FINAL CALL: Enroll in CANA’s Certified Cremation Specialist Program  

Registration Deadline July 1, 2025

WHEELING, IL— Strengthen your own real-world arrangement skills while raising service standards across the profession! Time is running out to register for the Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS) training program from the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). With registration closing July 1, funeral professionals and their employers are urged not to miss the opportunity to join this innovative, cremation-focused certification.   

This unique online program goes beyond compliance and procedures to develop the “power skills” essential for today’s funeral arranger: communication, listening, and ethical decision-making. Whether new to arrangements or experienced and looking to refresh their approach, you’ll gain valuable tools you can use immediately to better serve families and grow your business. 

FLEXIBLE LEARNING. REAL IMPACT. 
You’ll complete eight online courses—seven on-demand and one live session—on your own schedule, with full access through October 1. With content that’s engaging and interactive, including self-reflection exercises and expert insights, this program is built for your busy professional life and offers meaningful professional development to raise your level of service for every client family. 

The CCS program doesn’t just benefit individual professionals—it’s an investment in your entire operation. Graduates walk away with tools to improve communication, connect with families more deeply, and contribute to increased satisfaction and revenue. In fact, many participants cite a noticeable shift in motivation and pride in their work after completing the course. 

Since its launch, 112 professionals have earned their CCS credential, joining a growing group of cremation specialists making a difference in their communities. 

Program Details: 

• Interactive and Practical Curriculum 

• Complete coursework by October 1 

• $615 General, $465 CANA Members 

This is the final opportunity to join the 2025 CCS cohort. With space limited and registration closing soon, funeral professionals and employers are encouraged to act now and claim your place in this transformative training program. 

Become a CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist at cremationassociation.org/CCS 

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. 

Program Announced for the CANA 107th Convention 

Registration is open now with special discounts for teams 

WHEELING, IL— This August, you’re invited to the Cremation Association of North America’s 107^th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention, where innovative cremation professionals come together to share ideas, learn from experts, and explore the latest products and services from industry suppliers. Featuring a perfect blend of city excitement and desert serenity, the CANA Convention heads to Phoenix for a mid-year rejuvenation and the opportunity to mingle with the most forward-thinking owners and managers in the profession. Registration is open, so act now to claim your booth, sponsorship, or seat at the table and connect with cremation experts from across the profession. 

Innovative sessions are the core of every CANA Convention, and the 2025 program won’t disappoint. CANA presents experts that will help business leaders hone in on what gives our work meaning: the customer experience. 

In the midst of ongoing and seemingly incalculable changes in this industry, Joan Fox, President of Inspired Solutions, presents what it really takes to succeed with customers and grow your business: a change in mindset. In her keynote session, Are You Creating or Killing Customer Loyalty?, you will learn why customer satisfaction is an inadequate goal, how company culture and customer loyalty are connected, and develop strategies to measure customer loyalty to grow your business. 

Take a close look at Ethics in Cremation: A Colorado Case Study with Faith Haug, Program Director of Arapahoe Community College Mortuary Science Program, and explore a detailed analysis of the three pivotal Colorado cremation cases from 2015-2023 that exposed significant gaps in regulations. Faith will share how these cases directly influenced Colorado’s funeral service laws, how key groups collaborated to create new protective measures, and analyze how public response to these cases illustrates the importance of ethical cremation practices and maintaining public trust. 

Three experts take the stage to share Data-Driven Digital Marketing Fundamentals with advice to build your business. Mitch Smith, Vice President of Sales Operations of eFuneral, examines how and why trust is now built digitally and how to evolve to meet families where they are. Then, Scott Jensen, Co-owner of FirstCall Marketing, will define and explain the three steps that funeral homes owners can take to enable themselves to clearly understand if their marketing is working or not. Finally, Zack Moy, Co-founder/CTO of Afterword, will explore how technology can create exceptional funeral planning experiences and significantly streamline operations to promote productivity without sacrificing quality.  

Succession planning and driving enterprise value should always be in our minds as owners, managers, and key stakeholders in a business. That’s why Jake Johnson, President & CEO of Johnson Consulting, will show you how to Exit with Success: Succession Planning and Your Business with steps to be considered when developing your succession plan and communicating with frontline employees. 

In historic cemeteries, space is limited and options for full-body burials can be hard to find. But with cremation on the rise, there’s a growing opportunity to think more creatively, and sustainably, about the land we have. In her session on Historic Cemeteries Facing the Future, Regina Harrison, Director of Sales of Mount Auburn Cemetery, shares how her historic cemetery team developed innovative cremation options to meet a wide range of family needs and budgets and how you can think creatively with practical strategies for highlighting options for memorialization whether you’re managing historic grounds or guiding families through end-of-life choices. 

In 2022, CANA asked more than 3,000 consumers in the US and Canada about their attitudes, actions and behaviors around cremation. In 2025, with the team at Fortitude Research, CANA conducted a survey of funeral directors and arrangers to better understand how cremation is practiced in the arrangement room. In the closing session, Barbara Kemmis, Executive Director of the Cremation Association of North America and Chance Parker, Chief Research Officer of Fortitude Research + Marketing, presents the Cremation Practitioner Benchmarking Study of practitioners’ currently held beliefs about cremation and cremation product offerings against consumer research. The session offers insights into current practice and provides strategies to address future challenges. 

What could be better than what’s happening on the CANA stage? It might be the backdrop! The Convention hotel is the Arizona Biltmore which offers seven relaxing pools, five appealing shops featuring hand-curated pieces, three unique dining experiences, two picturesque golf courses, and one award-winning spa and salon – plus two iconic bars where you can revel in a tequila sunrise. This year, the CANA Convention schedule is revamped to make the most of this unique resort experience, making time for the cool desert nights and mornings so you’ll enjoy all that Phoenix has to offer. You’re invited to explore, to discover, and to feel inspired by the colors, culture and the captivating energy of the Valley of the Sun. Make your reservation now at canarooms.com. 

CANA’s Annual Convention is the premier event for innovative cremation professionals. That’s why special discounts are available for full convention registration: buy one, get one $200 for funeral professionals from the same company. Teams of 3+ save even more! Plus, the schedule is redesigned to ensure you can explore the Valley of the Sun in the cool mornings and evenings and fully savor the networking and learning in the air-conditioned convention hall during the height of the day. 

Phoenix is the perfect desert oasis for catching rays and chasing dreams. That’s why the Funeral Service Foundation is offering five scholarships to encompass all the benefits of attendance at the 107^th Cremation Innovation Convention. With an award valued at up to $2,200, each scholarship winner will receive full event registration, plus three nights at the luxurious Arizona Biltmore and up to $500 in travel reimbursement. Scholarships are open to anyone in funeral, cremation, and cemetery service who wants to invest in their future success as a cremation professional, including current students. The deadline to apply is May 29, 2025; scholarship winners will be notified mid-June to make their plans to join CANA in Phoenix this August. For more information and to apply, candidates should visit cremationassociation.org/CANAROI.  

Bring your family and enjoy the luxurious Arizona Biltmore, take time to experience the art, culture, food, action, history and beauty of the Phoenix and surrounding desert, and experience CANA’s 107^th Annual Convention. Register now for CANA’s Annual Convention: August 6-8, 2025 – and remember that special rates are available for teams to learn, grow, and implement strategies together. Visit cremationassociation.org/CANA25 to learn more. 

Unique Program Recycles Pacemakers Retrieved from the Deceased

Deathcare professionals are keenly aware of how much an individual’s corporeal form can contribute to society after death. From organ donations that save countless lives to allowing remains to be studied for medical research, the human body continues to give back long after its soul has vacated the premises. One relatively new example of this unique synergy between life and death is the “My Heart Your Heart” (MHYH) pacemaker recycling initiative spearheaded by the University of Michigan’s Frankel Cardiovascular Center. This program aims to collect, refurbish, and distribute pacemakers to patients in low- and middle-income countries who lack access to these life-saving devices.

The global need for pacemakers

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, with an estimated 80% of these fatalities occurring in low- and middle-income nations. A significant contributor to this statistic is the prohibitive cost and limited availability of pacemakers in these regions. Addressing this disparity, MHYH has established a sustainable model for pacemaker reuse, ensuring that patients in underserved areas receive the care they desperately need.

Funeral directors and coroners play a pivotal role in the success of the MHYH program. By facilitating the collection of pacemakers from deceased individuals, they serve as the primary conduit between potential donors and recipients. Since 2018, approximately 60,000 pacemakers have been donated to the MHYH project, with the majority sourced from funeral homes.

A testament from the field

Hamilton County, Indiana Coroner Jeff Jellison recently began participating in the nationwide MHYH effort after learning about it from a physician. His involvement underscores the profound impact that deathcare professionals can have and highlights the ethical and humanitarian considerations that guide the deathcare industry. 

“When most people think of coroners, they think of death. And this is an opportunity to kind of change that,” Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison told WTHR News. “Because now, we have coroners that are saving lives. So that’s rewarding for us to know that we may have just come off a really bad scene. But after we get back, we may be sending one of these off to save a life for someone who can’t afford it.”

Jellison’s office has collected seven pacemakers so far, and a local funeral home contributed 23 more to be donated to the program. Upon receipt of these devices, University of Michigan researchers will clean, test, and sterilize them in preparation for re-implanting. Research conducted by the Frankel Cardiovascular Center has demonstrated that these reconditioned pacemakers are both effective and pose minimal risk of infection when implanted in patients.

Join the cause

The MHYH program exemplifies how collaboration between medical institutions and deathcare professionals can transform a previously discarded resource into a beacon of hope for many. By participating in this initiative, funeral directors and coroners not only honor the wishes of donors but also contribute significantly to global health equity.

Several deathcare organizations are already involved with the MHYH mission, including the Michigan Funeral Directors Association and Implant Recycling, which has donated more than 100,000 pacemakers to date. If you’re interested in joining this life-affirming endeavor visit the MHYH website at https://www.umcvc.org/conditions-treatments/my-heart-your-heart or email the MHYH Coordinating Center at MCORRPMHYH@med.umich.edu. 

Funeral Service Foundation Launches IMPACT 1000 Giving Program to Strengthen Funeral Service Community

Collective giving initiative allows individuals to give more by giving together

Brookfield, Wis. – The Funeral Service Foundation is proud to announce the launch of IMPACT 1000, a collective giving initiative designed to unite funeral professionals in making a lasting difference within the funeral service community. 

By combining individual contributions, IMPACT 1000 members will amplify their impact, supporting vital programs that help grieving families, strengthen the funeral service profession, and ensure its continued growth and innovation.

“IMPACT 1000 empowers individuals to join together and contribute to the Foundation’s mission of supporting the funeral service community” said John Heald, Chair of the Funeral Service Foundation. “Whether you are a funeral service professional, a member of an organization or someone with a shared passion for the profession, your membership and contribution will play a crucial role in advancing the future of funeral service.”

Why Join IMPACT 1000?

• Give Back: Create a lasting impact on the profession that has given so much to us.
• Build Community: Connect with like-minded professionals who are committed to strengthening funeral service.
• Learning & Education: Gain access to valuable educational and networking opportunities while learning more about the Foundation’s initiatives.
• Make a Difference: Directly contribute to impactful projects that improve the funeral service profession and support grieving families.

Exclusive Benefits for Members

IMPACT 1000 members receive a range of exclusive benefits designed to enhance their involvement in the Foundation’s efforts:

• A vote on designated grant funds.
• An invitation to the Foundation’s Annual Donor Reception.
• Access to an annual call with Foundation leadership.
• A chance to participate in unique networking opportunities.
• Recognition in Foundation publications and at the NFDA International Convention and Expo.
• Individuals who make a pledge during this inaugural year will be considered “Founders” in perpetuity. 

Who Can Join IMPACT 1000?

IMPACT 1000 is designed for individuals who want to make a meaningful difference in funeral service. Membership is personal, and each individual’s participation makes a significant impact. Members can choose to contribute $1,000 per year for five years ($5,000 total) or make a one-time payment of $5,000. Additional flexible payment options are available online. 

Together, IMPACT 1000 members will ensure the Funeral Service Foundation’s mission thrives and continues to support grieving communities by investing in people and programs that strengthen funeral service.

For more information about IMPACT 1000 or to join today, visit FuneralServiceFoundation.org/IMPACT1000.

ABOUT THE FUNERAL SERVICE FOUNDATION – FuneralServiceFoundation.org
Since 1945, the Funeral Service Foundation has served as the philanthropic voice of the funeral profession and has been identified as the charitable arm of the National Funeral Directors Association since 1997. Donors and volunteer leaders’ profession-wide support the Foundation’s mission to lift grieving communities by investing in people and programs that strengthen funeral service. 

Lead with Purpose: Apply for NFDA’s National Emerging Leaders Program Today

Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) has begun accepting applications for the 2025-26 National Emerging Leaders Program. Since its inception, this transformative program has nurtured 58 funeral service professionals, equipping them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to excel as leaders in their funeral homes, communities, and the funeral service profession at state and national levels. 

This comprehensive year-long leadership experience will empowers 20 select participants to lead with vision, integrity and influence, providing them with tools and strategies to inspire and guide others. Additionally, participants will benefit from mentorship opportunities and high-level networking with leaders in the funeral service profession. 

The 2025-25 program will begin with a retreat at NFDA headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin, June 22-24, and conclude during the 2026 NFDA Leadership Conference. Participants will engage in approximately seven virtual learning sessions throughout the year, featuring insights from both funeral service experts and distinguished leaders from outside the profession. 

The NFDA National Emerging Leaders Program is open to all licensed funeral professionals in the United States and Canada – regardless of NFDA membership status – who are in the early stages of their careers (first-career funeral directors licensed at least three years or second-career funeral directors licensed at least one year). 

“Being part of something bigger than myself – a program dedicated to advancing the future of funeral service – has been an inspiring and humbling experience,” said Sarah Ziesmer, a 2024-25 National Emerging Leaders Program participant with Heritage Funeral Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “Sharing space with like-minded, passionate individuals from across the country has been one of the most impactful aspects of the program. The knowledge and tools I’ve gained are invaluable, and I’m eager to bring what I’ve learned back to my team. My goal is to empower my staff, strengthen our services and contribute to the evolution of funeral service.” 

“As a participant in the National Funeral Directors Association’s Emerging Leaders Program, I found the experience to be invaluable for both my professional and personal growth,” said 2024-25 National Emerging Leaders Program participant Marshall Loring of Messinger Indian School Mortuary in Scottsdale, Arizona. “The program is thoughtfully designed to engage, support and develop future leaders in our profession. The mentorship from seasoned professionals was a cornerstone of the experience as well, providing guidance and encouragement every step of the way.”

The National Emerging Leaders Program requires an investment of $1,500, covering retreat fees, registration for the 2026 NFDA Leadership Conference, approximately seven virtual learning sessions led by expert speakers and facilitators, printed educational materials, continuing education hours, and extensive networking opportunities. To help offset costs, participants will receive a travel reimbursement of up to $500 for the retreat and up to $500 for the 2026 Leadership Conference.    

For more information and to apply, visit NFDA.org/EmergingLeaders. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. CST on April 15. Selected participants will be announced in early May. NFDA extends its gratitude to the Funeral Service Foundation for its generous support of the National Emerging Leaders Program. 

“Investing in leadership development ensures a stronger, more resilient future for the funeral service profession and the families we serve,” said John Heald, chair of the Funeral Service Foundation Board of Trustees. “The Funeral Service Foundation is proud to support NFDA’s National Emerging Leaders Program, which empowers professionals to grow, connect and lead with purpose.” 

NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession.

NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit NFDA.org. 

Twenty-five Funeral Professionals Selected for Prestigious NFDA Meet the Mentors Program

Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is proud to announce the 25 funeral professionals selected to participate in the 2025 Meet the Mentors program. This prestigious event, made possible through the generous support of the Funeral Service Foundation, will take place April 8-10, 2025, in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the NFDA Advocacy Summit. 

Since its inception in 2011, Meet the Mentors has provided up-and-coming funeral service professionals with invaluable opportunities to learn from some of the most accomplished leaders in the profession. This year’s event will be particularly impactful, combining mentorship with real-world advocacy on Capitol Hill. 

“Meet the Mentors is a transformative experience for funeral service professionals early in their careers,” said Sara Moss, MS, FT, LFD, NFDA associate director of Education. “Bringing this program to Washington, D.C., allows our mentees to not only gain career-changing insights from our distinguished mentors but also to develop the advocacy skills necessary to shape the future of funeral service.” 

Congratulations to the 2025 Meet the Mentors Participants 

The following individuals have been selected for this year’s program:

• Craig L. Adams Jr. – Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Service, Baltimore, Maryland
• Christopher Boggs – MacNabb Funeral Home, Catonsville, Maryland
• Makenzie Briggs – Roeder Mortuaries, Omaha, Nebraska
• Jessica Cespedes – Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania
• Simone Coplin – Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, North Dakota
• Lydia D’Atri – Thomas McAfee Funeral Home Greenville, South Carolina
• Peyton Davis – Smith Family Funeral Homes – Little Rock Chapel, Little Rock, Arkansas
• Sarah Beth Drake – Cantlon Otterness & Viets Funeral Home, Buffalo, Missouri
• Amanda Earl – Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Manchester, New Hampshire
• Gregory Fountain – Newcomer Funeral Service Group, Orlando, Florida
• Jayme Fuscaldo – Jersey Memorial Group, Old Bridge, New Jersey
• Hanna McClellan – Howe-Peterson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Taylor, Michigan
• Haisten Murphree – Glover Funeral Home, Dothan, Alabama
• Shelby Ogozaly – Perman Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• David Pryor – Piper Funeral Home, St. Marys, Kansas
• Stephen Rios – Altmeyer Funeral Home, Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Aiyanna Rivera – Pollock-Randall Funeral Home, Port Huron, Michigan
• Jason Sertich – Wenig Funeral Homes, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
• Tina Spedden – Lee Funeral Home, Owings, Maryland
• Loran Spence – Carmon Community Funeral Homes, Windsor, Connecticut
• Jarell Springfield – Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, Merrillville, Indiana
• Nicholas Todd – Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Amy Trigoura – Fred Hunter’s, Funeral Home, Crematory & Cemetery, Davie, Florida
• Anna Urciuoli – Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, Greenwich, Connecticut
• Gary T. Whitley Jr. – Nelms Memorial Funeral Home, Huntsville, Alabama 

An Unparalleled Mentorship and Advocacy Experience The 2025 Meet the Mentors program will feature three renowned funeral service leaders, who will share insights, career guidance and expertise with the mentees through interactive roundtable discussions and networking opportunities:

• Dr. Camelia Clarke – Co-owner of Paradise Memorial Funeral & Cremation Services and Leon L. Williamson Funeral Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A past president of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association, she is also an NFDA Spokesperson Team member and actively engaged in her local community.
• Lori Sheeler – General Manager of Wilson-St. Pierre Funeral Service & Crematory in Greenwood, Indiana. She has served in key leadership roles, including Vice Chair of the Indiana Funeral Education Foundation and District 7 Director for the Indiana Funeral Directors Association.
• Tim Schramm – Owner and CEO of Howe-Peterson Funeral Homes in Michigan. He is a recognized expert in funeral service management and mass fatality response, currently leading the Michigan Mortuary Response Team (MI-MORT) and serving on the Funeral Service Foundation’s Board of Trustees. 

Additionally, mentees will participate in NFDA’s Advocacy Summit, where they will meet with Members of Congress to discuss key issues affecting funeral service professionals and the families they serve. This hands-on experience will provide mentees with an inside look at the legislative process and the critical role advocacy plays in shaping the future of the profession. 

For more information about Meet the Mentors, visit NFDA.org/Mentors or contact NFDA at (800) 228-6332. NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving more than 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world.

NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.nfda.org.

2025 NFDA Meet the Mentors Program: Exclusive Opportunity for Funeral Professionals to Connect, Learn and Advocate in Washington, D.C.

Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is proud to announce that its highly-praised Meet the Mentors program will take place from April 8-10, 2025, in Washington, D.C. This transformative event, held in conjunction with NFDA’s annual Advocacy Summit, offers a unique opportunity for emerging funeral service professionals to engage with leaders and experience the power of advocacy firsthand. 

Since its launch in 2011, and thanks to the generous support of the Funeral Service Foundation, Meet the Mentors has provided invaluable insights and connections for hundreds of funeral professionals. This year’s program promises to be particularly impactful, combining intimate mentorship sessions with real-world advocacy training on Capitol Hill. 

“We are thrilled to host Meet the Mentors in Washington, D.C., again this year,” said Sara Moss, MS, CT, LFD, NFDA Associate Director of Education. “This setting not only offers participants the chance to learn from top funeral service leaders but also equips them with the skills and experience to advocate for our profession at the highest levels of government.” 

An Exceptional Mentorship Experience 

The 2025 program will bring together 25 participants – funeral professionals aged 40 and under, or those licensed within the past five years – to learn from three distinguished mentors who have made significant contributions to the funeral service profession:

• Dr. Camelia Clarke: Co-owner of Paradise Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services and Leon L. Williamson Funeral Chapel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Clarke brings over two decades of experience. A past president of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association, she is also an active member of the NFDA Spokesperson Team and deeply involved in her local community.
• Lori Sheeler: As General Manager of St. Pierre Funeral Services in Indianapolis, Indiana, Sheeler has served in key leadership roles, including Vice Chairman of the Indiana Funeral Education Foundation and District 7 Director for the Indiana Funeral Directors Association. Her dedication to mentorship and service extends beyond the funeral profession, reflecting her passion for community support and education.
• Tim Schramm: Owner and CEO of Howe-Peterson Funeral Homes in Michigan, Schramm’s expertise spans funeral service management and mass fatality response. He currently leads the Michigan Mortuary Response Team (MI-MORT) and serves on the Funeral Service Foundation’s Board of Trustees. His commitment to excellence and innovation in funeral service makes him a valuable resource for emerging professionals.

Throughout the program, participants will engage in dynamic roundtable discussions, gaining career insights and personal advice from these leaders in the funeral service profession. Beyond mentorship, attendees will build lasting connections with their peers, creating a support network that will benefit their careers for years to come. 

A Seat at the Table: Advocacy in Action 

One of the most distinctive aspects of the 2025 program is its focus on advocacy. Participants will join seasoned professionals at the NFDA Advocacy Summit, spending a day on Capitol Hill meeting with Members of Congress. This hands-on experience offers a rare opportunity to discuss how federal policies impact funeral service professionals’ ability to serve families and operate their businesses. 

“Advocacy is a crucial skill for any funeral service professional,” said Moss. “By participating in these meetings with members of Congress, mentees will not only learn about the legislative process but also see the real-world impact of their voices in shaping policies that affect our profession.” 

Previous Meet the Mentors participants offer consistently high praise for the program. A 2024 mentee said, “My favorite part of this program was being able to sit down with the mentors and talk with them … I feel that the information they gave to us will be very valuable and I will be able to incorporate it into my everyday work life to make myself a better funeral director.” 

Another noted, “NFDA’s Meet the Mentors Program was an incredible experience! I gained valuable knowledge and insight that I will be able to use throughout my career. I would highly recommend the program to all newly licensed professionals.” 

How to Apply 

Applications for the 2025 Meet the Mentors program are now open. Interested NFDA members must be licensed NFDA-member funeral directors or embalmers, aged 40 or under, or within their first five years in the profession. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. CST on January 17, 2025. 

Selected participants will be announced in February. Thanks to the Funeral Service Foundation’s support, the program covers registration fees, lodging, and select meals; attendees are only responsible for their transportation to Washington, D.C. 

For complete details and to apply, visit NFDA.org/Mentors. For questions, contact NFDA at (800) 228-6332. 

NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.nfda.org. 

Embattled Texas Body Donation Program Is Now In Even More Hot Water

A few months ago, NBC News exposed the highly-questionable practices of the Willed Body Program at the University of North Texas (UNT) Health Science Center (HSC) in Fort Worth. The findings detailed in the September report resulted in staff terminations and the permanent closure of the HSC lab, and put the practice of body donation as a whole in an unwanted spotlight. Now a new report has added even more charges to the list of the program’s alleged ethical and moral transgressions.

September’s “bombshell” report

NBC News’ 10-month investigation of the body donation program at the University of North Texas HSC was part of a series called “Dealing the Dead,” which focused on the use of unclaimed bodies for medical research. The outlet found that since 2019, the HSC had received 2,350 bodies from the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office, of which more than 830 were “selected by the center for dissection and study” by the university’s medical students. Others were sold — mostly in parts — to for-profit organizations like Johnson & Johnson & Boston Scientific for use in product development. The HSC actually advertised these bodies to companies as being of the “highest quality found anywhere in the U.S.”

Although body donation programs were created to further medical technology and train medical students, ethical programs only accept a body with the explicit directive of the deceased or the consent of the next of kin. NBC News found that in many of the cases of unclaimed remains the HSC acquired from the medical examiner, the North Texas program was accepting these bodies without prior permission. On top of that, NBC News — and relatives of many of the deceased — criticized HSC’s and third party investigators’ lackluster or cursory efforts to locate the next of kin to procure this permission. In fact, some of those families only learned that their relatives had been included in this program after the NBC News report aired.

As a result of the investigation, the UNT HSC issued a statement apologizing to impacted families for the “failures” and said the program had “fallen short of the standards of respect, care, and professionalism that we demand.” The statement, which was released on September 16 — the same day the NBC story aired — announced that the university had permanently closed its BioSkills Lab, suspended operations of the Willed Body Program pending internal and external reviews, and terminated the program’s leadership. 

New allegations in November

The agreement between the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office and the University of North Texas seemed like a win-win; the county was no longer responsible for the disposition of unclaimed remains (which otherwise would cost them about $500,000 per year), while UNT generated quite a bit of revenue from their sales to outside entities, including $2.5 million per year from “leasing body parts to medical groups.”

But those weren’t the program’s only money-making methods. Last week, a new report stemming from an October inspection of the facility by the state’s funeral commission found that once research on a body was complete, the university disposed of the remains using alkaline hydrolysis (AH), or water cremation — which is not yet legal in the state of Texas. 

The report said that the school was “saving $1 million over five years” by performing their own AH dispositions instead of paying an outside AH provider. It also found 2020 budget documents showing that the university planned to install two AH units for the bodies donated by the medical examiner’s offices in Dallas and Tarrant counties.

A spokesperson for the UNT medical school program told NBC News that AH disposition for bodies used for medical research is legal per AH per Texas administrative code. However, the Texas Funeral Commission countered that state law overrules the administrative code. In its November 1 cease-and-desist letter to the HSC, the commission threatened to fine the HSC program $5,000 per day and “revoke its operating license if it didn’t come into compliance within 14 days,” although AH was discontinued on September 16 when the program was shut down.

Semantics?

In its November 15 report, NBC News writes that the HSC’s contracts with the medical examiner’s offices and consent forms from family members of the deceased “indicated that ‘cremated remains’ would be returned to survivors, giving no indication that the bodies might instead be dissolved.” The article intimates that families receiving remains after the AH process probably would never have noticed a difference, as AH remains resemble those from fire cremation. It adds that AH has not been legalized in Texas in part due to strong opposition by religious groups, who do not believe the process is dignified or respectful.

Most of the 25+ states that have legalized and regulate alkaline hydrolysis refer to the process as a form of cremation, while critics argue that flame/fire cremation is the only true form. As with the legalization of natural organic reduction, many lawmakers find that tucking these new disposition methods under the existing cremation label is more efficient than entirely reconstructing laws.

CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist Training Program Registration Deadline July 31, 2024

WHEELING, IL— Registration is now open for the Cremation Specialist training program offered exclusively by the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). This unique program is designed to help funeral professionals discover opportunities to create memorialization and ceremony and master the necessary skills and knowledge to take their service to the next level.

The CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS) training covers a range of topics that impact today’s business and grieving families. In addition to FTC compliance, engaging phone shoppers, and discussion of embalming preferences, other topics such as grief expressions, communication skills, and ethical dilemmas are all included in the curriculum. Participants can earn up to 11 hours of continuing education (CE) credits across a variety of required categories.

The remarkably flexible program, conducted entirely online, is comprised of eight courses: seven on-demand and one that is live and instructor-led. Participants can work at their own speed, receiving their certification in as little as three months and can choose to graduate on July 15 or October 15.

Each class in the program is easy to navigate and offers engaging and thought-provoking content, with fill-in-the-box reflections and active guidance from CANA staff. Participants can pause and resume the training to accommodate their busy schedules.

CANA encourages funeral professionals who are looking to advance their careers to enroll in the program and enhance their skills.

“You can become the most amazing rock star arranger ever, but it just takes a little bit of training and a little bit of knowledge of how to be still and how not to slap down the first contract and say, ‘Here you go,’” explains Glenda Stansbury of InSight Books, who contributed to the program. “That’s probably the true benefit of all of this work: to have a full-fledged curriculum that is cremation-based to help that cremation professional.”

To date, this new credential has 87 graduates, representing practitioners from all stages of their careers, who have gained confidence to go further with the families they serve. “This program was a highly valuable and meaningful way to level-up my personalized service to families. I highly recommend CCS certification to other funeral professionals,” shared Tee Rogers, a CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist. “It was insightful, inspiring, and informative. The content and leaders were highly respectful of diverse identities and perspectives, a normalization of inclusion that was encouraging to experience as I continue efforts to increase awareness of challenges faced in the funeral industry by our LGBTQIA+, minority religious, and secular clients and employees.”

Registration is accepted on a rolling basis for the 2024 program from April 1 through July 31. Space is limited so funeral professionals should act soon to join. Registration is $615, discounted to $465 for CANA Members. Learn more about becoming a CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist at cremationassociation.org/CCS

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.