Death care is changing. Fast. If you haven't looked at a price list or stepped into a funeral home lately, the updates from this month might actually shock you. Honestly, the old image of a somber director in a dusty suit is basically a relic.
October 2025 has been a massive month for the profession. We saw the NFDA International Convention & Expo take over Chicago from October 26 to 29, drawing nearly 6,000 professionals. It wasn't just about caskets. It was about survival in an era where cremation is king and private equity is buying up the neighborhood mom-and-pop shops.
The Big Shakeup in Funeral Industry News October 2025
The headlines this month are dominated by a massive shift in how we handle the end of life. For starters, the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) dropped its 2025 Cremation & Burial Report. The numbers are staggering. Cremation is projected to hit 63.4% this year.
Compare that to burial, which has plummeted to 31.6%.
Think about that for a second. In just a few decades, we've completely flipped the script on how Americans say goodbye. By 2045, researchers expect burials to represent only 13% of the market. This isn't just a "trend" anymore; it's a total structural collapse of the traditional funeral model.
Private Equity is Moving In
While families are choosing simpler options, big money is moving in the opposite direction. On October 21, Rollings Funeral Service announced the acquisition of Preddy Funeral Homes. This isn't an isolated event. Throughout October, we've seen reports of private equity firms like Rosewood Private Investments—which owns Milestone—buying up large chunks of the market in places like Western Massachusetts.
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In some counties, corporate consolidators now own a quarter of all mortuaries. Why does this matter to you? Because it often changes the "vibe" and the price tag. You might think you're walking into a local family business, but the person behind the desk might be reporting to a board of directors three states away.
Chicago’s "When Words Matter" Reveal
At the Chicago convention, NFDA CEO Christine Pepper unveiled something called When Words Matter. It sounds kinda flowery, but it’s actually a response to a real problem: funeral directors and families don't speak the same language anymore.
Research involving 1,100 consumers showed that what a director calls a "memorial service," a family might call a "celebration of life" or just a "party." The industry is finally realizing it needs to stop using 19th-century jargon if it wants to stay relevant to Gen X and Millennials.
Green Tech is No Longer "Alternative"
October 2025 saw some major legislative wins for the "green" crowd. In Pennsylvania, legislation to allow alkaline hydrolysis (often called water cremation or aquamation) passed the House on October 1.
Basically, instead of fire, it uses water and alkali to break down the body. It uses about one-quarter of the energy of flame cremation. Rhode Island is also moving toward legalizing natural organic reduction—yep, human composting.
Families are tired of the environmental guilt. They want to become a tree or a bag of soil. It sounds weird to some, but it’s becoming the go-to for people who spent their lives recycling and driving EVs.
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The Labor Crisis Nobody Talks About
Here’s the part that's kinda scary. The industry is running out of people.
According to reports from this month, over 60% of funeral directors are expected to retire within the next five years. In states like Nebraska, the shortage is so bad that they just passed laws to create "assistant funeral director" roles because there aren't enough licensed morticians to cover the cases.
- Long hours: On-call 24/7.
- Burnout: COVID-19 left a permanent scar on the workforce.
- Wages: They’re rising, but it’s not enough to lure in the younger generation who wants work-life balance.
If you’re planning a service right now, you might notice longer wait times or less "personalized" attention. It’s not that they don't care; it’s that the person helping you is likely working their 12th day in a row.
What This Means for Your Wallet
Transparency was the big buzzword this month. The FTC Funeral Rule is being looked at with a magnifying glass. Consumers are demanding to see prices online before they even step foot in a building.
In 2025, about 40% of people start the planning process online. If a funeral home doesn't have a clear price list on their website, people are just clicking away. Honestly, you should too. There’s no reason to hide the ball in 2025.
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Actionable Steps for Navigating the New Landscape
If you're dealing with the death care industry right now, here is what you need to do:
- Check the Ownership: Ask if the funeral home is locally owned or part of a conglomerate. It affects everything from pricing flexibility to the staff's "personal touch."
- Ask for the "Water" Option: If you're in a state like PA or RI, ask about alkaline hydrolysis. It’s often the same price as fire cremation but way better for the planet.
- Demand an Online GPL: Don't let them tell you that you have to come in to "talk about it." They are legally required to give you price info over the phone, and the best ones have a PDF on their site.
- Consider "Direct" Everything: If the 2025 costs are too high, "direct cremation" or "direct burial" removes the expensive fluff (no embalming, no viewing) and lets you handle the memorial on your own terms later.
The funeral industry isn't just about death anymore. It’s a business of logistics, technology, and environmental science. Staying informed about these shifts isn't just "macabre"—it's the only way to make sure you aren't overpaying for a tradition that even the industry is starting to leave behind.