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From the moment you see the credits appear on different casket lids, the movie Getting Grace hooks you. The poignancy of the film, coupled with its authentic portrayal on the funeral profession, make this movie a rare gem that every funeral director should see. In honor of the movie’s upcoming release on March 23rd, here are 7 reasons funeral directors should be excited about Getting Grace.

On March 11, 2008, the 110th Congress of the United States passed a resolution designating March 11 as National Funeral Director and Recognition Day. This is a day to acknowledge the important work of funeral professionals and express support. In honor of this important date, ASD wanted to share 10 distinct qualities that make funeral directors extraordinary.

ASD is pleased to share this guest blog post from Sarah Giavanio, Assistant Marketing Director of Safe Passage Urns. Safe Passages Urns is dedicated to providing unique, one-of-a-kind cremation urns to memorialize the ashes of a loved one. In this guest blog post, Sarah explains how crafts and DIY projects help families to memorialize loved ones and preserve memories.

“We needed different things while we were grieving. Some of us were tortured by the thought of his ashes sitting in a closet, while others were tortured by the thought of letting him go at the wrong time with no way to reclaim the moment.” - In this personal essay, ASD Staff Writer, Jessica Farren, recounts the indecision her family faced when trying to decide what do with her father’s cremains.

ASD recently conducted a research survey to better understand the relationship between funeral home marketing and communication. More than 1,700 funeral professionals provided feedback on their funeral homes’ marketing methods, communication habits, training procedures and more. The results of the survey were published in Kates Boylston’s Funeral Directors Guide to Statistics (2017).

AtlasObscura.com holds a treasure trove of stories that would fascinate funeral professionals. You can explore some amazing grief passion projects or learn about how archeology sheds new light on early funeral practices. From ancient tomb discoveries, to unique headstones, to cemeteries that look like they are on a different planet, we encourage you to explore these intriguing Atlas Obscura finds.