When a loved one passes away, there are a lot of emotional decisions ahead. If there were not any prearranged plans, you and your family must first decide between burial and cremation.
If cremation is the final choice, now begs the question: What do we do with the cremated remains?
Selecting a final resting place for a cremated loved one is a tough choice—the options are vast. While it’s a common misconception that cremation limits final resting options, it’s quite the opposite. However, just because there are more options with final resting places for cremated remains doesn’t make the selection process any easier.
Read on for six considerations to think about when selecting a final resting place for your loved one’s cremated remains.
Did you know many burial options can be used for cremated remains as well? It’s true—for example, you can have the cremated remains of your loved one buried in a cemetery with a personalized headstone or memorial, exactly how you would if you chose traditional burial. This practice is common among many religions or families who prefer a permanent resting place.
Many families opt for a permanent resting place in a cemetery so that they are able to have a physical location to go visit their lost loved one for years to come.
Losing a loved one doesn’t mean you have to completely part with them. Cremation jewelry allows you to keep your lost loved one close to your heart. A portion of their cremated remains are placed inside your jewelry piece of choice making it small and portable, and gives you the ability to keep your loved one nearby.
Cremation jewelry can come in a variety of styles like necklaces or rings with different personalized designs, including:
Many people choose to wear or carry these remembrance pieces every day or display them in a place of significance in their home.
Scattering cremated remains is a deeply emotional experience that helps friends and family members connect with their loved one even after they’ve passed. It also happens to be one of the most popular ways you can memorialize your loved one following cremation.
To ensure activities align with your loved one’s hopes and desires, discuss their final wishes ahead of time. Some common locations for scattering include:
While scattering is a symbolic way to connect with your lost loved one and allow them to rest at a special place of significance, each state has its own set of rules regarding this disposition method. That said, make sure to find out if you need a permit or permission for your desired location.
>>> Related Resource: Where Can I Scatter Cremated Remains in Ohio?
Cremation offers versatility in memorializing your lost loved one. One of the most common final resting places are in a decorative urn in the surviving family members’ homes.
Those who prefer to keep the cremated remains (or a portion after scattering) can buy an urn to display on a mantle or shelf as a special remembrance. This provides a sense of permanence knowing memories of your loved one live on in your home.
Decorative urns come in a variety of shapes, styles and sizes to accommodate different amounts of cremains to fit your needs. If you move houses or out of state, the good news is, urns are easy to transport.
A unique way to carry on the life and legacy of your loved one is to transform their cremated remains into a living memorial.
Cremated remains combined with the organic nutrients built into biodegradable planting urns can fuel a seedling or sapling into life—all without harming the environment.
Planting a tree, bush or flower in a meaningful location, such as a garden or park, can be a special way to remember your loved one. When a plant or tree is properly nourished with cremated remains, new life blossoms, enabling friends and family members to see and feel the lost loved one’s presence.
Additionally, you may opt to continue your loved one’s legacy and protect the marine environment with an eternal reef. An eternal reef is an environmentally safe cast concrete that uses a loved one’s cremated remains, and then is placed into an ocean location to create new marine habitats.
Parting Stone is a new technology that is changing the way people keep their loved one’s cremated remains. This recent innovation creates solidified remains that look like flat stones after loved ones are cremated. The appearance of each stone will vary naturally in shape, color and texture making each collection of solidified remains uniquely beautiful.
>>> Related Resource: Learn more about Busch’s involvement in the initial rollout of Parting Stone.
There are many options for memorialization following cremation. Once you’ve decided on a final resting place for your loved one’s cremated remains, it’s time to consider what cremation plan fits your wishes and budget. Download our Cremation Costs Explained guide to better understand your options.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2018, and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
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