BATESVILLE, Ind., August 10, 2023 – Batesville, a leading partner to licensed funeral homes in North America for more than a century, is doubling down on its mission of helping families honor the lives of those they love^® with an enhancement to its Living Memorial^® tree planting program that gives families the opportunity to plant additional trees as a tribute to their loved ones.

Families can choose a single tree or enough to restore a small forest, and Batesville will match their selection, tree for tree.

“When we launched the Living Memorial in 1976, it was the first program of its kind, and nearly five decades and 14.5 million trees later, it remains the benchmark in our industry,” said Jenn Parvin, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer for Batesville.

More than a reflection of Batesville’s mission, the Living Memorial is one of the largest and most longstanding private reforestation initiatives in the country, helping to re-establish thousands of acres in national forests and woodlands destroyed by forest fires, floods, blight, and natural disasters – one life and seedling at a time.

A legacy that lives on

For more than 45 years, Batesville has planted Living Memorial trees as a gesture of support for families who selected its products. At the funeral director’s request, families receive a letter of condolence with a certificate acknowledging a tree will be planted in memory of their loved one. The company has received thousands of letters with personal stories about trips to national forests, camping, gardening, or their loved one’s passion for the outdoors. Humbled by the kind gesture, many have asked if they could plant additional memorial trees.

This offering builds on that strong legacy by making it easy for families to unite in creating their own living memorials.

“As someone who has experienced loss in my own family, I know the tremendous healing power of memorialization,” said Parvin. “While nothing can erase the pain, the simple act of planting a tree evokes memories of shared experiences that live in our hearts, providing hope and inspiration for the future.”

A brochure introducing the new matching tree donation program will be provided with the initial Living Memorial letter from Batesville. Families who purchase memorial trees will receive a digital certificate with their loved one’s name to commemorate the planting.

An investment in a greener future

Memorial trees are a thoughtful and tangible way to honor a loved one’s life and legacy, while also making a positive impact on the environment. Every Living Memorial seedling planted helps restore and preserve precious natural habitats, providing shelter for wildlife, reducing water and wind erosion, and purifying the air. In just one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs twice the amount of carbon dioxide produced by the average car. By matching each order, Batesville is doubling the impact and helping to provide a greener world for future generations.

Additional information on the company’s Living Memorial program, including the new matching donation feature, is available at About Memorial Trees – Batesville (www.batesville.com/about-memorial-trees/).

ABOUT BATESVILLE

Batesville (www.Batesville.com) is a recognized leader in the death care industry in North America, offering a comprehensive portfolio of burial and cremation products, memorialization options and innovative technology solutions. For more than 125 years, Batesville has supported licensed funeral professionals in helping families honor the lives of those they love.^®A history of manufacturing excellence, product innovation, superior customer service, and reliable delivery helped Batesville become – and remain – a market leader.