Dear Readers: A Fond Farewell … and an Introduction

After eight amazing years with Connecting Directors, I’m stepping away from my role as Managing Editor. 

For me, covering this profession has been and will continue to be a privilege. You first earned my respect more than 30 years ago, and that respect has only grown deeper and stronger during my time here. While in college, I spent three years as a part-time office assistant in a local family-owned funeral home. When the opportunity to not only interact with, but to create helpful and informative content for this audience arose in 2018, I considered it a blessing. Since then, I’ve shared nearly 800 stories with you, and every one has been an absolute pleasure to write. I appreciate all of the relationships we’ve forged and will always treasure the friendships we’ve developed with one another.

Although I’m closing this chapter of my writing career, I’m genuinely excited about what’s next. I’m joining the kind, brilliant, and incredibly hardworking team at The Independent Funeral Group in Maryville, Tennessee. As Head Content Creator, I’ll get to work closely with deathcare practitioners in independently-owned and -operated funeral firms across all 50 states, telling their stories and supporting them in any way that I can. 

Connecting Directors isn’t losing an editor, though — it’s gaining Tony Russo. Tony is a genuinely excellent writer with years of experience in deathcare, and you’re going to like working with him. He has a deep understanding of this profession, and approaches it with a curious mind, digging into the details and providing thoughtful, knowledgeable insight. He’ll bring his own voice to this space, you’ll enjoy his work.

Thank you for reading and for trusting me with stories that mattered to you. 

— Patricia