We are already coming up on the third Tuesday of the month and that means it is time for another Cremation Association of North America (CANA) sponsored funeral professionals peer support online meeting.

This month CANA brings us Tony Russo who asks the question “How far is too far” in dealing with families?

Here’s what CANA says about tomorrow night’s (Tuesday, July 15) interactive online support meeting,  “As funeral professionals, we pride ourselves on going the extra mile for the families we serve–but where are the boundaries if we always go the extra mile? Tony Russo facilitates the July Funeral Professionals Peer Support meeting to discuss the extra mile that takes us too far, and the moral quandary and compassion fatigue that might ensue.”

The CANA press release on this topic continues, “This peer support meeting provides a space to share experiences, explore internal conflicts, and gain insight from your peers on how they handle these deeply human dilemmas. Together, we’ll unpack questions like: When is it fair–or even ethical–to exceed expectations for one family but not another?”

To learn more about Peer Support or to learn how to sign up for Tuesday’s meeting click here.

Tuesday’s meeting begins at 8 pm Eastern Time, 7 pm Central Time, and 5 pm Pacific Time.  It is expected to last one hour.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

The percentage rate of cremation disposition for all deaths in the United States continues to rise, but the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) says in a recent press release that that rate is “decelerating” in its growth.  It is, however, a common statistical occurrence for growth rates to slow once the percentage hits a certain level.

CANA’s press release makes this comment:

“CANA’s research shows that the national cremation rate has grown steadily and predictably for the last 50 years, indicating that neither the recession nor the pandemic have influenced the growth rate on a national level. After decades of rapid growth in the United States, CANA can confirm that the national growth rate is slowing after reaching 61.8% in 2024.” 

The organization of over 3,700 funeral home, cemetery, crematory, industry supplier, and consultant members says that their newly released 2024 data “supports the association’s observation over the past few years that the US is entering a  “deceleration” period of cremation.  (CANA also suggests that) The U.S. is 15 years behind Canada, where the cremation rate surpassed 76.7% in 2024.”

CANA also predicts that by 2033 the cremation rate in all states will reach or exceed 50% and that the United States national rate will surpass 70%.

Finally, CANA points out that the new disposition methods of alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction seem to be playing only a very small role in the overall picture as it pertains to the percentage of cremation dispositions.  The organization points out that presently those forms of disposition total only 0.3% of all dispositions in states where both methods are legally practiced.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  The CANA annual statistics are very valuable in a Death Care provider’s planning.  There were approximately 3.09 million U.S. deaths in 2024.  At least one source believes that there will be about 3.87 million U.S. deaths in 2040.  That’s about 780,000 more deaths annually than today.  What perecentage of those deaths are cremations, earth burials, alkaline hydrolysis, and natural organic reduction makes a big difference to those in those businesses.

For instance if the cremation percentage rate rises it might mean that certain suppliers decide to enter the cremation manufacturing industry.  On the other hand, depending on whether the cremation rate gets to 70 or 80% might make a big difference to those in the casket industry.  The combination of decelerating rates of cremation percentages coupled with more deaths might give a leeway for casket industry unit status quo rather than lower numbers of units sold annually.

CANA has generally been “right on” with their predictions. . . . . Make sure that you brainstorm about what differing rates of cremation might mean to your business.

More news from the world of Death Care:

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

I have to admit the subject kind of crept up on me faster than I thought because I had wanted to do a full-blown article on the value of the Mentor/Mentee relationship prior to this notice. . . .But, like a lot of things in my life – it didn’t get done in time!!  —  Maybe I need a mentor in “time management”!!!!

I wanted the article done because of how much the mentors in my life have meant to me.  As you may know, my father died when I was a teenager and many people in my small hometown wanted to make sure that my life had the appropriate life examples in it to make a difference to me as I grew older.

Yes, I had a local funeral director mentor and a funeral director mentor from my internship. . . .but I also had teacher mentors, church and faith mentors, a banker mentor.. . . .and over time even mentors who gave me confidence to do other things.  In a nutshell, I’ve learned that mentors are incredibly valuable in one’s life.

That brings me to the real subject of this afternoon’s Funeral Director Daily edition.  The Cremation Association of America’s (CANA) Peer Support meeting for tomorrow night is about Mentors and how they can help you. . . .Don’t miss it.

You can participate via Zoom and to learn how to access the meeting you can click here.  The event is scheduled for tomorrow, February 18, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time, 7:00 pm Central Time.

According to CANA’s information on tomorrow night’s meeting it will showcase how  “Mentors provide guidance and support to help the growth and development of their fellow professionals. Jeff Holcomb will bring his decades of commitment to the profession to talk about the power of peer support and mentorship. At Tuesday’s meeting, he’ll focus on the key role of a mentor in providing patience, compassion, and understanding in support of a mentee’s future.”

Related CANA News — CANA’s Cremation Symposium is just around the corner. . . Learn more about it here.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

I’ve been around long enough to see many people call themselves a “Leader”.  Some of those people are and some aren’t.  I’ve also been around long enough to recognize a “True Leader” when they are in my midst.

And, tomorrow night those of you who tune in for the Cremation Association of North America’s (CANA) monthly Peer Support meeting will get to hear from one of the “True Leaders” of funeral service, Randy Anderson.  Anderson, no relation to me, is a first-generation funeral director, former owner of Radney’s Funeral Home and Langley Funeral Home in Alabama, and past president of the National Funeral Directors Association.

According to the CANA press release, ” (Anderson) has spent his career supporting funeral service and professionals through volunteering and teaching and will continue this mission and inspire others at the peer support meeting.”

In that same press release Anderson gives a little self-advice about leadership to others as he makes this comment, “I have had many opportunities to lead throughout my life and have been taught and supported by many wonderful leaders.  In every leadership position, I have learned that everyone wants to be heard and it’s important to listen. I have learned that everyone does not see every experience the same. Looking back, I would advise myself to try to look more through the eyes of others.” 

For what it is worth, I was ecstatic when I saw that Randy Anderson had signed up to recieve Funeral Director Daily a few years ago.  His leadership at NFDA was truly inspiring and the thought that he would sign up to hear what I had to say is proof that he believes in what he says according to the preceding paragraph.  I eventually got to meet Randy at the Baltimore NFDA convention and even though we didn’t talk for long it was apparent to me that he lives to serve others and to serve funeral service.

To learn more or join the peer support meeting featuring Randy Anderson you can click here.  The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 5pm PT via Zoom link.  No registration is required, simply follow the link to join.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

We learned earlier this week that registration for the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) 2025 Cremation Symposium is in full swing.  The event returns to Las Vegas and the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino from February 26-28, 2025.

It’s an annual Death Care event where participants network with leaders from all walks of funeral service and participate in conversations that can teach fresh and practical ideas sure to make a difference in how your business operates.   In addition to the networking experiences there are up to seven hours of continuing education offered at the event.

In simply glancing at the proposed schedule for the event I can see it covers information in Preneed, Hospice, and Aftercare among the topics presented by some of the best presenters in the field.

To learn more and register for this event click here to access CANA’s online 2025 Cremation Symposium information.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

It’s coming up on the 3rd Tuesday of the month and that signals that all funeral professionals can log in to learn and participate in the Zoom facilitated Cremation Association of North America’s (CANA) Peer Support event.

I find that tomorrow night’s event happens in a timely fashion as it preceeds the holiday season.  It focuses on “Grief” and supporting our own emotions while we are serving families.

Here’s what CANA says about the upcoming event in their own bulletin:

“As funeral professionals, we know that the common responses to grief are not linear. Grief brings sideways turns, unpredictability and huge obstacles, and no two journeys are the same. But sometimes, we forget to extend ourselves and our colleagues the same grace that we give our grieving families. We don’t have all the answers, especially when we’re facing our own mourning during challenging cases and community turmoil.”

CANA goes on to promote the event with this information:

“November Peer Support facilitator is Kelly Manion, Director of Consumer Marketing at Homesteaders Life Company. Kelly is a grief support specialist with nearly 25 years devoted to purpose-driven work and over a decade of experience in the funeral service profession. She offers valuable resources to those who are grieving. By providing space to talk about our grief, she’ll help us understand the unique ways people grieve and how to maintain our care for ourselves and our colleagues in the midst of it.”

CANA’s Peer Support Network will take place on Tuesday, November 19 at 8:00 pm Eastern Time, 7:00 pm Central Time, and 5:00 pm Pacific Time.  You can register and learn more information about this free event here.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) recognizes that September is designated as “Recovery Month” to raise awareness about treatment for substance use disorders, reduce stigma of those suffering, and celebrate their recovery.  Because of that recognition, tomorrow night’s Funeral Professionals Peer Support Group will be committed to that subject.

Here’s what a recent press release from CANA says about tomorrow nights online meeting:

“Surveys show that over 65 million US adults consider themselves in recovery from substance use and/or mental health issues. Christopher Matthews, CLC, APR, CFSP, will facilitate the September Funeral Professionals Peer Support meeting to discuss the effect of substance abuse on funeral professionals today with a focus on growth, resilience and skills to support those struggling with these common, but often unspoken, concerns.

With more than 130,000 deathcare professionals working in the United States today (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024) – many of them exposed to trauma daily – the need for support and interdependence in recovery is great. Matthews hopes to provide a fresh, personal perspective and tools to help spot and support funeral professionals in need to the road to recovery.”

Tomorrow night’s meeting — Tuesday, September 17 — is open to all.  It will be held at 8 pm Eastern Time, 7 pm Central, and 5 pm Pacific Time.

To learn more about the meeting and how to connect online you can access information from CANA here.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

Our friends at the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) recently announced that registration is now open for the 2024 educational classes for their “Certified Cremation Specialist” designation.

According to CANA, “What sets a CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist apart is the training they receive to ensure everyone is treated with the same level of care, service, and compassion. Through exposure to a curriculum based on years of research and experience, CANA-Certified Cremation Specialists learn best practices in ethical conduct, verbal and non-verbal delivery, personalizing services and body preparation styles to grow their abilities”. 

All courses are online with the ability to  pause and resume to fit your schedule with basic program requirements that everyone must complete, including participating in a live, instructor-led course via Zoom.

To learn more about becoming a Certified Cremation Specialist and/or to register click here.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”