Have You Decided What To Do With Your Loved One's Ashes?

Cremation may not be the end of your loved one's journey. You'll be presented with a small container containing cremated ashes, which should weigh (on average for an adult) around five pounds. What happens to these remains is up to you, but there are many cremation services to assist you with the next stage of your loved one's journey. 

Keep

You could decide to keep your loved one's ashes at home, so they'll always be with you. The plain container you received might not be suitable (the appearance varies, but is usually little more than a plastic box). The crematory can transfer the ashes into an ornamental urn for you. There are plenty of designs to choose from, so you can choose one that matches your decor. If you and other family members all want to keep a portion of the ashes, the crematory can divide them up and place them in ornamental urns of your choosing.

Bury

What about if you want to bury your loved one's ashes? This is a way to create a final resting place. Ashes can be buried in a cemetery with a headstone then added. Of course, this incurs a fee, and there are restrictions on burying ashes on public land. If you're burying your loved one at home, all you need to do is go to the backyard to visit them. Ask the crematory to place the ashes in a biodegradable urn. As the urn breaks down, your loved one's ashes become one with the soil, increasing its nutrients. You may wish to plant a tree above your chosen backyard burial site.

Scatter

Scattering ashes somewhere that held special significance to your loved one is another wonderful choice. You have the option of using the original container given to you after the cremation. However, some people may not want to directly handle their loved one's ashes. The cremation process eradicates all microbial life, so there's no health risk from cremated ashes. But still, there can be an understandable reluctance. Ask for your loved one's ashes to be placed inside a scattering tube. This opens at one end, allowing you to easily scatter your loved one into the wind.

It must also be pointed out that you're not limited to a single option, which is convenient when there's some disagreement about what to do with your loved one's ashes. A portion can be scattered, another portion can be buried, and some can even be kept with you at home.

Share