We are pleased to share exciting news from our Supplier Partner, PlotBox, a leading provider of cloud-based cemetery, crematory, and funeral home management solutions. On April 22, 2025, PlotBox announced a strategic investment from Serent Capital, a growth-focused private equity firm specializing in high-growth technology companies. This partnership aims to accelerate PlotBox’s expansion, drive continued … Read more

As Catholic funeral and cemetery professionals serving diocesan communities across the western United States and Canada, we join the global Church in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, who died on April 21, 2025, on Easter Monday. His legacy as a humble servant, spiritual leader, and advocate for mercy and justice has touched the lives … Read more

The 2025 Catholic Cemetery and Funeral Services of the West (CCFW) Annual Conference brought together funeral and cemetery professionals, clergy, and supplier partners from across the western United States and Canada for three unforgettable days in sunny San Diego, January 27–29. With the sparkling Mission Bay as our backdrop and a packed schedule of educational … Read more

The Catholic Cemetery and Funeral Services of the West Conference was held in Sacramento January 29-31, bringing together industry professionals, members of the clergy, and supplier partners to discuss the latest developments in the funeral and cemetery industry, as well as revitalizing our mission of why we do what we do. The conference covered a … Read more

To our Dear Friend and Colleague, Richard Peterson, On behalf of CCFW and all its members, we extend our heartfelt congratulations on your well-deserved retirement after an outstanding 32 years with the Seattle Archdiocese Associated Catholic Cemeteries. Your dedication and commitment to the mission of  Associated Catholic Cemeteries as well as our own organization have … Read more

REPOST FROM THE CATHOLIC CEMETERY CONFERENCE The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on 20 March 2023 issued a statement “On the Proper Disposition of Bodily Remains” from their Committee on Doctrine. View On Proper Disposition 2023-03-20 In particular, “after the alkaline hydrolysis process, there are also remnants of the bones that can be pulverized … Read more

CCFW Supplier Partner Sponsored Post Huge time, money & water savings with award-winning safe, sustainable, low maintenance turf. Pearl’s Premium Ultra Low Maintenance Lawn Seed announces a new revolutionary and very useful cemetery product… a complete grass package for up to 50 square feet, to cover a single new grave after a burial. The package … Read more

The Catholic Cemetery and Funeral Services of the West Conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Orange County January 23-26, bringing together industry professionals, members of the clergy, and supplier partners to discuss the latest developments in the funeral and cemetery industry, as well as revitalizing our mission of why we do what we do. … Read more

CCFW Supplier Member Sponsored Article by PlotBox Depending on how far you got through your geometry textbook, you’ll know that the shortest distance between two points is often defined as a straight line. So why then in providing services do we often find ourselves taking a more circuitous route when getting from point A to point … Read more

Reposted from Culvercitynews.org The Holy Cross Cemetery has apparently rented 250 goats and sheep to keep its plantlife under control, according to one eagle-eyed local resident. Fleur Hervas lives near the cemetery, and she decided to call them last week when she spotted the animals. They told her about the deal between the cemetery and … Read more

By Doug Farrow, OpusXenta  Preneed has always been a marketing buzzword for funeral homes, but it can be just as profitable for cemeteries as well.  While many people shy away from considering their final resting place, cemeteries have an amazing opportunity to share the benefits of their offerings. By making existing customers familiar with the … Read more

By Welton Hong, Ring Ring Marketing Mimicry is a biological phenomenon in nature. Organisms evolve to mimic each other for assorted reasons, including protection against predators, ability to attract a mate, or help in securing resources. For example, many insects mimic their more toxic brethren to reduce their risks of being eaten by birds. Here’s … Read more

After some time off, we were so blessed to be able to join together once again in Napa for the CCFW Annual conference. While many had to cancel and our numbers were small, those who attended really enjoyed the educational speakers, the roundtable discussions and a sense of camaraderie for those who were there. We … Read more

Washington, Colorado and Oregon are now among the US states that have legalized the process of converting bodies into soil, a procedure the Catholic Church said fails to show ‘respect for the body of the deceased.’

Thank you to Ted Ratajczyk, Executive Director of Catholic Cemeteries Chicago, for sharing with our group these cremation ads they have been using to encourage cremated remain placement in Catholic Cemeteries.  Feel free to use the same idea in your own community. [nz_icons icon=”icon-arrow-right” animate=”false” size=”small” type=”none” icon_color=”” background_color=”” border_color=”” /] Closet Full Page [nz_icons … Read more

Resources Provided by Dave Petermeier, Coldspring ([email protected]) During the CCFW Roundtable Discussion on 7-30-20, a big takeaway was that many locations are seeing an increase in Pre-Need sales, especially online. Here are some resources that may be helpful to you when creating online meetings and ramping up your virtual pre-need sales. Continue Meeting your family … Read more

Thank you to all who joined us and contributed to the conversation! You may access the latest Roundtable Recording at: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/3uBfM4jS7VNJR9LC5waPZrQ6O5XAX6a81nAcrKYKnhx67fWCVhleq_G3dX74TNPw Password: wE6Q5?=R The July 30, 2020 Roundtable discussion focused: Procedures for when an employee tests positive? Are you allowing outdoor funeral masses? And, if you are, how are you handling them? What has been … Read more

You may access the latest Roundtable Recording at: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/vJAtdpDz52RIRavJxxzQeIMRLIHqX6a8g3UWqfQLzRkHmGbkLtl_xl42ht_N8vUz Password: 0y+^@o@2 The June 23, 2020 Roundtable discussion focused: What if we want to limit attendance more that what states allow? What access are we providing to restrooms? Graveside Burial Funeral masses

You may access the latest Roundtable Recording at: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/1_BoK77trERJeKfs1m32Zb86DJ3EX6a8hiIbq6JZmEZqXIYSTQMO-nKwbakQyBZ0 Password: 6w&!#+t5 The May 29, 2020 Roundtable discussion focused: How did you handle your Memorial Day Weekend activities What’s changing now and how are you adjusting? What does the “New” normal look like today? Going forward? How would an Ossuarium benefit the cemetery’s cremation options? What … Read more

The May 8, 2020 Roundtable discussion focused: How is everyone handling Memorial Day Best practices for communicating restrictions/procedures to the public Funeral services for mass and burials How the Faith is taking shape in action in Catholic Cemeteries during COVID-19? Planning for next steps as areas of the country begin “phasing” back open The next … Read more

CCFW would like to be a source of support and resources to our members  during this time of uncertainty in the world. This page has been created to share updates that pertain to the Cemetery and Funeral Industry, Resources from Members that have helped them navigate through daily changes created by Covid-19, as well as … Read more

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The last decade has seen a boom in cemetery tourism, sometimes called Tombstone Tourism. With the rising interest in genealogy, more people are hunting out cemeteries to find their ancestors and trace their story. To feed this demand people who are interested, or even obsessed with cemeteries, or taphophiles are visiting and photographing cemeteries, headstones, … Read more

In speaking with Richard Peterson, Director of Cemeteries Archdiocese of Seattle, he gave some points to ponder when reading about these new Disposition Laws that have gone or will go into effect in Washington, and possibly other states in the future. How will the funeral rites of the Church be affected? Burial of human remains: … Read more