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About the Episode: In 2023, the NFDA sent film crews out to various cities to talk with consumers about their impressions of funeral directors. There were mixed reactions and a combination of positive and negative comments that gave an eye-opening perspective on the public’s views of the funeral profession.
To View the Consumer Video, CLICK HERE.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf sits down with funeral directors, Lori Sheeler, Anna Zvirman-Nesbit, and Naomi Bradbury-Marchand to discuss those impressions and what we can do to develop the public’s positive perception of funeral service.
About Lori: Lori Sheeler is an Indiana licensed funeral director and the general manager of St. Pierre Family Funeral Service. They have 11 funeral homes in Indianapolis, Greenwood, Zionsville, Avon, Roachdale, Ladoga, Waveland and Seymour, Indiana. She is a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science and has since performed nearly every position in the funeral business from embalming to preneed marketing to management. She earned her Certified Funeral Service Practitioner certification with The Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice in 2016. She is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association Leadership and Development Committee, the former Vice-Chairman of the Indiana Funeral Education Foundation Board of Directors, the current District #7 Director for the Indiana Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors and a member of the Ivy Tech Mortuary Science Advisory Board. She has also volunteered with The Office of Civilian Volunteers Medical Reserve Corps as a Regional and National Deployment Cadre Member and Mortuary Specialist.
About Anna: Anna Zvirman-Nesbit is a licensed funeral director and co-owner of Soxman Funeral Homes in Pittsburgh, PA. She is a 2007 graduate from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Anna coordinates the funeral home’s Aftercare and Advanced Funeral Planning programs. She is a member of the National, Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Funeral Director Associations (NFDA, PFDA, ACFDA), ICCFA, as well as serving on the Board of Directors for the Plum Chamber of Commerce. Her designation as CPC from the NFDA has marked her as achieving the standard of excellence in funeral service for individuals who help families plan funerals, memorial services and other life tribute events in advance.
About Naomi: Naomi Bradbury-Marchand is a licensed funeral director and the co-owner of Bradbury Memorial Center in Lake Havasu City, AZ. She was born and raised in Minnesota, studied criminal justice at Minnesota State University Moorhead, and later studied mortuary science. While raising their family, her husband Charles was transferred to different states due to his career, moving the family across the country and eventually settling in Lake Havasu City in 2017. While working for the Nebraska Health and Human Services of Omaha, Naomi was introduced to the death care industry. Since 1999, she has worked in various funeral industry roles across Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, Texas, and Arizona. Some of her proudest achievements include traveling to Washington, D.C. with veterans for the dedication of the World War II Memorial and establishing an Angel of Hope Garden in Texas for those who have lost child family members.