It’s been a busy year for Frazer Consultants. To check out all the big things we’ve been up to this past year, read our blog post about the year in review.

We’ve also had a lot of good funeral articles we’ve shared and wanted to look back at the top 10 most-read stories in 2016. Let’s start the countdown!

10. The Man, the Myth & the Funeral Director: 5 Misconceptions

Funeral directors are often misunderstood. Whether it’s the media, pop culture, or just age-old stereotypes, there are a lot of misconceptions about what a funeral director does and the kind of person it takes to commit to such a calling. In our 10th most popular article of 2016, we explored and exposed those misconceptions, and showed just how great funeral directors truly are.

9. New Overtime Laws and Your Funeral Home

Back in June, it was announced that the Department of Labor would roll out new overtime regulations under the Fair Labor and Standards Act, focusing on providing new overtime benefits to nonexempt salary workers starting December 1st of this year. But in November, a federal judge issued a nationwide injunction that effectively puts the law on hold. You also can check out this article explaining the current state of the overtime law.

8. How 3D Printing Will Revolutionize the Funeral Industry

While the technology is still several years away from being commonplace in funeral homes, 3D printing already has started making its mark in the funeral profession. In the article, we look at what 3D printing is, how it’s transforming other industries, and what it means for the funeral profession.

7. What Happens When Somebody Dies Alone in America?

As unfortunate as it sounds, dying alone — without friends or family left — is a reality for some. In this article, we go over the process and the people involved in handling the affairs and estates of those who die alone in America.

6. Funeral Homes and the Opioid Epidemic

The opioid and heroin epidemic is plaguing communities across the country. From 2000 to 2013, the rate of deaths by heroin overdoses almost quadrupled. And in 2014 alone, there were almost 30,000 deaths from combined heroin and prescription pain reliever overdoses. In this article, we look not only at the numbers, but how funeral homes are affected — and ways they are getting directly involved to help solve the epidemic.

5. Spreading Ashes Might Not Be as Legal as You Think

When it comes to spreading ashes, it seems there is a lot of gray area about what’s legal and what’s not. Each state and local government has their own set of rules when it comes to scattering ashes. So, whether a family wants to spread ashes on sea or land, we explore the general rules of thumb when it comes to different locations.

4. Dissolved Bodies? Sewers? Alkaline Hydrolysis Debunked

One of the most talked about alternatives to burial and cremation this year has been Alkaline Hydrolysis, or liquid cremation. There were a lot of misleading headlines about what it actually is, so we broke down the complete process. While it’s only legal in a handful of states, it won’t be long before the eco-friendly trend begins to compete with traditional cremation nationally in the U.S. and Canada.

3. The 7 Best Museums to Visit as a Funeral Director

Looking for a fun place to visit on your next trip? We compiled a list of the seven best museums that are a sure hit for any mortician or funeral director.

2. This Is What Happens When We Die, According to Science

It’s a question humans have always tried to answer. What happens when we die? As the scientific understanding of death has grown, scientists and researchers try to tackle the age-old question.

And our most read article for 2016 was…

1. Why Funeral Directors Are More Important Than Ever

As we enter a new era of funeral traditions, families will need the compassion and guidance that only a funeral director can provide. Check out this article to see why today’s funeral directors really are more important than ever.

What kind of stories would you like to hear from us in the future? Share your ideas with us in the comments below!