4 Ways to Honor a Cremated Loved One

Whenever someone passes away, it’s understandably a period of sadness for the survivors, but it can also be a time to honor the memory of that person’s spirit. While wakes and memorial services give friends and family an opportunity to gather and share stories, what happens when the ceremony ends? When opting for a traditional burial, any further tribute to the deceased involves spending time at a gravesite, but what about people who choose funeral cremation services as a part of their final directives? Here are four great ways to pay tribute to your lost loved one.

Keep the Ashes in an Urn

When a mortician is finished cremating a body, the ashes are transmitted to the family in a receptacle such as an urn. Some people choose to inter cremated remains in a mausoleum or traditional gravesite, but you do have other options. Many urns are quite decorative, which means they can take a place of honor inside the home of one of the survivors. With people moving cities often, this is one way to take your deceased loved one with you.

Scatter Remains

Is there a location that had particular significance for your deceased friend or family member? Perhaps it’s the park where you first met before eventually marrying or a golf course where your loved one spent every Saturday afternoon. By opting for funeral cremation services, you have the opportunity to scatter the ashes at that special place. Just make sure you secure appropriate permission to take this step, and you do it in accordance with all local regulations.

Make Jewelry

Gemstones are created over thousands of years as underground forces put pressure on simple rocks such as coal. Modern technology allows scientists to create synthetic gems using sophisticated equipment that mimics those geological actions. While this process is usually done using stones, there are some companies that allow you to do it with remains following funeral and cremation services. The resulting jewel can be mounted in a ring or necklace that can be worn to keep your loved one close by at all times.

Become One With Nature

Did your loved one have a special connection with the natural world? Many companies now offer various ways to incorporate remains into features that become part of nature. If the ocean was a special place to your friend or family member, you could have the ashes used to create a new coral reef that sustains local sea life. Another option is to use them to fertilize a seed ball that will eventually grow into a beautiful new tree. The best part about these services is that the businesses will take care of any required paperwork to maintain legal compliance.

Honor Your Departed Acquaintance

These are just a few ways to respectfully handle ashes after funeral cremation services, but there are plenty of other options at your disposal such as vinyl records or hourglasses. Your loved one had a special place in your daily life, so why not honor the departed in the days and years following his or her death.

Weston Barnes is a write and an avid reader. When he's not writing about business, marketing, health, pets.