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
