Congratulating the CANA-Certified Cremation Specialists

WHEELING, IL—The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) congratulates the nearly 80 funeral professionals from across the country who have earned the designation of CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS). Launched in 2021, this innovative program emphasizes the vital soft skills that make cremation a more fulfilling experience for families and successful for business owners.

Introducing the CANA-Certified Cremation Specialists who have successfully completed the eight courses and a final capstone required for the CCS program:

Cory Allen, Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Society: Bradenton, Florida
Daniel Applegate, The Arlington Memorial Gardens Association, Inc.: Cincinnati, Ohio
Brandon Kyle Ardoin, Lakeside Funeral Home: Lake Charles, Louisiana
Jason Armstrong, Pacific Northwest Cremation: Spokane, Washington
Robbie Baker, The Arlington Memorial Gardens Association, Inc.: Cincinnati, Ohio
Sierra Bork, Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, Inc: Palm Harbor, Florida
Crystal Bovaird, Lucas Funeral Homes: Hurst, Texas
Tammara Bowen, Pacific Northwest Cremation: Spokane, Washington
Alecia Braddock, The Arlington Memorial Gardens Association, Inc.: Cincinnati, Ohio
Cody Caldwell, Charter Funeral Home & Crematory: Calera, Alabama
Jeff Carroll, Smith Funeral & Cremation Service: Maryville, Tennessee
Thad Chapman, Baldwin Brothers Funeral Home: Port Orange, Florida
Denise Childress, Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, Inc: Palm Harbor, Florida
Lauren Christakos, The Arlington Memorial Gardens Association, Inc.: Cincinnati, Ohio
Amanda Roman Clement, Simple Cremation (Lucas Family Funeral Homes): Fort Worth, Texas
Lisa Cole, Birdsong Cremations: Galveston, Texas
Eileen Corliss, Cremation Society of Illinois: Chicago, Illinois
Rachell Cotton, Charter Funeral Home & Crematory: Calera, Alabama
Sam Covitz, Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, Inc: Palm Harbor, Florida
Andrea Crooks, Krause Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc.: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jaclyn Curtis, Carriage Services: Springfield, Massachusetts
Leon De Leon, Memorial Funeral Home: San Juan, Texas
Velma De Leon, Memorial Funeral Home: San Juan, Texas
Kevin Dembinski, Cline & Hanson Funeral Home / North Country Crematory: New London, Wisconsin
Pierce Dempsey, Leaf Cremation: Acworth, Georgia
Sondra Annette Drennen, Fairmount Memorial Association: Spokane, Washington
Nicholas Facci, Simple Choices, Inc. Cremation Service: Troy, New York
Philip Flores, Cremation by Water LLC: Arlington Heights, Illinois
Becky Gabehart, Cremation by Grandview: Maryville, Tennessee
Dawn Graybeal, Pacific Northwest Cremation: Spokane, Washington
Hunter Hailey, The Arlington Memorial Gardens: Cincinnati, Ohio
Cindy Hargrove, The Arlington Memorial Gardens Association, Inc.: Cincinnati, Ohio
Ken Harper, The Arlington Memorial Gardens Association, Inc.: Cincinnati, Ohio
Rebekah Heath, Heritage Funeral and Cremation: Spokane, Washington
Elizabeth Howieson, Pacific Northwest Cremation: Spokane, Washington
C. Mike Jones, Reflection Cremation & Funeral Service: Tifton, Georgia
Heather Jones, The Arlington Memorial Gardens: Cincinnati, Ohio
Jaime Kaschenbach, Loudon Park Funeral Home: Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Dale Knouse, Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center: La Porte, Indiana
Darnell Lee, Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, Inc: Palm Harbor, Florida
Patty Luque, Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, Inc: Palm Harbor, Florida
C.R. Lyons, C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors: Danvers, Massachusetts
Patrick Mahoney, Heritage Cremation & Burial Society: Cleveland, Ohio
Lisa McClain, The Arlington Memorial Gardens Association, Inc.: Cincinnati, Ohio
Maryan McElligott, Heritage Funeral and Cremation: Spokane, Washington
Ericka McKibbin, Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, Inc: Palm Harbor, Florida
Veronica Moreno, Memorial Funeral Home: San Juan, Texas
David Morgan, The Cremation Consultant: Somers, Connecticut
Jennie Oliver, Pacific Northwest Cremation: Spokane, Washington
David Penhallegon: Palm Harbor, Florida
Carolyn Penosky, Kootenay Enterprises Inc.: Trail, British Columbia
Stephanie Phelps, The Arlington Memorial Gardens: Cincinnati, Ohio
Nathan Pollock, Indiana Funeral Care: Indianapolis, Indiana
Ryan Rasmussen, Pacific Northwest Cremation: Spokane, Washington
Adrianne Reese, Green Lawn Cemetery & Mausoleum: Columbus, Ohio
Brendan Regan, Neil W Regan Funeral Home Inc: Scranton, Pennsylvania
Tee Rogers, SCI Corporation – Dignity Memorial: Orlando, Florida
Marcia Ross, The Arlington Memorial Gardens Association, Inc.: Cincinnati, Ohio
Kole Roth, Clarks Funeral Service: Trail, British Columbia
David Rubio, Memorial Funeral Home: San Juan, Texas
Sheila Rutz, The Arlington Memorial Gardens: Cincinnati, Ohio
Ashley Stenger, The Arlington Memorial Gardens Association, Inc.: Cincinnati, Ohio
Peyton Stewart, Birdsong Cremations: Katy, Texas
Robert Stone, Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center: La Porte, Indiana
Charles Sullivan, Cremation Society of SC – Westville Funerals: Woodruff, South Carolina
Amy Thie, The Arlington Memorial Gardens Association, Inc.: Cincinnati, Ohio
Brett Tieman, Lakewood Cemetery Association: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sara Underhill, The Arlington Memorial Gardens Association, Inc.: Cincinnati, Ohio
Tammy Valenti, Shannon Funeral Homes: Bradenton, Florida
Beth Voss, Baldwin Brothers Memorial Care Service: Winter Park, Florida
Kim Vossmeyer, Alliance Funeral Home & Cremation Center: Florence, Kentucky
Natalie Walker, Krause Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc.: Gurnee, Illinois
Julie Walter-Davis, Neptune Society – Missouri: Kansas City, Missouri
Jenna Warren, Heritage Funeral and Cremation: Spokane, Washington
Crystal Weaver, Pacific Northwest Cremation: Spokane, Washington
Jacob Wenc, Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, Inc: Palm Harbor, Florida
Melissa White, Cremation by Grandview: Maryville, Tennessee
Patrice Williams, Williams Crematory, Inc.: Tunica, Mississippi
Allyse Worland, Flanner Buchanan – Memorial Park, Indianapolis, Indiana

ABOUT CANA-CERTIFIED CREMATION SPECIALIST TRAINING

The program launched in 2021 when the association identified a gap in cremation-focused, online continuing education courses―education that would best prepare funeral directors to serve families choosing cremation. The CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist (CCS) credential delivers competency-based knowledge and skills—built on research and CANA’s decades of experience—necessary for funeral professionals to grow their expertise.

As the cremation rate has increased, many other programs did not update their course content, including little to no cremation content or advanced competencies. The CCS is designed with cremation at the core of the experience to support excellent care and service to families. Plus, as an online-only program, the experience is flexible with professionals’ demanding schedules.

To learn more about the CANA-Certified Cremation Specialist program, visit www.cremationassociation.org/ccs. Registration for the final cohort of 2023 is open now and kicks off July 17 to a limited number of participants.

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About CANA Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,500 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization