OGR Announces Nominees for Prestigious Industry Awards
Indianapolis (March 3, 2026) – The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is proud to announce this year’s finalists for OGR’s Professional Service Awards. We congratulate these funeral homes that have exhibited outstanding compassion for the families they serve and a commitment to their community. Nominees will be recognized at the Golden Circle Celebration on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at OGR’s signature event, PROGRESS, being held in Louisville, Kentucky.
“These finalists represent the very heart of our profession,” said Wendy King, CAE, CVA, Executive Director of OGR. “Each of these firms exemplifies what it means to serve with integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Their dedication not only uplifts the families and communities they serve but also strengthens the future of independent funeral service.”
OGR added a new category this year – the Rising Star Award recognizes early-career professionals who demonstrate exceptional promise, leadership, and dedication within the funeral service profession. To be eligible, nominees have been employed by an OGR member firm for between one and five years. They may be young professionals entering the field or second-career professionals embarking on a new chapter of service.
2026 Rising Star Nominees:
- Angelyna Scheck, Scanlan’s Funeral Home | Pompton Plains, NJ
- Maddison Bakker, Huff – Guthrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. | Franklin, PA
- Keysha Licea, Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory | Corona, CA
- Patricia Longworth, John J. Ferry & Sons, Inc. | Meriden, CT
The Golden Rule Community Service Awards are awarded in recognition of a funeral home’s outstanding community service as demonstrated by activities benefiting local organizations or community events.
2026 Community Service Nominees:
- Brunswick Memorial Home | East Brunswick, NJ
- Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory | Corona, CA
- Livingston-Butler-Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center | Hastings, NE
- Oliverie Funeral Home | Manchester, NJ
The Exemplary Service Awards are given to firms for providing outstanding customer service to families during their time of loss. Nominees were selected based on comments families provided through OGR’s Family Contact Survey Program.
2026 Exemplary Service Award Nominees:
- Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory | Vero Beach, FL
- Kyger Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. | Harrisonburg, VA
- Citty Funeral Home | Reidsville, NC
- Brunswick Memorial Funeral Home | East Brunswick, NJ
- Singleton Funeral & Cremation Services | Glen Burnie, MD
- Osborne Funeral Home | Williamsport, MD
- Parthemore Funeral Home | New Cumberland, PA
- Pagenkopf Funeral Home | Oconomowoc, WI
- Strunk Funeral Home & Crematory | Vero Beach, FL
- Livingston-Butler-Volland Funeral Home | Hastings, NE
- Moore Funeral Service | Hattiesburg, MI
- Boone Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services | West Jefferson, NC
- Fry Funeral Home | Tipton, IA
- Wenner Funeral Home | Cold Spring, MN
- Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Crematory |Dubuque, IA
- Cooper Funeral Home | Tecumseh, OK
- J.C. Harwell & Son Funeral Home and Cremation | Covington, GA
The recipient of the 2026 Golden Light Award will also be announced at PROGRESS. The Golden Light Award is presented to an individual who has distinguished themselves through OGR involvement, community service and professionalism and demonstrates “service measured not by gold, but by the Golden Rule.”
For more information about OGR, the Professional Service Awards, or PROGRESS 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky, visit www.ogr.org. Join us in celebrating the firms and professionals who continue to elevate the standard of excellence within independent funeral service.
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About the International Order of the Golden Rule
Since 1928, the International Order of the Golden Rule has been the leading professional association dedicated to promoting high ethical standards and outstanding service in the funeral and memorialization profession. OGR members represent the elite in the industry, consistently providing compassionate and personalized care to families in their time of need. OGR is headquartered in Indianapolis. For more information, visit www.ogr.org.
