“We are proud to continue our tradition of consistency in excellence and service to our community,” said Joe E. Pray, funeral director and owner of Pray Funeral Home, Inc.  “Our mission is to be a resource for support and helping folks through their loss, and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts.”

            To achieve the Pursuit of Excellence Award, NFDA-member funeral homes must demonstrate proficiency in key areas of the funeral service profession by fulfilling a set number of criteria in six categories of achievement. Participants must show their commitment to: Complying with state and federal regulations; providing ongoing education and professional development opportunities for staff; offering outstanding programs and resources to bereaved families; maintaining an active level of involvement within the community; participating and actively serving in the funeral service profession; and promoting funeral home services through a variety of marketing, advertising and public relations programs.

            “The needs of families are constantly evolving; they expect services that extend beyond a funeral or memorial service,” said NFDA Chief Executive Officer Christine Pepper, CAE. “The Pursuit of Excellence program provides award recipients with a unique opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to offering innovative programs and services that have a profound impact on those they serve.”

            Pray Funeral Home has received the Pursuit of Excellence Award 18 times and has been inducted into the program’s Hall of Excellence which recognizes firms who have achieved the Pursuit of Excellence Award for ten years or more. 

            “Working for certification for the Pursuit of Excellence Award has helped us incorporate a number of outstanding programs, activities and opportunities into the way we serve families and our communities,” said Joe E. Pray, “we are the only family owned funeral home in the greater Lansing area to have achieved this award.”

            Some of the unique programs that helped Pray’s earn the award include their professionally staffed aftercare program that includes grief counseling for every family they serve, the Annual Holiday Candle Light Ceremony, and their unique Family Affirmation Services® and Remembering A Life Well Lived® Program.

            The award was presented at NFDA’s All Starr Recognition Ceremony  which featured an address by Jack Lengyel, retired head football coach at Marshall University, and the inspiration for the movie  We Are Marshall.  His addressed focused on developing a family company’s strategic plan based upon core values in extraordinary circumstances.

            To learn more about NFDA’s Pursuit of Excellence Award program, visit www.nfda.org/pursuitofexcellence.

            NFDA is the world’s leading funeral service association, serving 19,000 individual members who represent more than 10,200 funeral homes in the United States and internationally. From its headquarters in Brookfield, Wis., and its Advocacy office in Washington, D.C., NFDA informs, educates and advocates to help members enhance the quality of service they provide to families. For more information, visit www.nfda.org.