Mortuary Company Stays Ahead of Debt by Digging Graves Before People Die
- Critics say StoneMor books revenue as quickly as it can
- Second-biggest U.S. mortuary firm taps trusts for cash
This article is for subscribers only.
Cemetery companies usually wait until a person dies before digging the grave. Not StoneMor Partners LP.
StoneMor, the second-biggest U.S. operator of cemeteries and funeral homes, says burying the vault as soon as a client signs a “pre-need’’ contract -- then uncovering it and burying it again when the customer is ready -- makes interment quicker for families of the deceased and allows the ground to settle, ensuring tombstones don’t tilt.