Ashes, Honouring Your Loved One: Traditional Ways to Handle Cremation Ashes
After a cremation, many find themselves wondering what to do with their loved one's ashes. While newer, creative options are available, traditional methods remain popular for their timeless appeal and sense of dignity. This guide explores conventional approaches to handling cremation ashes, helping you find a fitting tribute that honours your loved one's memory.
Keeping Ashes in an Urn
One of the most common choices is to keep the ashes in an urn at home. This option allows you to maintain a close physical connection with your loved one and provides a tangible focus for remembrance.
Types of Urns
Urns come in a variety of styles, materials, and sizes:
- Traditional urns: Often vase-shaped and made of materials like brass, bronze, or ceramic.
- Modern designs: Contemporary urns may feature sleek lines, unusual shapes, or artistic elements.
- Wooden urns: Can be crafted from various types of wood, often with personalised engravings.
- Biodegradable urns: Designed to eventually break down if buried or placed in water.
- Keepsake urns: Smaller urns designed to hold a portion of the ashes, allowing for distribution among family members.
Personalisation Options
Many urns can be customised to create a more personal tribute:
- Engraving names, dates, or meaningful quotes
- Adding photographs or custom artwork
- Incorporating personal items or symbols that were significant to the deceased
Placement in the Home
Consider where you'll place the urn in your home:
- A dedicated shelf or mantelpiece
- As part of a memorial display with photographs and mementos
- In a quiet corner for private reflection
Burying the Ashes
Many people choose to bury cremation ashes, either in a cemetery plot or on private property. This option provides a permanent resting place and can offer a sense of closure for family and friends.
Cemetery Burial
Burying ashes in a cemetery is a traditional and widely-accepted practice:
- Plot options include full-size plots, urn gardens, and family plots.
- Memorialisation can include headstones, markers, or wall inscriptions.
- Cemeteries offer ongoing maintenance of the burial site.
Private Property Burial
Burying ashes on private property, such as a family home or land, is another option:
- Check local regulations before proceeding.
- Select a meaningful spot, perhaps a favourite garden or under a cherished tree.
- Consider marking the location with a small plaque, stone, or plant.
Scattering the Ashes
Scattering ashes in a meaningful location is another popular option. This could be a favourite place of the deceased, such as a beach, forest, or mountain top. Be sure to check local regulations before scattering ashes in public places.
Aerial Ash Scattering
A unique method of ash scattering is aerial dispersal from an aircraft:
- Options include helicopters, small planes, or hot air balloons.
- Allows for wide coverage over a larger area.
- Can be timed to coincide with a sunrise, sunset, or other significant time.
Columbarium Niche
A columbarium is a structure specifically designed to house cremation urns, offering a permanent and visitable resting place for loved ones.
Types of Columbarium Niches
- Indoor niches: Located within a building, protected from weather.
- Outdoor niches: Part of garden-like settings or outdoor memorial walls.
- Glass-front niches: Allow the urn and mementos to be visible.
- Solid-front niches: Typically made of stone or metal with an engraved or mounted plaque.
Advantages of Choosing a Columbarium Niche
- Provides a permanent memorial site for visits.
- Space-efficient and low maintenance.
- Often more cost-effective than traditional burial plots.
Remember, there's no rush to make this decision. Take your time to explore options and discuss with family members. For help crafting a personalised eulogy or memorial speech, consider using our tool at Funeral Speech.
In our next post, we'll explore more creative and alternative options for handling cremation ashes. Stay tuned!