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The Natural Funeral Is Changing the Future of Green Disposition
When Seth Viddal launched The Natural Funeral in 2019, he set out to reconnect families with a more authentic, environmentally aligned approach to death care. Six years later, the Lafayette, Colorado–based firm is expanding far beyond its own walls — and positioning itself as a national catalyst for sustainable disposition.
The company’s new TerraCare Partner Program offers funeral homes a turnkey path to terramation (natural organic reduction), complete with vessel installation, training, materials and guided language to help staff talk confidently about the process with families. For funeral homes seeking differentiation, new revenue streams, or a stronger position in sustainability, the model is designed to make adoption seamless.
And the timing could not be more important. As interest in eco-friendly alternatives accelerates, funeral homes must strengthen transparency, educate families proactively and demonstrate ethical stewardship in every interaction. Terramation is just one example of how innovation and communication can work hand in hand to rebuild and protect trust.
Viddal’s personal journey, the company’s technological evolution, and the lessons he’s learned on his journey offer a compelling roadmap for operators nationwide. The Natural Funeral has weathered setbacks, refined its terramation technology through multiple generations of vessels and emerged with a partnership model that funeral homes from any state can adopt.
Georgia Inmate Impersonates Funeral Home Owner in Deception Targeting Grieving Widow
Investigators in Georgia have uncovered a scheme in which a state prison inmate pretended to be a funeral home operator and convinced a recently widowed woman to send him $1,200 under false pretenses.
The fraud came to light when the widow contacted Memorial Park Funeral Home after finalizing arrangements for her husband. She reached out because she believed the funeral director was requesting additional payment — something the business had never asked for. Staff quickly realized that someone had posed as the funeral home and misled the family during their time of grief, according to a WJCL 22 ABC report.
According to Hall County authorities, investigators traced both the phone call and a fraudulent Zelle transfer to inmate Mark Rosas. Rosas is accused of claiming that the funeral could not proceed unless the widow provided a $1,200 payment for so-called “liability insurance.” Officials believe he combed through online obituaries and the funeral home’s website to gather names and details, allowing him to sound credible.
The funeral home emphasized that its staff does not request payments through unsolicited phone calls or text messages and encouraged families to verify any unexpected communication by contacting the business directly.
A Wake-Up Call for Funeral Homes Nationwide
This incident underscores an increasingly urgent issue for funeral homes and cremation providers across the country: scammers are actively studying obituary listings, monitoring funeral home websites and mirroring professional identities to manipulate grieving families.
The emotional vulnerability surrounding a recent death makes families more susceptible to high-pressure or unexpected financial requests.
Funeral professionals should view this case as a clear signal to strengthen their consumer-protection practices. Steps to consider include:
- Proactively educating families.
Funeral homes should tell every family — preferably both verbally and in writing — that they will never request payment by text, email links, peer-to-peer apps, or unexpected phone calls. Clear instructions on how official payment requests are handled can mitigate confusion before it begins. - Posting fraud-prevention notices online and on-site.
A simple alert on the funeral home’s website and in arrangement rooms can warn families about common scams, including impersonation attempts tied to obituaries. - Training staff to recognize red flags.
Employees should be prepared to respond quickly when families report suspicious outreach. Maintaining an internal checklist for potential scam reports helps teams escalate concerns to law enforcement without delay. - Coordinating with local police.
Establishing a relationship with local authorities enables swift action when a scam occurs, and law enforcement can often provide updated fraud-prevention materials tailored to the community. - Reviewing obituary publication practices.
Some scammers rely heavily on publicly available personal information. Funeral homes may want to evaluate how much detail appears in obituaries and consider offering simplified listing options to families concerned about privacy.
By implementing structured fraud-prevention measures, funeral homes can protect the families they serve and reduce the likelihood that criminals can exploit moments of deep grief.
Zacherl Funeral Home Announces Installation of Overdose Aid Kit
If you want to give back to your community in a way that has an obvious connection to your mission as a funeral home, look at Zacherl Funeral Home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, which has partnered with the family of Jenna Razner and the Clinton Foundation to install an Overdose Aid Kit at its facility.
The kit is intended to offer rapid access to tools that can help respond to a suspected opioid overdose, KFIZ.com reported.
Following the placement of the unit on Nov. 20, funeral home personnel received training from the Fond du Lac County Health Department on how to administer and utilize the materials included in the kit.
The Razner family shared that their decision to support the effort stems from the loss of their daughter and sister, Jenna, who died two years ago due to a fentanyl overdose. They explained that Jenna was committed to helping others, and establishing this resource at Zacherl Funeral Home reflects their desire to honor her legacy. The family noted that even one life saved through the use of the kit would reflect Jenna’s spirit and bring meaning to their contribution.
The O.A.K. unit at Zacherl Funeral Home will be accessible to anyone who may need it, without requirements or judgment, whether for an on-site emergency or to keep as a precaution in a home first-aid kit.
The Clinton Foundation’s Overdose Response Network is encouraging other organizations, businesses, and local governments to consider putting an O.A.K. in place as part of broader efforts to address the ongoing fentanyl crisis. Those interested in learning more can contact the Overdose Response Network at (920) 382-6834 or [email protected]. Additional information is available at www.overdoseaidkit.com or through the organization’s Facebook page.
Former Connecticut Funeral Home Owner Facing Additional Theft Charges
A onetime Connecticut funeral home proprietor already under scrutiny for allegedly misappropriating prepaid funeral funds is now confronting a new wave of criminal accusations, the Journal Inquirer reported.
According to law enforcement officials and court filings, East Windsor police arrested 51-year-old Philip Pietras of Enfield on Nov. 4, adding more than a dozen theft-related charges to his growing list of alleged crimes.
In each of six newly filed matters, Pietras is accused of second-degree larceny and of selling funeral service contracts with the intent to defraud. One complaint includes two counts of each offense, and another alleges that he exploited a disabled individual, according to court documents.
With these latest cases, Pietras now faces more than 30 separate criminal files across two different state courthouses, stemming from investigations by police departments in East Windsor, Coventry, and Vernon. Authorities say the charges originate from clients who paid for advance funeral arrangements at the funeral homes Pietras previously owned in those communities.
Pietras is no longer operating in the funeral profession; records show his embalming license was revoked earlier this year.
Read the full report.
Fire Destroys West Virginia Funeral Home
A Nov. 10 evening fire leveled the Armstrong Funeral Home on Coal River Road in Whitesville, West Virginia, according to published reports.
The Whitesville Fire Department was dispatched after callers reported thick black smoke rising from the structure. When firefighters arrived, they encountered a fully involved building with heavy smoke pouring from every opening.
Pictures show the funeral home fully engulfed in flames.
The Racine Fire Department responded automatically under mutual-aid protocols, and departments from both Boone and Raleigh counties were summoned for additional tankers and manpower.
Firefighters attempted an interior attack, but conditions deteriorated rapidly as they searched for the origin of the blaze, forcing teams to pull back for safety. Responders were able to safeguard nearby structures, and the fire was ultimately confined to the funeral home itself.
The West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office is now examining the cause of the blaze.
In a statement, the Whitesville Fire Department called the fire “a deeply felt loss for the town of Whitesville and our community,” and expressed sympathy to those affected.
No one was injured in the fire – and no one was there when the fire began.
Read the full story.
Penn Mutual Seeks to Shift Liability to Deceased Attorney’s Estate in Funeral Directors’ Insurance Dispute
Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. and a group of co-plaintiffs have submitted a court filing claiming that several Montana funeral directors incurred substantial financial losses because of inadequate legal and financial advice, according to a report by Insurance Business Magazine.
The motion asks the court to place responsibility on the estate of the late attorney Janette Krutzfeldt Jones. Jones previously advised mortician Todd F. Stevenson and his family on acquiring individual universal life insurance policies, some of which were funded through loans obtained from a third-party premium-financing lender.
The filing names Corey Jones, acting on behalf of Jones’s estate, and Todd S. Steadman, who serves as trustee for certain Stevenson family trusts.
The underlying lawsuit alleges that Jones, Steadman, and other advisers directed the Stevenson family to purchase multiple life insurance contracts from a range of carriers, with several policies structured around premium financing.
According to the plaintiffs, the advisers and lenders involved provided loan documentation and policy illustrations that did not adequately explain the exposure created by fluctuating interest rates, collateral requirements, and other financial variables.
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. is also listed as a defendant in the broader action, alongside Penn Mutual.
In the recent court filing, Penn Mutual and the other parties argue that the Stevenson family pursued the insurance strategy—including the use of premium-financing loans—in reliance on guidance provided by Jones in her role as their legal counsel.
The third-party complaint maintains that Jones was obligated to exercise reasonable professional judgment while advising the Stevenson family and that any shortcomings in the suitability of the recommended insurance and financing structure stemmed from her handling of their legal matters through her firm, Krutzfeldt & Jones.
Penn Mutual and its co-filers are asking the court to assign an appropriate share of liability to Jones’s estate, Steadman, and the law firm for any losses the Stevenson family ultimately proves at trial.
Read the full article.
Join Daniel Hug and Other Funeral Experts at Tech Turbocharge
Daniel Hug
Ring Ring Marketing’s Client Relations
Team Department Manager
What if one day could completely change the future of your funeral home?
That day is closer than you think — and just a short drive away. As a valued partner of Ring Ring Marketing, we want to make sure you are among the first to know about a limited-time opportunity to attend Tech Turbocharge: Digital Tools to Elevate the Deathcare Profession at a deeply discounted rate.
For the first eight registrants, tickets are just $80 — nearly 80% off the standard $349 rate.
Use promo code EIGHTY at checkout to unlock your discounted ticket.
We are especially excited to share that Daniel Hug, Ring Ring Marketing’s Client Relations Team Department Manager, will be a featured speaker at the event. Daniel will deliver a high-impact session focused on the digital marketing and AI strategies that are driving real growth for funeral homes today. His presentation alone makes this event worth attending — and now you can access it at an exceptional rate.
Event Details
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton – Baltimore/BWI Airport (Free Parking Included)
Date: December 11, 2025
Registration: www.TechTurbocharge.com
Promo Code: EIGHTY (First 8 registrants only)
In addition to Daniel, you’ll learn from:
Brent Thomas
Dead Ringers
AI and analytics for more compassionate communication.
Minh Reid
Carriage Services
Blending compassion with technology to elevate the family experience.
Cole Waybright
Homesteaders Life Company
Unifying systems to streamline operations.
Matthew Bailey
Connecticut Life Tributes
Blending compassion with technology to elevate the family experience.
Register Now — Before the Discount Disappears
Only the first eight registrants can claim the $80 ticket price. Once those discounted tickets are gone, standard pricing resumes.
Secure your seat at www.TechTurbocharge.com
Use promo code EIGHTY at checkout.
If you have questions or need assistance with registration, please contact [email protected].
We hope you will take advantage of this exclusive opportunity — and join us in supporting Daniel as he shares insights that can help transform your funeral home’s performance.
