Best of the Best Award

All Pursuit of Excellence applicants submitted an essay describing the development and execution of a program or service that had a positive impact on the families they serve or their community, qualifying them for the Best of the Best Award, which recognizes the most novel and innovative programs and services in the profession. After a thorough review, the Pursuit of Excellence Task Force can select up to 10 funeral homes to receive the Best of the Best Award.

2025 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Arlington Memorial Chapels, Inc., Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, Madison, Indiana
Señoriales Corporación de Servicio, Guatemala, Guatemala

2024 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Hightower Family Funeral Homes, Carrollton, Georgia; Hightower Family Funeral Homes, Bremen, Georgia; Hightower Family Funeral Homes, Douglasville, Georgia
Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Homes and Crematory, Coal City, Illinois; Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Homes and Crematory, Gardner, Illinois; Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Homes and Crematory, Morris, Illinois; Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Homes and Crematory, Wilmington, Illinois
Return Home, Auburn Hills, Washington

2023 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Arlington Memorial Chapels and Crematory, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Arrington Funeral Directors & Crematory, Jackson, Tennessee
David C. Brown Funeral Home, Belleville, MI
Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., Hamburg, New York (Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., West Seneca, NY)
Macz Funeral Home, Centralia, Illinois (Day Macz Funeral Home, Sandoval, IL; Day Macz Funeral Home, Patoka, IL; Irvin Macz Funeral Home, Odin, IL)
Martin Funeral, Cremation & Tribute Services, Mt. Morris, Michigan
Morris-Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Johnson City, Tennessee
Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory, New Castle, Delaware (Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory, Delaware City, DE; Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory, Newark, DE; Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory, Middletown, DE)
Waitt Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Morganville, New Jersey (Mathis Funeral Home, Medford, NJ)

2022 Best of the Best Award Recipients
J. García López Casa Prim, Mexico City, Mexico
Return Home, Auburn, Washington
Waitt Funeral Home & Cremation Service and Company, Morganville, New Jersey 

2021 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Brunswick Memorial Home, East Brunswick, New Jersey
Funeraria San Vicente S.A., Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Mililani Memorial Park & Mortuary, Waipahu, Hawaii, and Company

2020 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Arlington Memorial Chapels, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Funeraria San Vicente S.A., Medellin, Colombia
Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., Franklin, PA
Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., West Seneca, NY
Macz Funeral Homes, Centralia, IL
Morrissett Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chesterfield, VA
Worlein Funeral Home, Austin, MN

2019 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Frank E. Campbell – The Funeral Chapel, New York, NY 
Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., Clarks Summit, PA
Posey Funeral Directors, North Augusta, SC
Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Traverse City, MI
St. Peter Chapels, Quezon City, Philippines

2018 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Ang Chin Moh Funeral Directors Pte., Ltd., Singapore, Singapore
Funeraria San Vicente S.A., Medellin, Colombia
Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, East Pittsburgh, PA

2017 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Arlington Memorial Chapels, Inc., Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Old Bridge Funeral Home, Old Bridge, NJ
Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes and Crematory, New Castle, DE

2017 Best of the Best Award Finalists
Chambers & James Funeral, Pet & Cremation Services, Wellsburg, WV
Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Traverse City, MI

2016 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Traverse City, MI
Seaver-Brown Funeral Service, Marion, VA
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, TN

2016 Best of the Best Award Finalists
Geisen Funeral, Cremation & Reception Centre, Crown Point, IN
Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, Madison, IN
Morris-Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Johnson City, TN
Pedersen Funeral & Cremation Service, Morris, MN
Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes and Crematory, New Castle, DE
Worlein Funeral Home, Austin, MN 
2015 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Anderson-Burris Funeral Home & Crematory, Enid, OK
DeMoney-Grimes, A “Life Story” Funeral Home, Columbia City, IN
Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Lebanon, MO
Morrissett Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chesterfield, VA

2014 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Kilpatrick Funeral Home, West Monroe, LA
Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Traverse City, MI
Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, TN
Worlein Funeral Home, Austin, MN

2013 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home, Hammond, LA
Brunswick Memorial Home, East Brunswick, NJ
Carlson Funeral Service, Inc., Rhinelander, WI

2012 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home, Hammond, LA
Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Rockford, IL

2011 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Arlington Memorial Chapels & Crematory, Manila, Philippines
Coston Funeral Homes Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
Paul-McBride Funeral Chapel, Norwood, MN
Spencer Family Funeral Home, Athens, MI

2010 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Cannon-Cleveland Funeral Directors, McDonough, GA
Funeraria San Vicente S.A., Medellín, Colombia
Heritage Funeral Home, Spokane, W
Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home, Litchfield, MN
Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home, Breckenridge, MN
Littleton & Rue Funeral Home & Crematory, Springfield, OH
Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary, Cemetery & Arboretum, Denver, CO
Shuler Funeral Home, Hendersonville, NC

2009 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Coston Funeral Homes, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, Columbia City, IN
Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home, Lyndhurst, NJ
Lippert-Olson Funeral Home, Sheboygan, WI
Mattson Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Forest Lake, MN

2008 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Brucker & Kishler Funeral Home, Newark, OH
Carmon Community Funeral Home, Windsor, CT
Coston Funeral Homes, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Conover, NC
Erlewein Mortuary, Greenfield, IN
Funeraria San Vicente S.A., Medellin, COLOMBIA    
Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Cookeville, TN
Humphrey Funeral Service, Inc., Russellville, AR
Savage Funeral Service, Binghamton, NY

2007 Best of the Best Award Recipients
A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Directors, Troy, MI
Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, Inc., Covington, GA
Davis Funeral Home, Nashua, NH
Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home, Lyndhurst, NJ
Jones-Wynn Funeral Home, Villa Rica, GA
Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, West Monroe, LA
Samuel E. Coston Funeral Home, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
West Funeral Home, West Fargo, ND

2006 Best of the Best Award Recipients
Carmon Community Funeral Home, Windsor, CT
DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, Columbia City, IN
Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Spokane, WA
Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, West Monroe, LA
Patti Funeral Directors, Inc., Fort Lee, NJ
Spencer Family Funeral Home, Athens, MI
Targhetta & Wooldridge Funeral Home, Brighton, IL
Waller Funeral Home, Oxford, MS
Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Directors, Royal Oak, MI