What to Do with Ashes after Cremation
From columbarium niches to water burials, there are so many ways to honor a loved one’s ashes after a cremation. Here are five options and what they entail.
After receiving cremated remains from a Kennebunk, ME cremation service provider, there are different ways across various categories to memorialize the deceased with their ashes.
Most people place the ashes in an urn after receiving them. The
urn can be made from different materials, including wood, metal, and clay.
But there are alternatives and other options for ashes after cremation, and we discuss the major ones below.
Options for Ashes after Cremation
Cremation Niches
This is an above-ground burial space in a columbarium where an urn containing a loved one’s ashes is placed and sometimes sealed.
It has a similar function as a mausoleum and shares the same design. There is a wall with recessed compartments where an urn is permanently placed.
Cremation niches are commonly found in cemeteries, and there are indoor and outdoor options.
Also, costs vary by location and cemetery, but it is a good option if you want an intimate memorial setting.
Burial
Another option is to go traditional and bury the ashes like a regular burial. It involves the same process; only instead of burying a casket, you bury an urn.
Most cemeteries offer this type of burial, and several of them require you to buy a cremation vault. It is a metal or concrete box that houses and protects the urn.
Alternatively, you could bury the ashes in a biodegradable urn. You don’t have to buy a burial vault. Green cemeteries allow direct burials with urns made of paper, cardboard, ceramic, sand, and natural wood.
Water and plant burial are other ways to dispose of ashes via burial after cremation.
Scattering Ashes
Don’t want to keep your loved one’s ashes permanently in the ground? You could scatter their ashes.
This involves taking their ashes to a meaningful place to your loved one and spreading their ashes over the location.
It can be anywhere: over water, their favorite park, sports stadium, or in the air.
Scattering the ashes can be a low-effort, high-impact option. However, you have to make sure you have the necessary permission for whatever location you choose.
Cremation Jewelry
Cremation jewelry is a keepsake that can be on you at all times. It allows you to split your loved one’s remains among family members and maintain a personal connection with them wherever you are.
A piece of cremation jewelry can be anything from a pendant, earrings to a bracelet or ring. Some services can turn the ashes into a diamond stone.
Additionally, you can engrave important dates or a memorable quote on the jewelry to accompany the memory.
Cremation urns
Lastly, urns. If you wish to keep or store your loved one’s ashes, perhaps until you figure out the best way to memorialize them, urns are a good option.
They come in different types and styles, and you can choose something that reflects the departed’s personality.
Under each category, there are many ways to handle the ashes of your loved one. All you’ve got to do is find the option that works for you and your family.
We offer urns as part of our
cremation services in Kennebunk, ME. We also provide easy cremation arrangements at an affordable price.
Make your arrangements online or call us for in-person arrangements today.
FAQ About Options for Ashes After Cremation
How soon after cremation can the ashes be collected?
You can collect the ashes after 2 working days. Sometimes, it is possible to collect on the same day but it must be agreed upon by the parties involved beforehand.
Which part of the body does not burn during cremation?
All the human bones are left as they do not evaporate. The bones are then reduced in size to a granular consistency.
Do human ashes smell?
No, most people who keep the ashes of a departed human say that there’s no smell coming from the ashes. Some say there’s some sort of metallic smell. But if you don’t want the ashes to smell at all, choose an urn or container that is airtight to prevent leaky odor.
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