Cremation Association of North America

01/26/2026

"What sets this burial apart are the luxury items accompanying the cremated individual...These artifacts suggest the deceased may have been a merchant, an official, or both—a person deeply connected to the economic and administrative networks of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. This rich burial contrasts sharply with the relatively modest domestic remains found elsewhere on the site, indicating a pronounced social stratification or special status for this individual."

Archaeologists in northern Israel uncover a luxurious Iron Age cremation burial, revealing elite lifestyles, long-distance trade, and Assyrian influence thousands...

01/23/2026

"The Department of Veterans Affairs just awarded $77 million to cover the costs of adding thousands of interment sites at state-owned veterans cemeteries near capacity and to open Alaska’s first state veterans cemetery."

An estimated 500 Vietnam War-era veterans die each day, and state-run veterans cemeteries are running out of space to accommodate them.

01/22/2026

Cremated remains aren’t picked up. After the body is in your care, a family dispute erupts and no one is willing to take responsibility for the disposition of their decedent. Feel familiar?
Unclaimed remains seems to be a growing trend with no end in sight. CANA's 2026 Cremation Symposium presents an essential panel discussion with experts in funeral regulation, compliance, and law to uncover the legal, ethical, and operational risks tied to unclaimed remains this February 25-27 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Register to attend: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/future/register

01/21/2026

"The funeral profession needs a reset.
"There are few professions that have as long a history of providing vital services to people in need.
"We need to take stock of our vast resources and employ our talents to continue providing these vital services long into the future."
Kara Ludlum, CPA and licensed funeral director, shares ideas on How We Stay Vital and Profitable in the latest entry in the Cremation Logs blog.
Read on:

Why would a profession that is vital to their communities be struggling? The answer is very complex, and I look forward to digging into each of our points of service as well as our pricing for those services at CANA’s 2026 Symposium this February.

01/20/2026

Tonight's Funeral Professionals Virtual Peer Support Meeting will talk about how micro resets can help ground you between arrangements, how that groundedness supports you in staying present when families are overwhelmed, and how compassionate presence allows you to show up in a way that honors both the families you service and you. Together, these RESET pillars support you in navigating a profession that asks so much of the heart and body.
Join the conversation with Lisa Smith and Michelle Petitpas of Funeral Professionals Peer Support, tonight Tuesday, January 20 at 7:30pm ET / 6:30pm CT / 4:30pm PT: https://www.cremationassociation.org/peersupport

01/19/2026

“'Cremation is very rare among ancient and modern hunter-gatherers, at least partially because pyres require a huge amount of labor, time, and fuel to transform a body into fragmented and calcined bone and ash...'
"The unusual discovery is shedding light on the complex nature of largely unknown funerary practices of African hunter-gatherers — and raises the question of why such effort was made to cremate only one person."

The oldest known cremation pyre in Africa is shedding light on the complex funeral rites of ancient hunter-gatherers 9,500 years ago.

01/16/2026

"But I also ask them to read some lighter work for our conversation: an excerpt from Nora Ephron’s 'I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections,' published in 2011, about a year before she died. Her book ends with two revealing lists: 'What I Won’t Miss' and 'What I Will Miss.' A few of my favorites from her 'will miss' list: reading in bed, the dogwood, butter, the view out of a window, Thanksgiving."

Dr. Nancy Rappaport teaches an elective course to Harvard Medical School students that uses literature to help make sense of the experiences they face as healers: pain, loss, fear, alienation, compassion. One of the readings includes excerpts from Nora Ephron's "I Remember Nothing" -- reading it del...

01/14/2026

Artificial intelligence isn’t just the next tech-world buzzword—it’s already changing how funeral professionals work. At CANA’s 2026 Cremation Symposium, the AI Panel Discussion is your chance to get ahead of the curve. Hear from leading voices in technology, law, and innovation when they the share real-world applications, cautionary tales, and practical tools you can start using now.
See what else we have planned and register for the Symposium February 25-27 in Las Vegas: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/future/home/

01/13/2026

Dates announced for 2026!
CANA's Crematory Operations Certification Program (COCP) is the first and only training to include both flame and water cremation processes, including equipment, operations, safety, chain of custody, and best practices.
Earn your certification in 2026, in-person or online, for certification requirement in 20 states and get up to eight hours of continuing education (CE) hours.
Register today: https://www.cremationassociation.org/cocp.html

01/12/2026

“'This annual ceremony is part of a commitment that the county has upheld since 1896 to ensure everyone in Los Angeles County, no matter their means, is laid to rest with respect and dignity,' Supervisor Janice Hahn said during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisor’s meeting."

The interfaith ceremony that will be held Thursday in Boyle Heights has taken place annually for well over a century.

01/09/2026

Blending strategic foresight with industry insight, Larry Stuart's keynote session at CANA's 2026 Symposium will challenge you to think beyond the present moment. Ready to join?
Register now: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/future/register