What Can People Do with Cremation Ashes?
In light of the sadness and upheaval that follows the loss of a loved one, deciding what to do with a loved one's cremated ashes can be difficult and, at times, overwhelming.
Just imagine after the funeral of your loved one, the cremation process is complete, and you receive the ashes. As you open the box to find that your loved one's cremains has a granular texture, similar to sand, a lifetime of emotions seems to pour over you simultaneously. The big question is, "What should I do now?".
There are so many options and ways to handle cremated remains, and we will introduce some of these methods in this article so that you can choose the one that is most suitable for you.
More people are choosing cremation over traditional burial methods
The traditional and most common ways to deal with ashes
Cremation allows you to select the ultimate resting location for your loved one. There are many alternatives for rest in peace, so if you're stumped, we hope our list of things to do with ashes can assist you and your family in deciding.
Suppose you prefer a more traditional and commonly used way to deal with your loved one's ashes, from burial. In that case, placement in a columbarium to keep the cremains in turn, scattering cremated ashes. Here are a few examples:
Scatter cremation ashes
The option that probably comes to mind immediately is also one of the most popular methods to handle cremains: scattering the cremains in a place that has special meaning and is essential to your deceased loved one. When scattering cremated ashes, you must be aware of the various laws and regulations each state, region, or country may have in place. Once you've decided where to disperse the ashes, contact the relevant government agency to ensure you have all of the necessary clearance and permissions.
Some states, like Florida, have no particular regulations governing the spreading of ashes, but other countries and localities may have restrictions and may demand permissions or licenses.
Cemeteries offering places to scatter cremated ashes
Scatter gardens
Cemeteries are increasingly offering scattering gardens to families who want to scatter their ashes on cemetery grounds. Scatter gardens are well-kept, artistically planted spaces where cremations can be legally scattered anywhere on the grounds.
Scattering at sea
This is another traditional option, in which your loved one's cremains are dispersed across the sea's surface in a ceremony that can be rather beautiful and serene. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates ash dispersal at sea and prohibits:
Scattering of human remains in territorial waters within three (3) nautical miles of the coast
Scattering non-human cremation remains, such as pets’ ashes.
Scattering in national parks
Scattering ashes in National Parks is another alternative that is gaining popularity. The National Park Service of the U.S. allows the scattering of cremains within its national parks, but each park has its policies and procedures. For example, in Yellowstone National Park, cremains must be distributed in "undeveloped" regions (far from roads, buildings, parking lots, etc.). Scattering is not allowed scattering in thermal areas, and no monuments or marks on the dispersion site.
Non-scattering options
If you prefer to keep your loved one's ashes instead of scattering them, there are almost infinite ways to handle cremains. Your loved one's cremains can be deposited in an urn to be kept at home, interred in a columbarium, or incorporated into something special, so that the family or friends can have a physical place or keepsake to pay their honour for the dearly departed.
Keep the ashes in an urn
For a long time, families have opted to preserve their loved one's cremains in a container or vessel. The most common ways include putting the cremation ashes in an urn and keeping it at home. An Urn is a container for storing cremated remains. Jars come in an almost limitless variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. The containers can be made of marble, stainless steel, aluminium, bronze, glass, porcelain, or wood, among other materials. Biodegradable urns are also available for burial at sea or in "green burials," in which the urn is placed in soil and grows into a memorial tree.
Burial/interment of the ashes
In the same way, deceased people are buried in caskets, and cremains might be interred in a cemetery. It is referred to as "interment." After cremation, the ashes can be interred in a columbarium, an above-ground building or a wall containing niches for urns or other vessels. These niches are an alternative for families that desire a permanent and accessible place to come to remember a loved one. The cremated ashes can also be placed in a burial plot or mausoleum, where multiple urns/vessels can be identified and share the same headstone.
Incorporate in other keepsakes
Cremains can also be kept in interesting and ornamental items like holiday ornaments, glass paperweights, hourglasses, and golf balls. These keepsakes are often customized to depict your loved one uniquely and can be displayed in your office or any workstation.
Creative and meaningful ideas with ashes to commemorate your loved ones
There are also a variety of unusual and novel cremation treatment alternatives available, with more being developed every day. You can do a lot of personal, creative, and one-of-a-kind things using cremation ashes. Here are a handful of the most unique methods to pay tribute to your loved one:
Loved one’s ashes mixed in the tattoo ink
Tattoos
Believe it or not, you can tattoo your skin with a tiny bit of your loved one's cremains mixed with ink. People frequently get tattoos in commemoration of loved ones after they pass away, but now you can have tattoo ink produced with a small number of your loved one's ashes, allowing you to carry a small piece of them with you for the rest of your life.
Create a vinyl record with ashes
According to research carried out in early 2019, one in every four young individuals wants their ashes compressed into a vinyl record when they die.
Many vinyl creators will turn your loved one's cremated ashes into a vinyl record containing a recording of your choice for you and your family to enjoy. It could be the best option if your loved one is a music fan.
Integrating ashes into artwork
You can have your loved one's ashes turned into a piece of one-of-a-kind memorial art. Memorial art comes in a variety of styles, but glass art is one of the most popular.
Artists are increasingly combining cremation ashes into painted artwork, such as portraits of the deceased or scenes from their favourite landscapes.
Coral reef green burial
You can also mix your loved one's cremains with concrete to create a marine reef that can serve as a memorial while providing a habitat for marine life.
Cremation jewellery with centre diamond made from ashes
Turning cremated ashes into forever diamonds
You can turn your loved one’s ashes into a beautiful and forever diamond and give them “eternal life” after death. Thanks to modern technology, human ashes can be turned into diamonds, bringing the famous lyric “shine bright like a diamond” into reality. All diamonds, both lab-grown and natural, are made of carbon, a significant component of the human body. As a result, a memorial diamond with the same characteristics as natural diamonds can be created by extracting the carbon from cremated ashes.
You only need a bit of your loved one's cremation ashes to make a gorgeous one-of-a-kind diamond. Businesses like EverDear™ create customised cremation diamonds and may blend the ashes of two or more loved ones to create a single diamond. The memorial diamonds created from ashes are real diamonds certified by GIA and IGI. It can be a unique and timeless way to memorialise the dearly departed by making such a beautiful keepsake and heirloom.
Cremation diamond jewellery keepsake
Memorial diamond jewellery, also known as cremation diamond jewellery, is a particular type of jewellery keepsake to remember a loved one who has passed away with the centre diamond made from their ashes or hair. Unlike other cremation jewellery that serves as a mini container of ashes, cremation diamond jewellery carries real diamonds instead of ashes and is perfect for daily wear. There's no more need to worry if the ashes will be split everywhere when the container is not sealed enough.Although memorial jewellery is less traditional than urns, it is a popular choice for many people to keep their loved one's memory alive.
From necklaces and bracelets to rings and earrings, EverDear™ offers a diverse selection of remembrance jewellery for men and women of all ages and preferences. You can have a personal or meaningful phrase that reminds you of your loved ones to be engraved on the cremation diamond jewellery. You can even tailor your jewellery setting by providing a scratch or picture of the design you like.
Which is the best memorial option to choose?
After cremation, choosing a specific way to treat your loved one’s ashes as a memorial brings many people comfort. It can serve as a focal point for grieving or a location to visit and remember a loved one who has died.
When selecting from all these memorial options, besides your preferences, there are several factors to consider and compare before you make your decisions:
Cost-efficiency
The Cost is, of course, the first thing to consider. As there is a rising cost for burial space and relatively high regular caring costs for columbariums and mausoleums, you may prefer to choose other more affordable options instead of the interment of ashes if a tight budget limits you. Scattering ashes is definitively an affordable option that almost costs nothing.
The price for getting ashes in Tattoos is also reasonable, just a little higher than traditional tattoos. And the starting price for turning ashes into a diamond is A$975 at EverDear™. Allowing people to get a real diamond at this price is also cost-efficient.
Emotional support
The emotional support that the memorial options can bring us is another critical factor, as this is what people look for after losing the dearest person. Scattering ashes may be romantic, but it cannot provide long-term emotional support when there’s nothing physical left to honour the people who passed away. The interment of ashes allows you to visit the place regularly, but after the ashes are settled, there’s only a low emotional attachment between you and your loved ones when you are not there.
Tattoos with ashes and diamonds made from cremains create a strong connection between you and the dearly departed. While the sentimental meaning of the tattoos may be influenced by the body part tattooed, cremation diamonds always shine bright and remind you of joyful memories. Whether it’s a pendant, a bracelet, or a ring, you can always set the cremation diamond in a piece of memorial jewellery to keep your eternal love close to your heart.
Portability
Portability may be essential to commemorate your loved one anytime and anywhere. Many airlines allow cremains to be transported as carry-on or checked baggage. However, the urn/container containing the remains must pass through an x-ray machine, or it is not forbidden from entry. You must present a death or cremation certificate to transfer cremains on a flight.
You can carry the ashes of your loved ones by tattooing them on your skin. But for people who don’t want to damage or leave any mark on their skin, beautiful cremation diamond jewellery would be perfect for bringing a part of the departed with them whenever and wherever they want.
Other factors
Other things that may influence your decisions include factors such as convenience, durability, or whether it is environmentally-friendly. For example, for people who can not visit the burial spot regularly, the interment of ashes in a columbarium or mausoleum may not be a good choice. While people are increasingly caring about the environment, a more eco-friendly memorial option may be preferred, rather than measures like scattering ashes which have high pollution concerns. And if you are searching for something that can eternally preserve the love and memories of your loved one, instead of a tattoo that has the risk of fading, a forever memorial diamond will be your best option.
Comparing all the factors comprehensively, we can get an overview of the pros and cons of some typical methods of dealing with ashes.
So far, turning ashes into cremation diamonds and memorial jewellery keepsakes are the most recommended memorial options according to a multidimensional consideration. Besides the fact that cremation diamonds and jewellery are environmentally friendly, convenient, and cost-efficient, they also last forever, are portable, and allow us to commemorate at any time.
Conclusion
Nearly 65 per cent of all households are expected to choose cremation over burial by 2025. This rise can be attributed to decreased costs, higher acceptance, and greater flexibility when designing a service. With so many post-cremation methods available, there is no need to make an immediate decision after the death of a loved one.
If you can't decide right now, then take some time to plan a special ceremony that is appropriate for your loved one. Whether you want something unique and creative or a more formal and traditional approach, we hope this article has helped give you some ideas on what to do with the ashes after the cremation. The most important thing is to choose the option you think is best for memorising your loved one and doing whatever works best for you.
