Avoiding Mistakes of the Past: The Eternal Value of Cremation Memorials
WHEELING, IL— In the early days of cremation, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA, then known as just the Cremation Association of America) took a firm stance against pulverizing cremated remains. Crushing them eroded the reminder that these were the remains of a loved one, remains that deserved reverence. Curious about what else has changed in the last 100 years? The Cremation Historian Jason Engler takes the stage at CANA’s 106th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention to share how memorials have (and have not) evolved from the past to the present. Join him this September 11-13, 2024 in Chicago and consider what cremation memorialization means to you.
There was a time when the cemetery was the destination for most cremated remains. Now, no cemetery is complete without cremation memorials—but families too often think of permanent placement as an option. During his session, The Eternal Value of Cremation Memorials/Avoiding Mistakes of the Past: Cremated Remains Belong in Cemeteries, Jason Engler will share lessons we can learn from history to develop strategies for tomorrow’s memorials.
“The establishment of a memorial identity for each person who lived and died was the most important part of the rite of passage called death,” explains Jason. “It was during CANA’s 1933 convention that Clifford Zell made the statement: ‘There is one thought I hope that I can impress most deeply on all crematory men – cremation is not the end – cremation alone is not complete but is only an intermediate step towards the permanent preservation of the cremated remains.’”
Jason Engler is a licensed funeral director and regional sales manager for the Wilbert Group in Kansas / Northwest Missouri. As Cremation Historian for the National Museum of Funeral History and the Cremation Association of North America, he shares his expertise on more than 150 years of innovation and change to funeral service as well as the eternal value of cremation memorials.
Innovative sessions are the core of every CANA Convention, and other sessions include:
- Choosing to be a better leader for your team, your business, and yourself in Being a Leader of Influence with Robbie Pape, Senior Vice President & Regional Partner, Carriage Services.
- By popular demand, Sara Murphy, PhD, FT, Death Educator & Suicidologist with the University of Rhode Island, returns with Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk Within the Deathcare Profession.
- Jolena Grande, faculty with the Mortuary Science Program at Cypress College, discussing the role of women in funeral service from her unique perspective in Death Becomes Her: The Changing Demographics of Funeral Service Practitioners.
- Lee Hovermale Strategic Advisor to the CEO of KiZAN Technologies, with over 30 years of expertise in the technology sector, covers Cybersecurity Awareness: Recognizing a Threat, and Protecting Your Data for you and your families.
- Information is Power: Updates from Industry Experts feature insights on three forces on your business. CANA President Robert Hunsaker discussing how CANA’s 2024 Annual Cremation Statistics Report impacts your business. He’s joined by Assistant Vice President of Government & Industry Relations of Service Corporation International, Caressa Hughes who will provide an update on the regulatory and legal landscape of the profession. Plus, Vice President of Cemetery Operations of Legacy Funeral Group, Steve Bassett, offering lessons learned from Cemetery Consumer Service Council (CCSC).
- Sharing the stage, Dean of the InSight Institute Glenda Stansbury and Homesteaders Director of Consumer Marketing Kelly Manion talk about modern ways to address families’ grief in a combined presentation on The Power of Service & The Power of Human Connection.
Dr. Sara Murphy also leads a special pre-Convention workshop with Aaron Pelchat, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist. Together, they’ll say the quiet part out loud on The Silent Problem: Talking about Mental Health and Funeral Service. Their workshop will help us understand realities of common mental health issues – think compassion fatigue and burnout – unpack the challenges to self-care and discover therapeutic tools for improving mental health. Registration is available separately from the Convention or as an add-on!
What options are there for permanent memorialization after cremation? Jason Engler brings the past to the present this September at the CANA Convention. Enjoy Chicago and book yourself for September 11-13, 2024, at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park: cremationassociation.org/CANA24
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.
