Choosing a Cremation Urn

A cremation urn holds the remains of your deceased loved one. Cost is often the biggest reason people choose cremation, particularly if a burial plot had not already been selected at the time of death. The expense and difficulty of securing a spot often lead people to opt for cremation as well as the practical reasoning that urns require much less space and are easily transported. Urns allow you the option of burial at a later time and when a plot becomes available. If you prefer, you can keep the urn in your home or find a meaningful place other than a cemetery for your loved one’s final resting place. Learn more about cremation urns and the variety of options available.

Size is one factor to consider when determining which urn to purchase. The funeral home or the crematorium can provide you with a better estimated, but figure that cremated remains weigh three to seven pounds and require 180-220 cubic inches capacity. If you decide to place the remains in a cemetery columbarium, you will need to know the size requirements for the urn as well as what type of urns are allowed.

Another factor is the urn material. Urns are made from a variety of materials, such as marble, solid brass, metal alloys, glass, stone, wood, and pewter. Contemplate the needs carefully since some materials are better suited for certain situations than others. Wooden urns, for instance, would not be a good choice for outdoor display. Brass urns are often not recommended for burial. If the urn will reside in a home, you may opt for a decorative urn and pay more attention to its size and shape, as well as its decorative features. The design usually reflects on the deceased and pays tribute and respect. These urns also act as a longstanding monument in place of a tombstone in a cemetery. However, if the remains are interned but the deceased was an environmentalist or wished to be returned to nature, you can choose an environmentally friendly, biodegradable urn made of natural materials. The urn will decompose over time, and both the urn and the ashes will return to the earth. These types of urns can be used for burial at sea as well as for scattering.

Personal choices and beliefs affect one’s final resting place. By choosing cremation, you have more options and are not limited to cemetery internment. Besides deciding how much to spend on an urn, there are many design choices you can pick from that will honor and reflect who your loved one was. Those selections often include themes related to religion, military services, hobbies, or sports. The urn can pay homage to the deceased’s personality or be a beautiful piece of art that lives on your home’s mantle.

Grieving over a lost loved one is difficult enough in itself, and decisions that need to be made regarding the remains of the loved one are not easy to make. One of those choices involves narrowing down the choices for the final cremation urn, and there is a seemingly endless variety of them. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to reach out for help or advice.

Taryn Johnson is an avid writer. She loves all things about electronics and marketing. In a perfect world, Taryn would be writing from the beaches of Hawaii all day long.