Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association

04/24/2026

We support a bill that pertains to bereavement leave for employees to grieve and make arrangements necessitated by the death of a family member. The death of someone we love does not follow a convenient schedule. Funeral arrangements, legal matters, the care of surviving family members, and grief do not resolve themselves in 48 hours. Yet many workplaces offer only two or three days of leave following the death of an immediate family member — and sometimes nothing at all for extended family, chosen family, or close friends whose loss can be just as profound. Read our letter of support for House Bill No. 5302, which is pending before the House Ways and Means Committee, in the first comment.

04/17/2026

It was a productive day on Capitol Hill with President Stephen Gemelli, Executive Director Margie Nolan and member Meg Nichols advocating for bereaved families, veterans and small business at the National Funeral Directors Association 2026 Advocacy Summit. Thank you to our Massachusetts congressional delegation for their conversation and engagement on these important issues.

03/23/2026

North Shore Community College seeks a full-time Faculty and Clinical Coordinator, Funeral Services Program/Department. Click on the link in the first comment for more information.

03/16/2026

MFDA Past President Barbara Kazmierczak presented a session as part of the "Grave Decisions" series – which addresses topics such as identifying what is most important at the end of life, living with dying, spirituality, what to know about hospice, grief, important legal documents, and what happens when one dies – for the fifth year at Linden Ponds in Hingham. Linden Ponds is managed by Erickson Senior Living, a large national network of managed communities for adults age 62 plus. The MFDA Speakers Bureau is available to assist any organization seeking more information about funeral planning, grief and bereavement, consumer options, etc.; please let us know if we can be of assistance.

03/12/2026

We extend our congratulations to MFDA member Yesenia M. Aguilera, who was recently appointed by Gov. Maura Healey to a five-year term on the Board of Registration in Funeral Directing and Embalming. Yesenia is a licensed funeral director with the Methuen Family Funeral Home in Methuen. We wish her all the best as she serves in this important position that oversees licensing and registration and is a resource for consumer information.

03/11/2026

Today, we celebrate National Funeral Directors and Morticians Appreciation Day. In addition to being there at the end of someone’s life to support each family, Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association members are committed to serving their communities and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts towns and cities for all residents. We want to express our gratitude and respect to our trusted and valued members.

03/10/2026

Camp Happy Place in Pittsfield – an overnight camp that provides a fun and safe community for children ages 8–14 who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction – is returning for its second season on June 19–23. Learn more by clicking the link in the first comment.

03/09/2026

The Parmenter Foundation presents Alyssa Limperis as she takes audiences on the journey of loving and losing a parent in Laughter, Love and Loss: An Evening with Actress-Comedian Alyssa Limperis on Thursday, April 2, at 7 p.m. at Regis College Theater in Weston.

We’re excited to announce that tickets are now on sale for our annual speaker event! All proceeds go towards grief support services.

Please join us for an intimate evening of comedy, conversation and connection with actress, writer, and comedian,
Alyssa Limperis, star of the recent acclaimed special NO BAD DAYS on Peacock, numerous indie films, and podcasts.

Alyssa will kick off the event with a standup set and then sit down for a moderated discussion followed by an open Q&A. Alyssa takes her audiences on the journey of loving and losing a parent and then slowly but surely coming out the other side, reminding us that no matter how dark or heavy things feel, if you are open to it, there’s no such thing as a bad day.

The event will be moderated by Niro Feliciano, psychotherapist, author and TODAY show contributor.

For tickets and additional info including sponsorship opportunities visit:
www.parmenterfoundation.org/alyssalimperis

02/24/2026

Check out these opportunities that offer financial support for every stage of a funeral service career.

02/18/2026

The Carafa Family Funeral Home in Chelsea recently assisted with arrangements for a Vietnam War veteran being buried alone. The executive director for the Cape and Islands Veterans encouraged people to attend the service, and dozens, many of them veterans themselves, showed up to honor the veteran, despite never having met him.

Richard Cubetus, a Vietnam War veteran, had never met the vast majority of the 80 or so mourners who attended his funeral.

02/17/2026

Patrick Saunders of the Saunders-Dwyer Funeral Homes in New Bedford explained the process of repatriating a deceased person in this story about how the local K’iche’ community joins together to send a person’s remains to Guatemala, where they were born, to be at rest and to reunite with their ancestors.

The K’iche’ community raises funds to send a person’s remains to the land where they were born to be at rest and to reunite with their ancestors.

01/14/2026

This year, reach out to people you know who are grieving and invite them to share stories about their loved one.

“Tell me about your loved one.” When a family member or friend is grieving, these are perhaps the six most important words you can say. This year, resolve to reach out to people you know are grieving and invite them to share stories about their loved one. Whether you chat over coffee, on a walk, or over the phone, the conversation will be appreciated more than you can imagine.

Looking for New Year’s resolutions that will help you remember loved ones throughout the coming year? Our Remembering A Life Journey Cards are a great place to start – 52 cards and each one features a meaningful way to remember your loved one!

https://hubs.li/Q03ZtB4k0

Image description: Hands of two people, each holding a cup of coffee and a plate of chocolate chip cookies on the table. Text: Making time for a grieving friend is a wonderful New Year's resolution.

#2026