Memorial Ideas For Cremated Remains

When a family chooses cremation, they must consider what to do with the cremains of their loved one. As the rate of cremation rises, so do the options for memorialization after the cremation service.

Cremated remains are typically placed in an cremation urn and are presented to the family after the cremation service. Urns are made of wood, metal, clay and many other materials and come in an almost unlimited number of styles and personalization options.

If you are interested in alternatives to placing the urn on a mantle at home, following are some common and not so common options for permanent memorialization.

Burial of Cremated Remains

This is like a traditional burial with a casket and vault. The only difference is that it’s an urn. Most cemeteries offer this type of burial. Some may require a cremation vault which is a metal or concrete box that the urn would be placed in. This urn vault acts as a protective container for the urn. Some cemeteries have a section set aside specifically for this called an “Urn Garden”.

Cremation Memorials

Cremation has the same options as a burial. At the end of a service, instead of going to a cemetery, your loved one goes to a crematory. Having a service, can be an important part of the grieving process and allows family and friends to honor a loved one and say good bye, in their own special way.

Many families choose a direct cremation and arrange for a service on their own. Not only is the service planned by someone with intimate knowledge of the person’s life, which tends to create a more personal gathering, it saves families money. This savings allows families to purchase cremation merchandise for permanent storage of cremains.

Scattering Cremains

Scattering the cremated remains in a place that was meaningful to your loved one is gaining popularity. That might be over water, at a favorite park, etc. Permission and permits may be required for certain spots such as state parks, privately owned property, etc. There are many other options including aerial or at sea scattering that are also popular.