News

The 2026 Florida Legislative Session will be remembered as one of the most challenging and unpredictable in recent history. Click to read IFDF Lobbyist Corinne Mixon's full breakdown of this unprecedented legislative session - and how IFDF's priority legislation fit into it. Continue Reading

originally published in American Funeral Director, by Patti Martin Bartsche Widely known today as The Grave Woman, Joél Simone has built a career that spans funeral service, grief care, and cultural competency, using her platform to reimagine how diverse communities are seen, honored, and... Continue Reading

Florida funeral service operates within a landscape that is both complex and distinct. The size of the state, the diversity of its population, and the volume of services provided each year create circumstances that differ significantly from many other regions of the country. Funeral professionals... Continue Reading

The Civil War created an unprecedented challenge as thousands of soldiers died far from home, and families increasingly sought to have their loved ones returned for burial. The need to preserve and transport the fallen gave rise to widespread embalming and permanently changed how Americans cared... Continue Reading

by Phoebe R. Stubblefield, Ph.D., F-AAFSDirector of the CA Pound Human Identification Lab, University of Florida In May 1921, a young African American man, “Diamond” Dick Rowland, was arrested for allegedly assaulting a white female elevator operator. Thanks to a newspaper article... Continue Reading

Florida’s Legislative Session is in full swing! This year, we’ve got a special opportunity that benefits the IFDF Political Action Committee and could take you somewhere unforgettable: PACK FOR THE PAC! When you make a $100 or more contribution to the IFDF PAC, you’ll receive a... Continue Reading

We've got some BIG changes in the works, so pardon our ashes while our website is under construction! Continue Reading

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Cheryl Lankford of DeLand, FL, Robin Giddons Shepard of Jacksonville, FL, and Tom Ralph of Plantation, along with a few others, were your representatives for the Florida Senate and Representatives. We met with the aids of Sen. Ashley Moody, Sen. Rick Scott, Rep. Maxwell Frost, and Rep John... Continue Reading

By Patricia Hartley Deathcare professionals are keenly aware of how much an individual’s corporeal form can contribute to society after death. From organ donations that save countless lives to allowing remains to be studied for medical research, the human body continues to give back long... Continue Reading

By Kayla Lewis The Forest Meadows Funeral Home in a populated part of northwest Gainesville is no longer allowed to operate their crematory unit, according to documents obtained by TV20. Florida Department of Environmental Protection staff sent an eight-page Consent Order to staff members at... Continue Reading

By Patricia Hartley A recent memo issued by The White House is inspiring hopeful speculation that the current administration will abolish the recently-updated regulations for shipping cremated remains. However, the cryptic language of the memo has created more questions than answers about a... Continue Reading