ASD - Answering Service for Directors

Congratulations to J. Mark Busch on this well-deserved honor from the Funeral Service Foundation, and for using this recognition to shine a light on the importance of mental health and recovery support for those who spend their careers caring for others.

We're proud to announce J. Mark Busch as the 2026 recipient of the Funeral Service Foundation's Distinguished Service Award. 🌊

A longtime Trustee and dedicated volunteer leader, Mark has spent nearly three decades in service to the Foundation. This year, he asked that his honor support something personal: mental health and recovery within the funeral service profession.

Make Your Mark – support the people who spend their careers caring for others.

Read about Mark's storied service here: https://www.funeralservicefoundation.org/j-mark-busch-honored-with-the-funeral-service-foundation-distinguished-service-award

Join us in honoring Mark's legacy. Give today 👇

https://app.betterunite.com/make-your-mark

🎃 The giant pumpkin is officially on the move! With plenty of rain in the forecast, Craig made the call to cut the pumpkin from the vine—and now it’s time to find out just how BIG it grew!

First stop is Bloomsburg, PA, where Craig and his family will take it to the giant vegetable weigh-off at the Bloomsburg Fair. Then, this giant gourd will be hitting the road again, bound for Charlotte and the 2026 National Funeral Directors Association Convention!

For the Meehan family, growing giants has always been something they enjoy together, and we’ve loved watching this pumpkin become a family project all summer long. That’s one of the reasons we were so excited to share Craig’s seeds with several funeral directors this year. We hope growing their own giants brings their families a little closer together, too! 🎃❤️

Stay tuned for the official weight!

Have you watched this week's Giant Pumpkin update this week? See how much our bigger our pumpkin has gotten and learn some of the different ways we can help your funeral home grow.

The ASD Pumpkin Patch Report: Giant Pumpkin Growing Updates - ASD Answering Service Tracking the growth of our giant ASD pumpkin. Along the way, we'll share lessons that apply just as well to growing a successful funeral business.

Well, we thought we had the funeral toy market cornered with our LEGO sets… apparently Barbie has entered the deathcare profession. As the self-appointed experts in funeral-themed toys, we have to say: this doll house is outstanding. We’re impressed! See more photos on on IG.

"The manner in which we treat the last great act of life, along with the manner in which we greet the first, is the best commentary on our level of humanity...I see the proliferation of funeral homes as a very good thing, a sign that we still value the significance of farewells, that we still cling to the courtesies our ancestors also embraced."

Love this commentary from our favorite local columnist Christine Flowers

Flowers: Reflections on mortality from neighborhood with high mortician count Our columnist’s sometimes amusing musings on final exits.

Cooler temperatures, beautiful fall foliage, pumpkin-spiced coffee…yes, Autumn is officially upon us!!! There are just so many things to love about this season! We hope you and your family enjoy every moment of it! Happy

ASD is proud to once again sponsor the National Funeral Directors Association's prestigious Innovation Award for the third consecutive year. This meaningful partnership reflects our deep commitment to advancing technology and creative solutions within the funeral profession. A big congratulations to this year’s finalists: Impression Vault, Chptr, Tukios and Well Told Films.

Celebrating Progress: Why ASD is Proud to Sponsor the NFDA Innovation Award - ASD Answering Service ASD, the leading funeral answering service, is the official sponsor of the 2026 NFDA Innovation Award. ASD is a 4x recipient of the award.

We feel honored and grateful to serve such dedicated professionals.

Calling all Funeral Directors! Looking to attend the upcoming 2026 National Funeral Directors Association Convention in Charlotte from October 25th-28th? Exciting news – ASD has got you covered with a complimentary pass! Simply download our Free NFDA 2026 Expo Pass registration form, fill it out, and submit it before October 16th. Gain free access to explore the convention exhibit hall for all three days. Don’t forget to visit ASD’s booth ( #2620) during your visit!

Download Your Free 2026 NFDA Expo Pass - Courtesy of ASD! - ASD Answering Service Download your Free 2026 NFDA Expo Pass Expo Registration Form from ASD, the leading funeral home answering service