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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Barbara Kemmis Phone: (312) 245-1077 499 Northgate Parkway Wheeling, IL 60090-2646 Barbara@cremationassociation.org Serving Families With Confidence CANA Training Addresses the Heart and Practice of Funeral Service WHEELING, IL — This time of year invites reflection, renewal, and growth. For funeral professionals, it’s a chance to reconnect—with their families, their communities, their colleagues, and the purpose that drew them into this profession. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) offers meaningful ways to inform, inspire, and engage at every stage of a professional journey rooted in care. Funeral service is more than a set of tasks—it is a career built on responsibility, trust, and service. CANA’s education and training programs are designed to meet professionals where they are, supporting both the technical excellence families expect and the human connection they deserve. For those seeking to ground their work in safety, consistency, and confidence, operations certification provides a strong foundation. Now in its 40th year, CANA’s Crematory Operations Certification Program (CANA COCP) reflects decades of expertise and continuous development for today’s needs. Incorporating both flame and water-based technologies, the CANA COCP ensures that practitioners are prepared to meet regulatory requirements while upholding the high standards families rely on when placing a loved one in their care. Offered online and on demand, as well as in-person nationwide, this certification supports professionals committed to excellence in practice: cremationassociation.org/COCP For those looking to stay on the leading edge of emerging technology, CANA’s Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification (NOROC) offers specialized training in this evolving form of care. As families increasingly turn to funeral professionals for information about new options, the CANA NOROC prepares participants to be knowledgeable, confident resources in their communities—offering clarity during moments when understanding matters most: cremationassociation.org/NOROC Education can also reenergize the heart of our work. CANA’s sponsored Celebrant Training from the InSight Institute builds on the skills funeral professionals have already developed while expanding their ability to personalize service in meaningful ways. Celebrants work closely with families to create individualized ceremonies that reflect the personality, story, and lived experience of their loved one. This in-person training, held September 22–24 in Chicago, equips professionals with tools to honor each life and keep families’ experiences at the center of every decision: cremationassociation.org/CelebrantTraining New this year, CANA introduces Certified Hospice Relations Specialist (CHRS) training—designed to strengthen collaboration between funeral homes and hospice teams. With hospice involved in more than half of all deaths in many communities, the ability to build respectful, informed relationships is increasingly essential. CHRS training, led by Lacy Robinson on August 12 in Minneapolis, helps funeral professionals become active partners in care, deepen community trust, and better support families through transitions that extend beyond a single moment: cremationassociation.org/CHRS That same spirit of connection continues at CANA’s 108th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention, held August 12–14 at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center. The Convention brings together professionals from across the country who share a commitment to cremation excellence. Through education, exhibits, and conversation, attendees become part of a community shaping the future of the profession together: cremationassociation.org/cana26 Not all growth happens on a fixed schedule. CANA’s Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS) program supports professionals who want to deepen how they serve families choosing cremation—completely online and self-paced. By breaking through the “cremation vs. burial” mindset, CCS reinforces what many already value most: empathy, ethical care, and meaningful connection. This training helps participants feel more confident, more engaged, and more aligned with the standards they take pride in upholding: cremationassociation.org/CCS Each funeral professional comes to this work for deeply personal reasons. It is demanding, challenging, and profoundly rewarding. As the year continues, CANA’s Funeral Professionals Peer Support meetings—held on the third Tuesday of each month—offer space to connect with colleagues who understand the emotional weight and meaning of what we do: cremationassociation.org/peersupport Professional development is an investment not just in skills, but in sustainability. By caring for themselves, funeral professionals are better equipped to continue caring for others—with integrity, compassion, and purpose. Learn more about how CANA Education offers something for every career stage. Visit the CANA website: cremationassociation.org/education. About CANA Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,700 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Barbara Kemmis Phone: (312) 245-1077 499 Northgate Parkway Wheeling, IL 60090-2646 Barbara@cremationassociation.org
Serving Families With Confidence CANA Training Addresses the Heart and Practice of Funeral Service
WHEELING, IL — This time of year invites reflection, renewal, and growth. For funeral professionals, it’s a chance to reconnect—with their families, their communities, their colleagues, and the purpose that drew them into this profession. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) offers meaningful ways to inform, inspire, and engage at every stage of a professional journey rooted in care.
Funeral service is more than a set of tasks—it is a career built on responsibility, trust, and service. CANA’s education and training programs are designed to meet professionals where they are, supporting both the technical excellence families expect and the human connection they deserve.
For those seeking to ground their work in safety, consistency, and confidence, operations certification provides a strong foundation. Now in its 40th year, CANA’s Crematory Operations Certification Program (CANA COCP) reflects decades of expertise and continuous development for today’s needs. Incorporating both flame and water-based technologies, the CANA COCP ensures that practitioners are prepared to meet regulatory requirements while upholding the high standards families rely on when placing a loved one in their care. Offered online and on demand, as well as in-person nationwide, this certification supports professionals committed to excellence in practice: cremationassociation.org/COCP
For those looking to stay on the leading edge of emerging technology, CANA’s Natural Organic Reduction Operations Certification (NOROC) offers specialized training in this evolving form of care. As families increasingly turn to funeral professionals for information about new options, the CANA NOROC prepares participants to be knowledgeable, confident resources in their communities—offering clarity during moments when understanding matters most: cremationassociation.org/NOROC
Education can also reenergize the heart of our work. CANA’s sponsored Celebrant Training from the InSight Institute builds on the skills funeral professionals have already developed while expanding their ability to personalize service in meaningful ways. Celebrants work closely with families to create individualized ceremonies that reflect the personality, story, and lived experience of their loved one. This in-person training, held September 22–24 in Chicago, equips professionals with tools to honor each life and keep families’ experiences at the center of every decision: cremationassociation.org/CelebrantTraining
New this year, CANA introduces Certified Hospice Relations Specialist (CHRS) training—designed to strengthen collaboration between funeral homes and hospice teams. With hospice involved in more than half of all deaths in many communities, the ability to build respectful, informed relationships is increasingly essential. CHRS training, led by Lacy Robinson on August 12 in Minneapolis, helps funeral professionals become active partners in care, deepen community trust, and better support families through transitions that extend beyond a single moment: cremationassociation.org/CHRS
That same spirit of connection continues at CANA’s 108th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention, held August 12–14 at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center. The Convention brings together professionals from across the country who share a commitment to cremation excellence. Through education, exhibits, and conversation, attendees become part of a community shaping the future of the profession together: cremationassociation.org/cana26
Not all growth happens on a fixed schedule. CANA’s Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS) program supports professionals who want to deepen how they serve families choosing cremation—completely online and self-paced. By breaking through the “cremation vs. burial” mindset, CCS reinforces what many already value most: empathy, ethical care, and meaningful connection. This training helps participants feel more confident, more engaged, and more aligned with the standards they take pride in upholding: cremationassociation.org/CCS
Each funeral professional comes to this work for deeply personal reasons. It is demanding, challenging, and profoundly rewarding. As the year continues, CANA’s Funeral Professionals Peer Support meetings—held on the third Tuesday of each month—offer space to connect with colleagues who understand the emotional weight and meaning of what we do: cremationassociation.org/peersupport
Professional development is an investment not just in skills, but in sustainability. By caring for themselves, funeral professionals are better equipped to continue caring for others—with integrity, compassion, and purpose. Learn more about how CANA Education offers something for every career stage. Visit the CANA website: cremationassociation.org/education.
Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,700 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.