Connecticut Funeral Directors Assn. (CFDA) Members Honored with National Excellence Awards

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) will recognize 18 Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) funeral home locations with "2026 Pursuit of Excellence Awards", honoring their commitment to providing outstanding service to families and communities while adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards.

This honor is reserved for funeral homes that exemplify the highest standards of integrity, innovation and service to families and communities. These firms will be celebrated at the All-Star Recognition Ceremony on Monday, October 26 at 4 p.m. during 2026 NFDA International Convention & Expo, October 25-28 in Charlotte, NC.

This year, NFDA honors a total of 301 honorees from across the U.S. and around the world. While they differ in size, location, and the communities they serve, each has demonstrated a commitment to continually raising the bar through compassionate service, professional development, community engagement, and ethical leadership.

Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) members and their locations to be honored with 2026 Pursuit of Excellence Awards are:

• Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes, Inc., Cheshire; and its Buckmiller Ford Mengacci Funeral Home, Naugatuck; and Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes, Inc., Waterbury.

• ·Carmon Community Funeral Homes, Windsor; and its Carmon Funeral Home and Family Center, Avon; Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Home, Granby; Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home, Suffield; Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, South Windsor; Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, Vernon; and South Green Memorial Home, Hartford.

• Duksa Family Funeral Homes, Newington; and its Duksa Family Funeral Homes, New Britain.

• Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, New Haven; and its Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, Hartford; and Henry L. Fuqua Funeral Service (A division of Howard K. Hill Funeral Services), Bloomfield.

• Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Homes, Stamford; and its Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Homes, Greenwich; and Spadaccino and Leo P. Gallagher & Son Community Funeral Home, Monroe. This firm also will be inducted into the NFDA Hall of Excellence for receiving its tenth Pursuit of Excellence Award.

“Excellence in funeral service is ultimately about people – the families who place their trust in funeral professionals, the communities that depend on them and the dedicated individuals who make this work their life’s calling,” said NFDA Director of Public Relations Jessica Koth. “The 2026 Pursuit of Excellence honorees demonstrate every day what it means to continually learn, grow and find meaningful ways to serve others. We are incredibly proud to recognize their achievements.”

To earn the Pursuit of Excellence Award, funeral homes completed a rigorous evaluation of their practices and programs and must meet or exceed standards in key areas of funeral service, including compliance with state and federal regulations, staff education and professional development, family service, community engagement and professional involvement. Participants must also adhere to NFDA’s Pledge of Ethical Practices, affirming their commitment to integrity, honesty, and accountability.

The 137-year-old Connecticut Funeral Directors Association is comprised of funeral directors at more than 220 funeral homes. Based in Wethersfield, Conn., the professional organization is committed to the promotion and advocacy of high ethical standards in funeral service. This includes the development and presentation of ongoing professional training opportunities for practitioners and educational programs for association members and the public. For more information about the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, call 860-721-0234 or 800-919-2332 or visit CTfda.org.