Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, one of the oldest family-run funeral homes in New England, received the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Pursuit of Excellence Award in Las Vegas on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. The NFDA award is the funeral industry’s highest honor.
“The entire team – what we call family – at Phaneuf is extremely proud of this recognition,” said Arthur “Buddy” Phaneuf, fourth-generation funeral director and president of Phaneuf. “We will continue to serve New Hampshire and Vermont residents during their most-challenging days.”
The award is given to funeral homes that “meet or exceed business standards set forth by the program and demonstrate proficiency in key areas of funeral service” including:
- Offering outstanding programs and resources to bereaved families
- Maintaining an active level of involvement within the community
Within the application, Phaneuf included detailed information about its:
- Celebration of diversity and support of the LGBTQ+ community
- Reducing its carbon footprint with green practices
- Bi-monthly educational podcast
- Free, downloadable e-books on the subjects of hospice care and funeral planning
“While honoring the sanctity and dignity of the deceased, the team at Phaneuf graciously attends to family and friends of the deceased in various ways above the mere funeral services,” said the Rev. Maurice R. Larochelle, pastor of Ste Marie Parish in Manchester.
The NFDA presents the award to firms that demonstrate a commitment to raising the bar on funeral service excellence.
“Phaneuf is the gold standard for families seeking a traditional funeral and burial or a respectful cremation and serves the Manchester, Concord and Littleton communities,” said Mike Skelton, President and CEO of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire.
“A decade ago, we reimaged the way Phaneuf did business by using the Baldrige Excellence Framework as our guide,” said Phaneuf. “Our openness for disrupting the status quo in the industry continues to inform our business model.”
Phaneuf also received an Honorable Mention from the NFDA for an innovative program, the Phaneuf Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides funds for NH families that cannot afford the full cost of a funeral.
“The Pursuit of Excellence Task Force felt [Phaneuf’s] program merited special recognition and is pleased to also confer this special honor,” stated Jessica Koth, NFDA Director of Public Relations.
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