Brian Myers
During the pandemic, I spent many nights embalming one person after the other–some of them close friends- ’til dawn.
His business, Myers Mortuary & Cremation Services, in Columbia, S.C. was booming. But Mr. Myers, 45 years old, admitted that the additional work was characterized by exhaustion and sorrow.
“I definitely had mixed emotions,” Mr. Myers stated.
Covid-19 has claimed the lives of more than 1 million Americans. Each day, hundreds of people are still dying from the disease. The death toll has led to a surge of funeral homes and challenges that have caused the industry to become more agile and responsive. Many funeral directors have added virtual events and outdoor gatherings to their services. Others had trouble keeping their traumatized or burned-out staff.
“Our profession has been very slow to change,” he said.
Randy Earl
77, a veteran funeral director who was also the former president of National Funeral Directors Association. “Covid taught us that adapting and learning is key. We didn’t always think this way.
40% of the association’s 20,000 members reported higher profits in the last year due to the pandemic. Every member reported that they had served a family whose loved ones died from Covid-19. Market-research firm Marketdata estimates that revenues in the funeral industry increased by almost 8% to $21.7 billion in 2021.
Service Corp. International
The company, which has nearly 2,000 funeral homes and cemeteries across the U.S. and Canada said that its revenue of $4.1 Billion in 2021 was almost 30% more than in 2019. The company informed investors in May that Covid-19 could boost business in the future because of the indirect effects of the pandemic on mortality.
Carole Jones Banks, co-owner of a funeral home located in Alabama, claims that higher casket prices and more efficient services have impacted earnings.
Frank J. Banks
During the pandemic, not all funeral homes made higher profits. Earnings were affected by Covid-19 restrictions, which resulted in higher costs and fewer services.
Carole Jones Banks,
Banks Memorial Funeral Home & Cremations in Alabama co-owner, said that suppliers had raised the prices of caskets and that services were cut back. This was a problem that weighed on the bottom line. She also stated that customers stopped asking for limousines. This had resulted in significant revenue for her company.
“I have limousines that haven’t moved at all for 2 1/2 years,” Mrs. Banks 57 said.
She said that Banks Memorial increased its offerings due to the pandemic. The company constructed an outdoor pavilion and began live-streaming funeral services via Facebook. Mrs. Banks stated that customers have taken to the more diverse options, including simpler services that aren’t offered in churches or chapels.
She said, “People don’t come in Sunday best anymore. They come comfortable.”
Hari Close
Baltimore funeral home owner, Dr. Close, said that the pandemic has forced people to see his business as part of the healthcare system. Dr. Close explained that some funeral homes assisted in the storage of bodies when hospitals and morgues were overwhelmed by the deceased. Close said that he knew of many funeral houses that donated their protective gear to hospitals in times when it was not available.
Dr. Close stated, “Doctors are the front line.” “We are the last line.”
Myers Mortuary & Cremation Services, Columbia, S.C., grew in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Brian Myers was able to purchase a funeral home with a crematory because of the extra revenue he received from the pandemic.
Some people were concerned that Covid-19 might spread from the bodies of those who died during the pandemic. Experts in public-health have stated that there is little chance of a deceased person spreading Covid-19, but that embalmers and autopsies could pose a greater risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone handling remains infected by Covid-19 wear protective gear and adhere to certain biosafety protocols.
Some embalmers described how, in the first few months after the pandemic, they would take off all their clothes and isolate themselves from their families for several months to stop the spread of the virus.
Dr. Close, the chairman of the National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association said he has been urging the approximately 2,000 members to be prepared for the next health crisis. He stated that he meets regularly with his employees at Hari P. Close Funeral Service to keep them informed about health trends. He said that they had discussed monkeypox and the symptoms that they should be aware of on their bodies.
Dr. Close, 61 said that the pandemic had affected his mental health and has accelerated his plans for retirement after more than 30 years of service in the business. He said, “I gave everything during this pandemic and now it is time to save some time for me.”
Dr. Close stated that he lost his family and friends, including fellow morticians to Covid-19. He said that at least 220 NFDMA members, which are predominantly Black, died from Covid-19. According to the CDC, Black Americans in America are 1.7 times more likely than whites to die from Covid-19.
Dr. Close, a Black doctor, said that “I spoke at many funerals.” “Who comforts those who comfort?”
While he struggles with the personal toll of the pandemics, Mr. Myers claims that his growing business keeps him busy.
Myers Mortuary’s owner, Mr. Myers, said that he took a week-long break last fall due to burnout. He said, “There were so many people who lost their lives who I personally knew.” “I had to take some time out.”
While he struggles with the personal toll of the pandemics, Mr. Myers said that he is kept busy by his expanding business. He was able to purchase a funeral home with a closed crematory in 2021 thanks to the extra revenue he received during the Covid-19 public health crisis. He said that the wait time for Columbia cremations grew from a few weeks to six weeks during the height of the pandemic.
Mr. Myers stated, “I had been thinking about getting my cremation unit,” “When Covid happened, it was clear to me that I had to get one immediately.”
He stated that he plans to purchase additional cremation equipment within the next three-years and is looking into opening more locations.
Mr. Myers stated that the pandemic was a terrible tragedy but it helped him. It allowed us all to do this.”
Write to Dominique Mosbergen at [email protected]
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