More and more people are choosing cremation over burial. One of the most common reasons is the flexibility it provides when honoring the deceased loved one. What follows is a look at 23 things to do with cremains. While some of these may sound familiar, there are a few that might surprise you. In the end, however, knowing your options will help you to decide how to honor your loved one.
1. Bury the cremains.
Often, people choose to cremate their loved ones before burial to save money or space. Cremains are buried in an urn, a beautiful container designed for holding the ashes of the deceased.
2. Display the cremains in a place of honor.
Instead of burying an urn, you can display it in a place of honor (such as a mantel at home). This practice can help you to keep the memory of your loved one alive long after their physical death.
3. Scatter the cremains by hand.
Another common method of dealing with cremains is to scatter them by hand over a spot that held significance for you or your loved one. Mountains, vacation spots and the ocean are all places commonly chosen for scattering.
4. Scatter the cremains from the air.
Some families prefer the freedom and symbolism of scattering cremains by airplane or helicopter. These can either be remote-controlled devices or flown by pilots experienced with the process.
5. Place the cremains in a columbarium.
An alternative to burying cremains is to place them in a columbarium (a building devoted to storing urns). For example, a church might build a columbarium to house the remains of deceased members.
6. Use the cremains in a memorial tattoo.
Memorial tattoos are a way of permanently memorializing a loved one on your body. The cremains are mixed with the tattoo ink and applied by a tattoo artist who is experienced in this technique.
7. Use the cremains to create a diamond.
Another way to keep a deceased loved one's memory close is to use their cremains in a memorial diamond. In this case, the carbon is extracted from the cremains and placed in a high temperature, high pressure environment, where it grows into a diamond. Heart In Diamond is a company that provides these services. These diamonds can usually be formed in a variety of colors and sizes, and then be cut to fit any type of jewelry.
8. Send the cremains into space.
It is also possible to send a loved one's cremains into space. This method is surprisingly inexpensive and allows you to track the progress of the ashes so you always know where your loved one's remains are.
9. Mix the cremains with paint and turn them into a portrait of the deceased.
Some artists will take cremains and mix them with paint. They then use the paint to create a portrait of the deceased.
10. Place the cremains into a hand blown glass piece.
Paint isn't the only way to add cremains to a work of art. Some artists will mix cremains with their handblown glass projects. They then create a vase or another piece of glass artwork to adorn the family's home and keep the memory of their loved one close.
11. Place the cremains in memorial jewelry.
Pendants and lockets offer a secure way to keep some of a loved one's cremains close. The ashes are placed in the jewelry, which can then be worn. There are some companies such as Heart In Diamond that provide beautiful jewelry specifically for this purpose.
12. Turn the cremains into a vinyl record.
Music, especially playing a loved one's favorite song, can be an effective way to remember them. You can choose to have a loved one's cremains pressed into a vinyl record, which plays a song of your choice, in order to make the memory even more meaningful.
13. Place the cremains in an underwater reef.
Those who want to make a difference can place their loved one's cremains in an underwater reef. The cremains are mixed into a cement block that is then submerged near a coral reef. Over time, the block becomes part of the framework upon which the reef is built.
14. Have a sculptor include the cremains in one of his pieces.
Some sculptors will add cremains to their work and build a sculpture that honors the deceased.
15. Place the cremains in ammunition.
You may also choose to have your loved one's cremains placed in ammunition. Many people then choose to scatter the ashes by firing the bullets.
16. Set the cremains free with a helium balloon.
If you want to give your loved one the freedom of flight, you can choose to enclose their cremains in a biodegradable helium balloon and then release it.
17. Create a monument by mixing the cremains with concrete.
You can have your loved one's cremains mixed with concrete and made into a monument or other type of memorial.
18. Turn the cremains into a set of pencils.
A more unique way of using your loved one's cremains in a memorial is to turn them into a set of pencils. The ashes are added to the lead in the pencils, and can be used to make up to 240 pencils.
19. Ensconce the cremains in a teddy bear.
If you want a unique type of urn, you might choose a memorial teddy bear. These stuffed bears come with a small plastic bag that you fill with ashes and insert into the zippered back of the bear.
20. Turn the cremains into fireworks.
You can scatter cremains in a more public fashion by having them added to fireworks shells. These shells then scatter the ashes when they explode in a beautiful display to honor your loved one.
21. Place the cremains in stained glass.
A beautiful way to permanently memorialize your loved one is to have their cremains added to stained glass. The stained glass can then be used in a window or other decorative area of your home to remind you of the beauty they brought to your life.
22. Place the cremains in an hourglass.
Some people like the symbolism of the hourglass and choose to enclose their loved one's remains in one. Hourglasses can be purchased in a variety of sizes and themes, and may be inscribed. You then fill the hourglass as you wish, either solely with ashes or by mixing the ashes with sand. The hourglass may then be worn (if it is small) or given a place of honor in the home.
23. Place the cremains in a memorial tree urn.
Finally, you can use your loved one's ashes to nurture a young tree with a memorial tree urn. These urns allow a tree to grow from the mixture that includes the ashes and a substance specifically designed to nurture the plant.
Most of these methods do not use all of the cremains left from a cremation. As a result, you can also choose multiple ways to honor your loved one. The key is to honor them in a way that is personal and customized so that you end up with a memorial that is right for you and your family.
More info: heart-in-diamond.com
Red diamonds from cremated remains
White diamonds from ashes
What to do with cremains? Become a white diamond.
