January 13, 2026
4:00PM - 5:00PM EST

Webinar: Death Management in OVRS – Continued Training & Updates

Live Webinar Only – Complimentary to OFDA Members

Registration:

This webinar has a 500-registrant limit and will close when it has reached max capacity. Please note, continuing education (CE) credit will not be available for the recorded version.

Online registration coming soon!

Webinar Reminders:

• Note: This program will be offered as a live webinar only and will not be available on-demand.
• Each online participant must register and attend with their own unique email address
• To ensure your attendance is recorded, join the program from the unique link provided in your confirmation email
• Each participant must be on the program for a minimum of 50 minutes to be eligible for CE credit 
• If you have never used Zoom on your device, you will need to download the Zoom desktop application or the Zoom mobile app to view the webinar. Please note: Internet Explorer is no longer a supported browser. For the best experience, we recommend using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari.
• If you have trouble viewing the webinar, please call SeminarWeb support at (737) 201-2059.

Price:

• OFDA Member: Complimentary
• OFDA Non-Member: $65.00

Continuing Education:

• 1 CE Hour, Laws & Rules, pending approval with the State of Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors

Summary:

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Bureau of Vital Statistics is implementing the Ohio Vital Records System (OVRS), replacing the Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS). The OVRS death registration module is being rolled out in phases across October, November, and December 2025. At the time of the live webinar, funeral home employees will have transitioned to OVRS according to their county’s schedule.

This follow-up webinar is designed for funeral directors ready to move beyond introductory training. Participants will explore practical strategies for navigating OVRS, managing post-rollout workflows, and completing death records accurately and efficiently.

OFDA Past President Gary Burr, experienced with Indiana’s LexisNexis-based vital records system, joins Don Ferfolia, who has been using OVRS since its initial rollout. Together, they will share hands-on tips, lessons learned, and strategies for avoiding common challenges, helping attendees gain confidence and proficiency in the new system.

This session is ideal for funeral directors seeking practical guidance and expert insights to streamline operations and ensure compliance in the OVRS environment.

Presenters:

Gary M. Burr, CFSP
Funeral Director and Embalmer, Krill Funeral Service and Crematory
OFDA Past President

Gary M. Burr, CFSP has been licensed in Ohio as a Funeral Director and Embalmer since 1994 and in Indiana since 2000. He served as President of OFDA 2019-2020; He has given numerous presentations to OFDA groups from District meetings to OFDA Conventions. He served on a panel discussion virtual for NFDA to discuss COVID-19 preparations.

Donald B. Ferfolia, Jr., J.D., CFSP
Funeral Director and Embalmer, Krill Funeral Service and Crematory
OFDA Past President

Don is a fourth-generation funeral director involved with his family’s funeral firm in the Southeast Cleveland area.  In addition to being a funeral director he is an attorney who is a principal with the law firm of Donald B. Ferfolia, Jr., LTD, located in Brecksville, Ohio.  The combination of law, funeral service, and family business experiences have provided Don with a unique skill set that enables him to assist clients in solving many different types of problems.  He enjoys helping firms deal with the daily challenges of running a closely held business including regulatory compliance, proactively managing accounts receivable issues and succession planning.