December 2021

Page A41 DECEMBER 2021 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A MUSIC CITY 2021 NFDA Convention Highlights continued Roberts & Downey Furniture Eligible for Schedule 179 ARGENTA,IL— Rick and Elizabeth Roberts have been handcrafting ex- quisite, high-quality cha- pel furniture for over 34 years in the prairies of cen- tral Illinois. With six de- sign lines, handcrafted in Argenta, and available in a variety of woods, Rob- erts & Downey Chapel Equipment offers both classic and contemporary products that match any decor. Roberts & Downey were among the exhibitors at the recent NFDA conven- tion. “Following a most difficult year, we want to thank the funeral directors who stopped by our booth and met with us in per- son,” says Rick. “As 2021 comes to a close it is time to look at the books from a tax perspec- tive. We would like to re- mind our customers that chapel furniture is a 100% deductible Schedule 179 expense on your business tax returns,” adds Rick. “You have worked hard and investing in yourself makes good business sense. We stand ready to help you place a year end order. Families do notice and ap- preciate when you make improvements to your fa- cilities,” Rick concludes. For more information on how Schedule 179 can ap- ply to your furniture order, contact Roberts & Downey Chapel Equipment at 800-331-9093, visit www.robertsanddowney.com or call Rick Roberts directly at 217-521-2391. Batesville Puts New Products and Digital Solutions at the Forefront at NFDA an advocate for the funeral profession. A longstanding NFDA supporter, the company was proud to co-sponsor the Welcome Party, featuring live music by Billboard country artists, “Runaway June.” The Batesville booth also offered at- tendees everything from website technol- ogy demos to chicken and waffles. “We applaud the NFDA staff for their hard work and determination in providing an opportunity for funeral professionals to ‘Come Together’ in a safe environment,” said Jenn Parvin , vice president of market- ing and technology at Batesville. “The fu- ture of our industry is bright, and we are looking forward to sharing this experience with old friends and making new ones.” After more than a year of virtual conven- tions, Batesville did not hold back when it came to innovation. The company show- cased more than a dozen burial and cre- mation caskets, including new bronze, 18 and 20-gauge steel models, several dual disposition wood products with Family Choices® enhanced personalization, and a new collection of NewPointe® value- priced cremation containers. Cremation urns and other memorialization items were also displayed throughout the booth. With such a broad array of offerings and unique personalization options, there is truly something for every family. “Technology can be an important dif- ferentiator for funeral homes, and we are very excited to introduce a new motion- enhanced personalization feature to Bates- ville website customers that will take on- line obituaries to a new level,” said Parvin. A trusted technology partner to thou- sands of funeral homes, every Batesville website is built to meet the unique needs of that firm, with visually engaging de- signs, flexible content management, rev- enue-generating e-commerce solutions, and integrations with industry leaders. Batesville (www.Batesville.com) , a whol- ly owned subsidiary of Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE:HI), is a recognized leader in the death care industry in North America, of- fering a comprehensive portfolio of burial and cremation products, memorialization options and innovative technology solu- tions. For more than 125 years, Batesville has supported licensed funeral profession- als in helping families honor the lives of those they love.® A history of manufactur- ing excellence, product innovation, supe- rior customer service and reliable delivery helped Batesville become – and remain – an industry leader. BATESVILLE, IN— Batesville had an ex- pansive lineup of new products and special events to share with fu- neral professionals at the 2021 NFDA Con- vention in Nashville, in- cluding a book signing with Dr. Alan Wolfelt , one of North America’s leading death educators and grief counselors and Photos Courtesy Elizabeth Roberts, Roberts & Downey Chapel Equipment, Argenta, Illinois Convention Highlights are continued on Page B9 News Funeral Home & Cemetery online Your Real Source. Anywhere. Anytime.