Stewart Enterprises
Stewart Enterprises was a United States provider of funeral-home, cemetery, memorialization, and related preneed services that was acquired by Service Corporation International in 2013.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Stewart Enterprises was a funeral and cemetery-services company that developed from a New Orleans real-estate and cemetery operation into one of the largest operators in the United States. Its origins date to 1910, when Albert Stewart, who owned Acme Realty Company, acquired the three St. Vincent de Paul Cemeteries and the associated St. Vincent de Paul Marble Shop. Rather than dispose of the acquired businesses, Stewart retained and developed them. The marble operation supplied cemetery monuments, while the cemeteries created a foundation for the company’s later combination of burial, memorialization, and funeral services. The business remained closely associated with the Stewart family during its early decades. In 1931, Albert Stewart’s sons, Frank Stewart Sr. and Charles Stewart, incorporated the operation as Acme Marble & Granite Co. The company expanded its cemetery infrastructure in New Orleans, establishing Lake Lawn Park Cemetery in 1949. A major development at Lake Lawn Park was a large perpetual-care community mausoleum containing more than 31,000 crypts. In 1969, under the leadership of Albert Stewart’s grandson, Frank B. Stewart Jr., the company acquired adjoining Metairie Cemetery, adding one of New Orleans’ historically significant cemeteries to its portfolio. During the 1980s, Stewart moved beyond its Louisiana and Texas base into Florida, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. This regional expansion broadened the company from a local cemetery operator into a multi-state funeral and cemetery enterprise. Frank B. Stewart Jr. served as chairman during this period, while Thomas J. Crawford was president and chief executive officer and Thomas M. Kitchen was senior executive vice president and chief financial officer. Stewart became a publicly traded company in 1991, listing on NASDAQ under the symbol STEI. At that time, the company was headquartered in Jefferson, Louisiana, employed nearly 5,400 people, and operated 218 funeral homes and 140 cemeteries across 24 states and Puerto Rico. Following its public offering, Stewart continued to grow through geographic expansion and acquisitions or operating arrangements. Over the following years, its footprint reached 30 states and 12 countries. Its activities included funeral-home operations, cemetery ownership and management, cemetery development, mausoleum and monument-related services, and preneed sales. The company also maintained or was associated with businesses and assets such as Acme Mausoleum Corporation, the online memorial site Tributes.com, and Investor Trust, Inc., a Texas-based wholly owned investment firm connected with preneed trusts and company investments. Its cemetery portfolio included Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans, Royal Palm Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home in West Palm Beach, and Wisconsin Memorial Park in Brookfield. Stewart also entered institutional partnerships. In 1997, it announced an arrangement with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles involving construction of funeral homes on nine Catholic cemeteries and management of preneed sales at eleven cemeteries. The arrangement illustrated the company’s strategy of combining physical funeral infrastructure with advance-planning services. A substantial portion of its business was concentrated in California, Florida, and Texas, states identified in the company’s historical account as having relatively large senior populations. Stewart marked the centennial of its founding on April 26, 2010. The company remained a major United States funeral and cemetery operator until Service Corporation International acquired it in December 2013 for approximately $1.4 billion. The acquisition ended Stewart Enterprises’ independent existence and public-company status. Its operations and properties became part of Service Corporation International’s broader funeral, cemetery, and cremation-services network.
History
Stewart Enterprises originated in New Orleans in 1910 after real-estate entrepreneur Albert Stewart’s Acme Realty Company acquired three St. Vincent de Paul Cemeteries and the St. Vincent de Paul Marble Shop. The acquisition created a business combining cemetery operations with the production of monuments and memorial materials. Stewart retained both operations, which developed over time into the foundation of the enterprise. In 1931, Albert Stewart’s sons, Frank Stewart Sr. and Charles Stewart, incorporated the business as Acme Marble & Granite Co. The company expanded its cemetery presence in New Orleans by establishing Lake Lawn Park Cemetery in 1949. Lake Lawn later included a large perpetual-care community mausoleum with more than 31,000 crypts. In 1969, Frank B. Stewart Jr., Albert Stewart’s grandson, led the purchase of adjoining Metairie Cemetery. The company expanded geographically during the 1980s, moving from its Louisiana and Texas base into Florida, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. Frank B. Stewart Jr. was chairman, Thomas J. Crawford was president and chief executive officer, and Thomas M. Kitchen was senior executive vice president and chief financial officer during the period described in the company’s historical account. Stewart went public in 1991 and was listed on NASDAQ under the symbol STEI. At that time, it had nearly 5,400 employees, 218 funeral homes, and 140 cemeteries in 24 states and Puerto Rico. After its public listing, Stewart expanded further, eventually reaching operations in 30 states and 12 countries. Its activities included funeral-home services, cemetery management and ownership, mausoleum and memorial operations, and preneed sales. Related businesses and affiliations included Acme Mausoleum Corporation, Tributes.com, and Investor Trust, Inc., which handled investment activities associated with preneed trusts and the company portfolio. Stewart’s properties included historic or prominent cemeteries such as Metairie Cemetery, Royal Palm Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home, and Wisconsin Memorial Park. In 1997, Stewart announced a partnership with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles concerning funeral-home construction on nine church cemeteries and preneed-sales management at eleven cemeteries. The company celebrated its centennial on April 26, 2010. In December 2013, Service Corporation International acquired Stewart Enterprises for approximately $1.4 billion. The transaction ended Stewart’s existence as an independent public company and placed its operations within Service Corporation International.
- 2013
Acquired by Service Corporation International
[1]Service Corporation International acquired Stewart Enterprises in December for approximately $1.4 billion.
- 2010
Centennial anniversary
[1]Stewart Enterprises celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding on April 26.
- 1997
Archdiocese of Los Angeles partnership announced
[1]The company announced a partnership involving funeral-home construction and preneed services at Catholic cemeteries in the Los Angeles area.
- 1991
Initial public offering
[1]Stewart Enterprises became publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker STEI.
- 1969
Metairie Cemetery acquired
[1]The company purchased the cemetery adjoining Lake Lawn Park under the leadership of Frank B. Stewart Jr.
- 1949
Lake Lawn Park Cemetery established
[1]Stewart established Lake Lawn Park Cemetery in New Orleans and later developed a major perpetual-care community mausoleum there.
- 1931
Business incorporated as Acme Marble & Granite Co.
[1]Frank Stewart Sr. and Charles Stewart incorporated the family business under the Acme Marble & Granite Co. name.
- 1910
Albert Stewart establishes the cemetery business
[1]Albert Stewart’s Acme Realty Company acquired the St. Vincent de Paul Cemeteries and Marble Shop in New Orleans, creating the business that became Stewart Enterprises.
Products and positioning
A vertically integrated funeral and cemetery operator combining funeral homes, cemeteries, mausoleums, memorial products, and preneed planning, with a heritage rooted in New Orleans cemetery management.
Funeral services
Funeral-home services
Stewart operated a large network of funeral homes that provided arrangements and services associated with funerals and memorial ceremonies. The network formed one of the company’s principal operating segments as it expanded across multiple U.S. states and Puerto Rico.
Cemetery operations
Cemetery services
The company owned and managed cemeteries, including burial and interment facilities, perpetual-care properties, and historic cemeteries. Its cemetery portfolio supported both immediate-need services and advance-planning arrangements.
Memorialization · 1949
Mausoleum and crypt services
Stewart developed and operated mausoleum facilities, including the large community mausoleum at Lake Lawn Park Cemetery. These facilities provided above-ground crypt and entombment capacity as part of the company’s cemetery and memorialization offering.
Memorial products · 1910
Monuments and memorial products
The company’s roots included the St. Vincent de Paul Marble Shop and later Acme Marble & Granite Co., businesses associated with the production of monuments and cemetery memorial materials.
Advance funeral planning
Preneed planning
Stewart marketed and managed preneed funeral and cemetery arrangements, including arrangements made through institutional cemetery partnerships. Investor Trust, Inc. was associated with the company’s preneed trusts and investment portfolio.
Online memorial services
Tributes.com
Tributes.com was an online memorial-related business associated with Stewart Enterprises, extending the company’s services beyond physical funeral homes and cemeteries into digital remembrance.
Brand decisions
2013
Sale to Service Corporation InternationalM&ABackground
Stewart had become a major multi-state funeral and cemetery operator, while Service Corporation International was expanding its own funeral, cemetery, and memorial-services network.
Action taken
Service Corporation International acquired Stewart Enterprises in December 2013.
Aftermath
Stewart ceased operating as an independent public company and became part of Service Corporation International.
Acquisition value. Approximately US$1.4 billion (December 2013)
1997
Archdiocese of Los Angeles operating partnershipStrategyBackground
Stewart sought to extend its funeral and preneed capabilities through relationships with institutional cemetery owners.
Action taken
It announced an agreement involving construction of funeral homes on nine archdiocesan cemeteries and management of preneed sales at eleven cemeteries.
Aftermath
The partnership became an example of Stewart’s combination of funeral-home development, cemetery operations, and advance-planning sales.
1991
Public-market expansionStrategyBackground
After decades of family-linked cemetery and memorial operations, Stewart pursued public financing and broader corporate expansion.
Action taken
The company completed its public offering and listed on NASDAQ under the symbol STEI.
Aftermath
Stewart continued expanding its funeral-home and cemetery network across the United States and internationally.
Sources1 sources
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