As part of the entry process, all program participants are required to submit an essay describing the development and execution of a program or service that had a positive impact on those served (Category 1, Criterion I). Funeral homes that develop a program or service that is exceptionally well-executed and yielded positive results will receive a Certificate of Honorable Mention from the Pursuit of Excellence Task Force.
- 2022 Honorable Mention
- Arnett and Steele Funeral Home, Inc., Pineville, Kentucky
- Arrington Funeral Directors & Crematory, Jackson, Tennessee
- Bailey Family Funeral Homes and Company, Wallingford, Connecticut
- Chambers and James Funeral, Pet and Cremation Services, LLC, and Company, Wellsburg, West Virginia
- Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, Inc., and Company, Albion, New York
- Copeland Funeral Service, Inc., Beaufort, South Carolina
- Cozean Memorial Chapel & Crematory, Farmington, Missouri
- Hughes Family Tribute Center, Dallas, Texas
- Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes & Crematory, and Company, Villa Rica, Georgia
- Morris-Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Johnson City, Tennessee
- Oliverie Funeral Home and Company, Manchester, New Jersey
- Posey Funeral Directors, North Augusta, South Carolina
- Pray Funeral Home, Inc., Charlotte, Michigan
- Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Homes and Company, Coal City, Illinois
- Smith Family Funeral Homes and Company, North Little Rock, Arkansas
- Twiford Funeral Home, LLC, and Company, Elizabeth City, North Carolina
- Weeks' Funeral Home, and Company, Buckley, Washington
- 2021 Honorable Mention
- Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory, Alexandria Minnesota, and Company
- Arlington Memorial Chapels, Inc., Quezon City, Manila, Philippines
- A Sacred Choice, Houston, Texas
- Capillas Señoriales Casa de Homenajes, Merida, Yucatán, Mexico, and Company
- Feeney Funeral Home, Ridgewood, New Jersey
- Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., Franklin, Pennsylvania
- Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, and Company
- Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., Hamburg, New York, and Company
- Reeves and Baskerville Funeral Homes, Coal City, Illinois, and Company
- Señoriales Corporacion de Servicio, Guatemala City, Guatemala, and Company
- St. Peter Chapels, Quezon City, Philippines, and Company
- Thomas McAfee Funeral Home - Downtown, Greenville, South Carolina, and Company
- 2020 Honorable Mention
- Cannon Cleveland Funeral Directors, McDonough, GA
- Copeland Funeral Service, Beaufort, SC
- Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., East Pittsburgh, PA
- Pixley Funeral Home, Rochester, MI
- Radney Funeral Home, Alexander City, AL
- Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn, NE
- 2019 Honorable Mentions
- A.H. Peters Funeral Home, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
- Anderson Funeral Home, Alexandria, MN
- Arlington Memorial Chapels, Inc., Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
- Brunswick Memorial Home, East Brunswick, NJ
- Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, Covington, GA
- Funeraria San Vicente, Medellin, Colombia
- Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care, Madison, WI
- Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., Hamburg, NY
- Macz Funeral Home, Centralia, IL
- Morada da Paz, Paulista, PE, Brazil
- Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, Madison, IN
- Myers Mortuary - Ogden, Ogden, UT
- Oakey's Funeral Service & Crematory - South Chapel, Roanoke, VA
- Old Bridge Funeral Home, Old Bridge, NJ
- Oliverie Funeral Home, Manchester, NJ
- Radney Funeral Home, Alexander City, AL
- Watson-Thomas Funeral Home, Galesburg, IL
- Weeks' Dryer Mortuary, Tacoma, WA