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After horrendous cases, Colorado may require credentials for funeral home operators

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14min 49sec
A police SUV sits in a parking lot behind crime scene tape.
David Zalubowski/AP
A Fremont County, Colo., Sheriff’s Department vehicle sits outside a closed funeral home where 115 bodies are stored, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, in Penrose, Colo. Authorities investigated the improper storage of human remains at the southern Colorado funeral home that performs “green” burials without embalming chemicals or metal caskets.

If there’s a job that requires unwavering dignity, it would be that of funeral director. Yet Colorado’s seen a few scoundrels in recent years. As lawmakers consider stricter regulations, there are steps consumers can take to ensure a loved ones’ remains are handled properly. Joe Walsh is president of the Colorado Funeral Directors Association.