As we cross the threshold into 2026, the funeral industry finds itself in a peculiar, poetic position. We aren't just flipping a calendar page; we are standing at a massive historical crossroads.
In 1876, Dr. Julius LeMoyne built the first modern crematory in North America right in Washington, Pennsylvania. People thought he was a madman or a visionary (usually, it’s a bit of both). Now, 150 years later, cremation has moved from a radical experiment to the dominant choice of the modern family.
But here is the catch: what worked for the last 150 years won’t sustain us for the next 150. If you’re still thinking about "cremation versus burial," you’re already behind the curve.
Here are five resolutions for the funeral professional who wants to do more than just survive the shift—they want to lead it.
1. Stop Selling "The Burn" and Start Selling "The Bloom"
Let’s be honest: for decades, cremation was marketed as the "cheap, fast alternative." That era is dead. Families today aren't looking for a discount; so many are looking for a footprint—or rather, a lack of one.
The Resolution: Resolve to master the language of sustainability. Whether it’s alkaline hydrolysis or the latest in carbon-neutral programs facilitating tree planting or turf fields to offset the carbon impact of your retort, your role is shifting from "operator" to "environmental steward." If you can’t explain the ecological legacy of a service, you aren't providing full service.
2. Practice "Chronological Empathy"
We often get caught in the "here and now" of a family’s grief. But the families of 2026 are thinking about how they will be remembered in 2076.
The Resolution: Look at every arrangement through a century-wide lens. Ask yourself: “How will this choice look 150 years from now?” Whether it's digital archiving or permanent memorialization that survives the tech-pocalypse, start planning for the long-tail of memory.
3. Become a Student of the "Second 150"
History is a great teacher, but it’s a terrible master. We owe a lot to the pioneers of 1876, but we shouldn't be tethered to their technology.
The Resolution: Dedicate one hour a week to "future-casting." Read about AI-integrated memorialization, space-based remains, or the evolution of urban columbaria. You don’t have to offer it all yet, but you should know it’s coming. The next 150 years of cremation will look nothing like the first—and that’s a good thing.
4. Trade the "Director" Hat for the "Designer" Hat
The "Director" tells people where to stand and when to sit. The "Designer" creates an atmosphere. As cremation rates climb toward 80%, the "event" is no longer tied to the casket.
The Resolution: Resolve to lose the script. If the service looks exactly the same for a 20-year-old artist and a 90-year-old accountant, you’re failing the family. Use the flexibility of cremation to design experiences that wouldn't have been possible in the Victorian era.
5. Protect Your Own Internal "Pilot Light"
We spend our lives tending to the fires of others, metaphorically and literally. This industry is exhausting, and the pace of change is accelerating.
The Resolution: Prioritize your own longevity. You cannot be a visionary for the next century if you’re burnt out by February. Invest in your team, automate the mundane, and remember that the most important "service" you provide is your own presence.
At Raven Plume Consulting, I’ve been spending a lot of time lately looking back at 1876 to understand where we are headed in 2176. It’s a wild, slightly charred (sorry not sorry), but ultimately beautiful trajectory.
I’m currently putting the finishing touches on a new keynote that explores exactly this—the next 150 years of cremation. It’s about more than just retorts and urns; it’s about the evolution of the human soul in a post-industrial world.
150 Years of Smoke and Mirrors (The Good Kind)