August 1996
The Director - Features
Family Businesses Endure the Generations
How some family-owned funeral homes have endured hardships, accepted changes and survived generations
The funeral industry is often considered a family industry with many firms staying in family ownership for many decades. Family Businesses Endure the Generations, written by Jennifer Furey, editor of The Director, focuses on four family-owned funeral homes that have survived several generations. The story reveals the hardships and challenges these businesses had to endure over the years to continue for five or more generations.
Individuals from these funeral homes discuss what it was like for them growing up in funeral service and what motivated them to join the family business.
Along with active involvement from younger generations, a willingness and ability to adapt to change also determines the future of a family-owned business. The changes these four firms have experienced are addressed as well as some of the issues facing funeral service as a whole, such as government regulations, clients' changing needs and an increase in large acquisition companies.
