92. Cremation turns 150! with Barbara Kemmis
From The Funeralcast by Ben Schmidt
May 26, 2026 · 59 min
About this episode
Barbara Kemmis joins Ben Schmidt to discuss the 150-year history of cremation and its future.
This year marks 150 years since Dr. Francis Julius LeMoyne cremated Baron De Palm in Washington, PA. It has come a long way since then to become the number one form of disposition. Barbara Kemmis, the executive director of The Cremation Association of North America joins Ben to talk about the four eras of cremation history and where it may be going. Be sure to rate and review the show. Watch for new episodes of the Funeralcast Fastcast! Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Email Barbara barbara@cremationassociation.org Follow @thefuneralcast Follow @frigidfluid
People in this episode
Host: Ben Schmidt
Guest: Barbara Kemmis
Topics covered
- cremation history
- disposition methods
- funeral education
- cultural practices
- future of cremation
Keywords
- cremation
- funeral
- history
- disposition
- Barbara Kemmis
- Ben Schmidt
- Cremation Association
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Cremation Association of North America
Places: Washington, PA
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