Tuesday, October 20, 2026

California News news

California's Cemetery and Funeral Bureau has released its revised Consumer Guide to Funeral and Cemetery Purchases in English and Spanish. CFDA advises funeral establishments to have the new edition available beginning January 1, 2027; its notice says the previous edition may be used through December 31, 2026.

The existing duty is broader than keeping a booklet on a shelf. Business and Professions Code section 7685.5 requires licensees to prominently display and make the guide available to people who inquire in person about funeral or cemetery purchases. It also requires providing a copy for the consumer to retain before drafting a contract for services.

Managers can review both inventory and the point in the arrangement process when staff provide the guide. The revised-edition transition date is attributed here to CFDA; the longstanding statutory duty is separate.

Read: Bureau guide and translations | CFDA edition notice | Section 7685.5.

California News news

A proposed crematory at 2846 East Street in Anderson drew opposition from neighbors concerned about its proximity to homes, two schools and a home-based childcare business, KRCR reported September 7. Adams Affordable Cremation and Burial purchased the 0.2-acre property and submitted crematory applications in March, according to the report.

Residents within 1,000 feet received an air-quality public-comment notice in July. Neighbors subsequently organized a petition and attended City Council meetings, raising questions about potential emissions, health effects and the suitability of the location. Michael and Wendy Crowley, who operate childcare across the street, said children spend much of their time outdoors.

Residents told KRCR they supported having a crematory in Anderson but opposed this particular site. The petition had gathered more than 150 signatures at the time of the September report. Their concerns are not findings of a demonstrated health impact.

This report revisits the September proposal; CDW has not verified subsequent permit action.

Read KRCR's reporting.

Regulatory news

Update, October 20: The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau announced that its Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for October 21, 2026, has been postponed. A new meeting date has not been announced.

The Bureau provided the update in an October 20 notice to its CFB-GENERAL mailing list, supplied to CDW by publisher Gerard Reinert. This notice replaces the meeting reminder in the original edition.

Industry Announcements news

Patrick Vereb, former operator of Pittsburgh's Eternity Pet Memorials, is expected to plead guilty to all criminal charges on October 22, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.

Prosecutors allege Vereb collected more than $650,000 for pet cremation and burial services between 2021 and 2024, disposed of many animals in a landfill and returned ashes from other animals to customers. Investigators identified more than 6,500 affected pet owners. Charges filed in April 2025 included theft by deception, receiving stolen property and deceptive business practices.

Although initial reports described a plea deal, the Attorney General's Office told WPXI that no sentence had been agreed upon. The office's current case notice says sentencing will follow a presentence investigation, on a date determined by the court. The expected plea had not been entered as of October 20.

Sources: Attorney General's case update; charging announcement; WPXI clarification on sentencing.

Industry Announcements news

Park Lawn announced October 19 that it acquired substantially all assets of Honquest Family Funeral Homes, which operates in Loves Park and Roscoe, Illinois. The company says the purchase expands its Illinois presence.

This is a new transaction, distinct from the regional leadership changes reported in last week's CDW. The announcement does not disclose a purchase price or valuation multiple. California owners watching consolidation should avoid treating an undisclosed transaction as evidence of a particular valuation for their own firm.

Company announcement.

Industry Announcements news

In an October 9 announcement, NFDA reported that members approved two temporary board seats contingent on completion of its proposed merger with Selected Independent Funeral Homes. The measure received 609 votes in favor and 264 against.

NFDA said the transaction still depended on Selected's member vote and a final agreement, and acknowledged the Ohio temporary restraining order delaying Selected's vote. This adds the NFDA vote result to last week's coverage; it is not confirmation that the combination has closed.

NFDA's dated announcement.

Market Intelligence analysis

CDW operating perspective. Carriage Services announced September 30 that a new $300 million revolving credit facility replaced a $250 million facility, adding $50 million in committed capacity. Its stated September 2031 maturity is subject to an earlier-maturity provision tied to its 2029 notes.

The company identifies acquisitions among the possible uses, alongside working capital, capital expenditures and refinancing. For owners following potential buyers, financing capacity is useful context. It does not establish how much has been borrowed, how much will fund acquisitions, or what any individual business is worth.

This is dated financing background, not a newly announced acquisition or a Funeral Convergence death-record estimate.

Carriage announcement.

Education & Events news

• POSTPONED — October 21 CFB Advisory Committee meeting: The Bureau announced the postponement October 20. New date to be determined.
• October 25-28, Charlotte, North Carolina: NFDA International Convention & Expo. Check organizer information for registration.
• October 31: Third-quarter cemetery certificate-of-authority and crematory reports are due on or before this date. October 31 is a Saturday; do not assume an extension. Cemetery form | Crematory form.
• November 1: Funeral Service Foundation fall academic scholarship deadline. Awards range from $2,500 to $5,000 for eligible students already attending qualifying funeral-service programs. Eligibility and application.
• November 17, Colma: ICCFA 240 Workshop at Cypress Lawn. Confirm local hours with the organizer; the previously reviewed listing's time-zone label was inconsistent with the venue.
• December 10, virtual: California Funeral Institute arrangement counselor training and law review, 9 a.m.-noon; crematory operator training and law review, 1-4 p.m. Pacific. Registration.

Education & Events news

• October 24: Hollywood Forever's Dia de los Muertos celebration in Los Angeles. The altar-application deadline has passed. Host details.
• November 1-2: Forest Lawn Dia de los Muertos programs: Glendale, Covina Hills and Cypress on November 1, noon-3 p.m.; Cathedral City on November 2, 5-8 p.m. Local California times. Host calendar.
• November: Plan recognition of hospice partners and family caregivers, and invite local partners to submit confirmed holiday grief-support programs. Caregiver Action Network resources.
• November 11: Veterans Day. Coordinate local recognition and staff participation with veterans organizations.

These are rolling calendar reminders. Confirm admission and individual program arrangements with each host.

Vendor & Association submitted

Submitted organizer notice. American Crematory Equipment and Connecting Directors are inviting entries in a search for America's oldest cremator still in operation. The announcement supplied to CDW says units from any manufacturer may enter, with facility and contact details, a photograph, and the unit's manufacturer, model and year.

The stated deadline is Wednesday, October 28, at 10 a.m. Pacific. The winning facility receives a Turtlebox speaker and an Oldest Fossil trophy; the notice says NFDA attendance is not required.

CDW has not verified the entry form or complete rules. Consult the organizers for entry instructions. American Crematory Equipment.

Historical Perspectives news

Halloween offers an occasion to revisit the stories surrounding Riverside's Preston & Simons Mortuary, while keeping its documented history distinct from local folklore.

The mortuary traces its beginnings to 1887 and says it has served Riverside and surrounding communities from its present location since 1912. Its address is 3358 Mission Inn Avenue.

In a May 2025 City News Group feature, community writer Ruby Stephenson described tales of unexplained noises, flickering lights and the sensation of being watched. The article does not identify witnesses or provide documentation for those accounts. They belong to the folklore surrounding the establishment, not its verified history.

The firm's own account offers a quieter perspective: more than a century of service from the same location. For a profession whose buildings often hold generations of community memories, that continuity provides a Halloween heritage story of its own.

Sources: Preston & Simons history and address; Ruby Stephenson's City News Group feature.

Vendor & Association sponsored

Publisher-affiliated business notice. Pacific Funeral Accommodations is offering printed copies of the revised California Consumer Guide to Funeral and Cemetery Purchases through its online store.

English and Spanish editions are listed in packs of 25 for $25, plus $10 postage per order. The listing describes 24-page, saddle-stitched booklets. Check the store for availability and delivery details.

This is a printed-copy convenience service. The guide can also be downloaded from the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau.

Order printed guides | Bureau download.

Pacific Funeral Accommodations is affiliated with CDW's publisher. This promotional notice is separate from the regulatory report above.