuration and feature rollout status. Funeral homes interested in learning more can call Tukios or reach out to their account manager.
Former Colorado Funeral Home Operator Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison
A former Colorado funeral home owner who admitted to helping conceal nearly 200 decomposing bodies has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in state court, closing another chapter in a case that prompted major reforms to Colorado’s funeral service regulations, The Associated Press reported.
Carie Hallford received the sentence Friday May 8 after reaching a plea agreement that carried a prison range of 25 to 35 years. The sentencing follows a separate federal fraud case in which she was sentenced last month to 18 years behind bars. During those proceedings, Hallford described herself as having been manipulated and abused during her marriage.
Her former husband, Jon Hallford, previously received a 40-year prison sentence on corpse abuse charges after relatives of the victims condemned his actions during a February hearing.
The Hallfords operated Return to Nature Funeral Home, where Carie Hallford primarily interacted with grieving families while Jon Hallford handled much of the operational and physical work, including activities at a second site in Penrose, Colorado.
Before sentencing, Carie Hallford apologized in court and acknowledged losing sight of the values she was raised with. She also described her marriage as being filled with deception and abuse, while still stating that her ex-husband deserved punishment for his conduct.
Prosecutors argued the Hallfords were motivated by financial gain, alleging they charged families more than $1,200 per cremation while spending heavily on luxury purchases instead of carrying out the services that had been promised.
The scandal became one of the most high-profile funeral home cases in Colorado history and exposed longstanding weaknesses in state oversight of the death care profession. At the time, Colorado was the only state without funeral home regulation. In response to the case, lawmakers later enacted mandatory inspections and established a funeral director licensing system.
The Hallfords later divorced following their arrests.
