Consumers Moving Past Tradition For Funerals, Survey Says > National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)
  • For Families
  • Suppliers
  • The Foundation
  • Store
  • News
    • In the News
    • COVID 19
    • Media Center
  • Connect With Us
    • Podcast
    • Blog
    • Contact us
  • Become a Member
Search Cart Login
National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)
Cart
Search
Login
  • Become a Member
  • Conferences
    • Advocacy Summit
    • Consumer Trends Conference
    • Embalming & Restorative Art Seminar
    • Futures Forum
    • International Convention & Expo
    • Call for Presentations
    • Service of Remembrance
    • Leadership Conference
    • Meet the Mentors
    • Professional Women's Conference
    • Inspiration Award
  • Membership
    • Become a Member
    • Membership Value Meter
    • Member Perks
    • SupportLinc Member Assistance Program
    • Discount Advantage Program
    • Endorsed Providers
    • Recognition Programs
    • Member Directory
    • Code of Professional Conduct
    • Committees & Groups
  • Resources
    • Legal & Compliance
    • Business & Technical
    • Operations & Management
    • Take 5 Series
    • Music and Webcasting Licenses
    • Remembering A Life
    • Media Relations
    • Marketing Materials
    • Publications
    • Research
    • Serving Veterans
    • Alternative Disposition
    • Find a Funeral Home
    • Find A Supplier
  • Education
    • Education Overview
    • National Emerging Leaders Program
    • Search CE By State
    • Calendar of Events
    • Webinars
    • On-Demand Learning
    • Certification & Training Programs
    • International Professional Achievement Certificate
    • Licensing Boards & Requirements
  • Careers
    • Become a Funeral Professional
    • Journey to Serve
    • Find/Post a Job
    • Licensing Boards & Requirements
    • Schools/Education
    • Scholarships
    • Work at NFDA
  • Advocacy
    • Overview
    • Current Issues
    • Get Involved
    • Donate to the PAC
    • Advocacy Summit
  • News
    • In The News
    • COVID-19
    • Media Center
    • Blog
  • Conferences
    • Advocacy Summit
    • Consumer Trends Conference
    • Embalming & Restorative Art Seminar
    • Futures Forum
    • International Convention & Expo
    • Call for Presentations
    • Service of Remembrance
    • Leadership Conference
    • Meet the Mentors
    • Professional Women's Conference
    • Inspiration Award
  • Membership
    • Become a Member
    • Membership Value Meter
    • Member Perks
    • SupportLinc Member Assistance Program
    • Discount Advantage Program
    • Endorsed Providers
    • Recognition Programs
    • Member Directory
    • Code of Professional Conduct
    • Committees & Groups
  • Resources
    • Legal & Compliance
    • Business & Technical
    • Operations & Management
    • Take 5 Series
    • Music and Webcasting Licenses
    • Remembering A Life
    • Media Relations
    • Marketing Materials
    • Publications
    • Research
    • Serving Veterans
    • Alternative Disposition
    • Find a Funeral Home
    • Find A Supplier
  • Education
    • Education Overview
    • National Emerging Leaders Program
    • Search CE By State
    • Calendar of Events
    • Webinars
    • On-Demand Learning
    • Certification & Training Programs
    • International Professional Achievement Certificate
    • Licensing Boards & Requirements
  • Careers
    • Become a Funeral Professional
    • Journey to Serve
    • Find/Post a Job
    • Licensing Boards & Requirements
    • Schools/Education
    • Scholarships
    • Work at NFDA
  • Advocacy
    • Overview
    • Current Issues
    • Get Involved
    • Donate to the PAC
    • Advocacy Summit
  • For Families
  • Suppliers
  • The Foundation
  • Store
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Contact us

NFDA News Releases

Media Center
Home News Media Center NFDA News Releases

NFDA News Releases

Consumers Moving Past Tradition For Funerals, Survey Says

October 15, 2019

For Immediate Release: October 15, 2019

National Funeral Directors Association identifies cremation, personalization and green burial options as top preferences for consumers over traditional elements like religion.

Brookfield, Wis. – This year, one thing is certain: consumers' preferences for funerals and memorialization are rapidly evolving. According to the 2019 Consumer Awareness and Preferences Study conducted by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), Americans are increasingly aware of and interested in personalization options, green burials and using a funeral home that's familiar or has been used by a loved one before – with less of an emphasis on the religious elements that were once a cornerstone of the funeral ritual. This creates a unique opportunity for today's funeral director to provide the kind of experience that more and more consumers have come to expect and even plan for as times and priorities change.

Thousands of funeral directors and funeral service professionals from around the globe will gather to learn how to meet these challenges as they flock to Chicago, October 27 through 30, for the 2019 NFDA International Convention & Expo. This annual event, the largest gathering of funeral directors in the world, enables attendees to take advantage of seminars, the world's largest funeral expo, unique tours, social events and more.

"Consumer needs and preferences drive and inform the services that funeral homes provide to grieving families," said Chuck Bowman, NFDA president. "I am looking forward to being with my colleagues at the NFDA Convention to discuss the common challenges we face and exchange ideas on how we can meet and even exceed families' expectations to ensure they are able to memorialize their loved ones in meaningful ways."

Specific, significant findings in the 2019 Consumer Awareness and Preferences Study pointing to changing expectations and preferences include:

  • Location of Cremated Remains: Of those who prefer cremation, 48% of respondents would prefer their cremated remains be scattered in a sentimental place. This is a result of declining importance of religion (only 35% of respondents felt it important in the funeral of a loved one) as well as an increase in factors like non-traditional funeral locations, services presided over by non-clergy and interest in celebrants.
  • Technology & Social Media: 55.6% of consumers have visited a funeral home's website to look for an obituary, write an online condolence or look up contact information. Additionally, 77% of respondents use Facebook and 16% of those that use it have visited a funeral home's Facebook page. Overall, the internet and social media have impacted grieving and memorialization, making it easier for people to give and receive support from a larger online network.
  • Green Funerals: Over half (51.6%) of respondents would be interested in exploring "green" funeral options because of potential environmental and cost-saving benefits.

 

At the 2019 NFDA International Convention & Expo, funeral service professionals will learn to address these and other consumer trends to provide more holistic, modern services that help families grieve and heal in a healthy way.

The 2019 NFDA International Convention & Expo will be held from Sunday, October 27 through Wednesday, October 30 at McCormick Place (2301 S. King Dr.) in Chicago. To learn more about the world's largest funeral service event, including a full list of programming and how to register, visit nfda.org/convention.

About National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA):

NFDA is the world's leading and largest funeral service association, serving more than 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, please contact 800-228-6332 or visit www.nfda.org.

# # #

Note: Members of the media may request a complimentary copy of the 2019 NFDA Consumer Awareness and Preferences Study. Please contact:

  • Consumer Media: Kate Glending (Agency H5 for NFDA), 312-374-8584, kglending@agencyh5.com
  • Funeral Service Trade Media: Jessica Koth (NFDA), 262-814-1536, jkoth@nfda.org
25 Latest Articles View News List | Search News
Media Center
  • What is a Funeral Director?
  • Funeral Service 101
  • Statistics
  • NFDA News Releases
  • Contacts and Spokesperson Team

Year

  1. 2025

  2. 2024

  3. 2023

  4. 2022

  5. 2021

  6. 2020

  7. 2019

  8. 2018

NFDA Mission Statement

The National Funeral Directors Association is the world’s leading, largest and most trusted association to support funeral professionals. We provide our members with critical information, innovative tools, resources and the professional community they need to serve families, run sustainable businesses and become pillars in their communities.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • NFDA Podcast
  • NFDA Blog
Toll-free
800-228-6332
Phone
262-789-1880

Quick Links

  • About NFDA
  • The Foundation
  • In The News
  • Contact Us
  • The Director
  • NFDA Blog
  • Conferences
  • Membership
  • Resources
  • Education
  • Advocacy
  • Podcast
  • NFDA Store
  • Career Center
  • Remembering a Life
    • For Funeral Directors
    • For Families
  • Suppliers

Quick Links +

  • About NFDA
  • The Foundation
  • In The News
  • Contact Us
  • The Director
  • NFDA Blog
  • Conferences
  • Membership
  • Resources
  • Education
  • Advocacy
  • Podcast
  • NFDA Store
  • Career Center
  • Remembering a Life
    • For Funeral Directors
    • For Families
  • Suppliers
© 2025 by National Funeral Directors Association. All Rights Reserved. Terms Of Use Privacy Statement
Back to top
This site uses cookies - you have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of the NFDA services or websites you visit.
To learn more about what cookies are and how to manage them visit AboutCookies.org
This site uses cookies to help deliver an engaging user experience.
To learn more about what cookies are and how to manage them visit AboutCookies.org
This site uses cookies - you have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of the NFDA services or websites you visit.
To learn more about what cookies are and how to manage them visit AboutCookies.org