Pierce Board Expansion, Park Lawn Changes, & Small-Town Zoning Battles

In this weekly rundown of news from around funeral service, Tony Russo covers major institutional changes, regulatory hurdles, corporate shake-ups, and legal updates from across the globe. Key Topics & Stories Covered 1. Pierce Mortuary Colleges: Leadership & Consolidation * Board Expansion: Pierce’s Board of Directors expanded from three to seven members. * Consolidation Goals: The move signals progress toward the colleges’ long-term effort to secure a single accreditation for its three campuses rather than maintaining separate accreditations for each. * Notable Appointment: Dr. Shana Garrett was added to the board, bringing valuable expertise in higher education distance learning to help navigate this unprecedented transition. 2. Park Lawn Corporation Executive Shake-Up * Corporate Restructuring: Following dramatic leadership changes earlier in the year, Park Lawn announced its current board and executive team. 3. International Spotlight: Australia & New Zealand News * Industry Profile: Judy Cole of Canberra’s family-owned William Cole Funerals was recently profiled in Region Magazine, discussing her multi-generational legacy, running the business alongside her husband and daughter, and the challenges of being a woman in a historically male-dominated industry. * Leadership Role: Cole was named Senior Vice President of the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales Division of Funerals Australia. 4. South Dakota Vital Records System Bottlenecks * Tech Glitches: A new statewide vital record system launched by the South Dakota Department of Health caused severe processing delays, backlogs, and financial stress for families and funeral homes. * State Response: Health officials stated they are actively working to clear the software bottlenecks, though a hard resolution date has not been set. 5. Legal Update: Anderson, Indiana Embezzlement Case * Plea Deal: Former funeral director Adriana McCoy avoided prison under a plea deal after stealing nearly $50,000. * Clarification on Victims: While early reports suggested families were the primary victims, statements from Legacy Cremation and Funeral Services clarify that McCoy mostly stole from her employer, alongside instances of altered billing. Under the deal, she is ordered to return $30,000. 6. Frank Duca Crematory Zoning Battle in Pennsylvania * Building Dispute: Funeral director Frank Duca faced fierce opposition from an anonymous citizens’ association (”Cambria for Responsible Development”) after leaving space for a crematory during a building expansion. * Zoning Hearings: After arguing that a funeral home zoning default should cover a crematory, Duca is now formally pursuing a zoning variance, leading up to a public hearing. 7. Connecticut Funeral Director Arrested for Stalking * Pending Charges: A funeral director in a small Connecticut town was arrested for allegedly stalking his former business partner and competitor following a years-long falling out. Tony will have detailed reporting published on Connecting Directors. Get full access to On Deathcare at ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe