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For Immediate Release: April 1, 2026

Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is proud to announce that Jennifer M. Schlosser, co-owner of Schlosser Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Wapakoneta, Ohio, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 NFDA Inspiration Award. Sponsored by National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL), this prestigious award honors an exceptional woman who has made significant contributions to the funeral service profession and her community.

Schlosser will be presented with the award during the NFDA Professional Women’s Conference, taking place May 6 through 9 in St. Pete Beach, Florida.

“Jennifer’s story is one that so many in funeral service will recognize and admire,” said NFDA CEO Christine Pepper, MBA, CAE. “She is building a business, raising a family and showing up for her community in ways that are both visible and deeply personal. Whether she’s mentoring the next generation, creating meaningful moments for families or simply being present when it matters most, Jennifer leads with heart. That’s what makes her truly deserving of this recognition.”

A licensed funeral director, embalmer and preneed insurance agent, Schlosser has built a career defined by leadership, service and a deep commitment to families. Alongside her husband, she co-owns and operates a family-run funeral home while raising three children, balancing the demands of business ownership with a passion for meaningful, personalized care.

Through her work, Schlosser has strengthened connections between her funeral home and the community it serves. She organizes outreach programs such as “Coffee and Conversation” and “Lunch and Learn” events to help families better understand preplanning and the value of a meaningful funeral service, and she creates deeply personal experiences for families, including support for families that have experienced the death of an infant, and an annual Candle Lighting Ceremony with custom memorial candles.

Her commitment to service extends well beyond the funeral home. Schlosser is actively involved in her church and local school community, volunteers with the American Red Cross, and supports a wide range of community initiatives, from sponsoring youth activities and local events to creating opportunities for families to engage with the funeral home outside of times of loss. Her approach reflects a belief that funeral service is not just a profession, but an integral part of the community it serves.

Schlosser’s impact extends across the profession. She serves as Northwest Regional Director for the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, where she actively supports members, contributes to board initiatives and helps lead efforts focused on recruitment and retention. She has played a key role in developing resources to support funeral homes and regularly speaks with students and young professionals to encourage careers in funeral service.

Committed to continuous growth, Schlosser was selected as Ohio’s representative in the inaugural Tri-State Leadership Academy, further strengthening her leadership, communication and strategic thinking skills.

Her colleagues consistently point to both her professional excellence and personal character. One supporter shared that Schlosser “leads with integrity, mentors with generosity, and serves with compassion and drive,” while another noted that she “represents the very heart of what funeral service is meant to be,” bringing sincerity, purpose and a steady presence to every family she serves.

“Jennifer’s impact is felt not just in the services she provides to grieving families, but in the relationships she builds and the community she helps strengthen,” said Judy Olson, Vice President, Sales and Business Development, NGL. “From the personal touches she brings to every family she serves to the way she supports and uplifts others in the profession, she represents the kind of leadership and compassion this award was created to honor. We are proud to recognize her as this year’s Inspiration Award recipient.”

About the Inspiration Award

The NFDA Inspiration Award was established to recognize women who take the initiative to mentor, lead and inspire their colleagues. Honorees are distinguished by their commitment to professional excellence and their significant contributions to funeral service at the local, state, national or international level.

The 2026 winner was selected by a distinguished panel of judges:

• Kathleen Berry, Consultant, Cleveland, Ohio
• David E. Bryant, Bryant Funeral Homes & Crematory, Berlin, New Hampshire
• Christopher Costello, Mothe Funeral Homes Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana
• Melissa Cyfers, West Virginia Funeral Directors and Crematory Operators Association, Charleston, West Virginia
• Madison Dowers-Harlin, Trigard, Danville, Illinois
• Deirdra Flavin, National Alliance for Children's Grief, Lubbock, Texas
• Katey Houston, Funeral Director, Auburn, Washington
• Tawanna M. Johnson, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Jacksonville, North Carolina
• Steven Lazarczyk, Lazarczyk Family Funeral Homes, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
• Leili McMurrough, Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Libertyville, Illinois

    
NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit NFDA.org. 

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Media Contact: Jessica Koth, NFDA, 262-814-1536, JKoth@NFDA.org