Funeral associations can be a fantastic resource during a time that is often chaotic and emotionally challenging. There’s no need to struggle with cremation plans alone – consulting a funeral association can relieve stress and help you make the needed arrangements with confidence.
What is a Funeral Association?
Much like other professional organizations – like those for engineers, teachers, or health providers – a funeral association is a network of professionals. Belonging to a cremation or funeral service association is a great way for practitioners to stay up-to-date on laws, new services, and industry trends. When a funeral home or crematorium belongs to an association, it may help them provide better service overall.
What Can a Cremation Association Help with?
Associations are a great resource. Here are a few specific tasks that an association can help with:
- Find a local provider who is reputable and licensed. Trusting a Google search isn’t ideal. An association can help you locate a reputable funeral home or cremation provider in your area – one that is officially recognized for its professionality.
- Provide guidance on local laws. Burial rules, suitable cremation urns, paperwork – there’s a lot to consider when planning a funeral or memorial service. An association can help you find the most current laws, info, and guidelines for your area.
Check our article: CREMATION LAWS IN THE USA
- Locate available crematoriums, cemeteries, and columbarium spaces. Finding available space in a cemetery or columbarium can be daunting, which is why many families keep cremation urns for ashes at home. Nonetheless, an association may be able to help you locate available space so you have options.
- Assist with purchasing cremation urns, keepsakes for ashes, etc. Whether you’re going with a traditional cremation urn or you prefer a handmade artisan urn to keep the ashes at home in a more personalized way, associations can provide information about where and how to get these special vessels.
Top Associations to Find Funeral and Cremation Services
Searching for an international destination to scatter ashes? Need to find a pet cemetery? These respected associations can help.
Top Associations in North America:
- Cremation Association of North America (CANA) – Offering a robust network of providers throughout the United States and Canada, CANA helps practitioners deepen their knowledge by offering a wealth of educational information and specialist programs. Plus, all members of this association abide by the CANA Cremation Practices, ensuring a commitment to high-quality, caring, and credible cremation services. Since 2022, Pulvis Art Urns is a official supplier member of CANA.
- National Funeral Directors Association – With over 20K members (11k of which are funeral homes) this group certainly offers a large network. Seminars and conferences are also made available to members. From advance embalming techniques and everyday business improvements to marketing and customer service skills, you’ll find it all at NFDA conferences.
Top Resources for International Associations:
- International Cremation Federation (ICF) – Based in the Netherlands, the ICF has an organized list of over 50 individual associations located around the globe, ranging from Ireland to Japan and beyond. CANA is a partner of the ICF.
- World Organization of Funeral Operatives (FIAT-IFTA) – This international association allows members to connect and learn from funeral and cremation practitioners globally, expanding horizons and helping them enhance their own services. FIAT-IFTA currently has members in 80+ countries.
- The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) – This international association represents all segments of the cemetery, funeral service, cremation and memorialization profession.With more than 10,000 members, ICCFA it's focus is to provide exceptional education, networking and legislative guidance and support to progressive cemetery, funeral and cremation professionals worldwide.
Top Associations for Pet Cremation:
- International Association Of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories (IAOPCC) – Based in Chicago, this animal-focused association has members in 15 countries, making them the self-proclaimed “Recognized Leader in Pet Aftercare.” Ethical and humane animal cremation is the primary focus of this association. The IAOPCC represents the gold standard in both business and ethics in the aftercare industry.
- The Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria (APPCC) – Focused solely in the UK, the APPCC sets extremely high standards for its members, promising exceptional service. This association also offers pet bereavement support and advice for individuals dealing with the loss of a pet.
Top Resource for Historical Info on Cremation Practices:
- The Cremation Society – Responsible for setting up the first public crematorium in Great Britain back in the 1880s, this organization offers a wealth of knowledge when it comes to cremation practices, statistics, and developing laws. It also offers a practical directory.Since the Society's formation it has worked tirelessly to promote and establish the practice of cremation among all members of the community.
No matter where you are in the planning process, contacting an association is a good idea, as they offer plenty of resources that can help you make arrangements for cremation and funeral services with confidence.
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