Ethics in Cremation: A Colorado Case Study

Public Trust and Funeral Service with Faith Haug at the CANA Convention

WHEELING, IL— Research suggests that the public’s trust in institutions – schools, the government, organizations, and corporations – has fallen more than 20% in the last 50 years. And when bad actors damage that trust and cast doubt on a particular profession, what does recovery look like? Faith Haug, Director for the Mortuary Science Program at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, takes the stage at the Cremation Association of North America’s 107^th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention to discuss how practitioners, regulators, and the public navigated three recent cases in Colorado and found a path forward.

From 2015-2023, three pivotal cases exposed significant gaps in regulations of funeral practitioners in Colorado. In her session at the CANA Convention, Faith Haug walks attendees through the events at Sunset Mesa Funeral Home, Bailey-Kent, and Return to Nature to discuss Ethics in Cremation: A Colorado Case Study. Her presentation will trace how these cases directly influenced Colorado’s funeral service laws and Code of Practice, focusing attention on the importance of ethical cremation practices and maintaining public trust.

“We do things very differently from state to state, so there is not a lot of uniformity in regulation, licensing or even business practices. That leads to challenges,” says Faith. “Many options were presented to satisfy the regulatory agencies and the stakeholders that were invited to the process, and that’s the best you can hope for.” Her presentation will show how regulators, legislators, and industry leaders collaborated to create new protective measures. Concrete examples pulled from these cases illustrate how the public response has shaped consumer expectations and industry standards for cremation services.

Faith Haug serves as Program Director and Faculty for the Mortuary Science Program at Arapahoe Community College, bringing 20 years as a funeral service professional to her role. As a licensed funeral director and embalmer, she combines practical industry knowledge with academic leadership. Faith is also consulted as subject matter expert for the Colorado Department of Regulatory Affairs. During her CANA Convention session, she’ll draw from this range of experience to examine how public response to multiple high-profile Colorado cases has shaped consumer expectations and industry standards for cremation services for the entire profession.

Each session at the CANA Convention is designed to place the client families’ experience at the heart of what we do:

In the keynote, Joan Fox, President of Inspired Solutions, asks Are You Creating or Killing Customer Loyalty?, and shares why customer satisfaction is an inadequate goal, how company culture and customer loyalty are connected, and what strategies measure customer loyalty to grow your business.

Two experts take the stage to share Data-Driven Digital Marketing Fundamentals with advice to build your business. Scott Jensen, Co-owner of FirstCall Marketing, offers Steps to Take to Know If Your Marketing is Working or Not. Then, Zack Moy, Co-founder/CTO of Afterword, guides you through The Efficient Funeral Home: A Data-Driven Look at Technology Implementation.

Succession planning and driving enterprise value should always be top of mind, so Jake Johnson, President & CEO of Johnson Consulting, will show how to Exit with Success: Succession Planning and Your Business.

In Historic Cemeteries Facing the Future, Regina Harrison, Director of Sales of Mount Auburn Cemetery, shares how to think creatively with options for cremation memorialization—whether you’re managing historic grounds or guiding families through end-of-life choices.

Barbara Kemmis, Executive Director of the Cremation Association of North America and Chance Parker, Chief Research Officer of Fortitude Research + Marketing, present the Cremation Practitioner Benchmarking Study of 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. 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.

To make the most of the resort experience, the CANA Convention schedule is revamped so you can enjoy all that Phoenix has to offer in the cool desert nights and mornings. First is a 9-hole scramble on The Estates Course at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club with an 8am shotgun start. Not a golfer? Take in the scenery with the Arizona Biltmore History Tour to explore the bold Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced architecture, get the scoop on historic celebrated guests, and view the meticulous restoration. Moving at a different speed? Put relaxation first and take a yoga class or book your appointment at the award-winning Tierra Luna Spa and Sol Garden. Or take advantage of the resort pools open around the clock.

Understand the importance of ethical cremation practices and maintaining public trust with Faith Haug at CANA’s 107^th Annual Convention this August 6-8, 2025. Special rates are available for teams to learn, grow, and implement strategies together. 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 heat of the day. Visit cremationassociation.org/CANA25 to learn more and register today!

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.