What to do with my cremated remains?

The options here are endless, do your research and find what will mean the most to you.

Losing a loved one is an emotional journey, and finding a fitting way to honor their memory is a deeply personal decision. One of the choices families often face is what to do with the cremated remains. This decision can be both comforting and challenging, as it involves reflecting on what would best celebrate the life and legacy of the person who has passed.

Cremated remains offer a range of meaningful and creative options for memorialization. From traditional and serene methods to unique and personalized tributes, there are numerous ways to keep their memory alive in a manner that resonates with their spirit and the preferences of those they left behind.

Parting Stones

Parting Stone is a company that developed a new form of human and pet remains known as solidified remains. Families choosing cremation can now receive the full amount of remains back in a solid form that resembles a collection of stones, rather than receiving traditional "ashes" following cremation.

*I will say for Parting stones you may want to check with the funeral home you do your cremation through because the price will be cheaper than going through parting stones directly

*I am not here to sell you anything, only offer you the resources that I am aware of.

You can find urns on amazon for $20+ but I have included links for you to browse some more unique options.

1. Keep the Remains at Home

2. Burial

  • Cemetery Plot: Bury the urn in a designated area of a cemetery.

  • Columbarium: Place the urn in a niche within a columbarium, which is a structure with compartments for urns.

  • Burial at Sea: Follow a ceremonial process to bury the ashes in the ocean.

    Here is my favorite memorial garden in Austin, TX

    https://www.remembrancegardens.com/

3. Scattering

  • In a Meaningful Location: Scatter the ashes in a place that was special to the deceased, such as a favorite park, beach, or garden.

  • Scattering Gardens: Use designated areas in cemeteries or memorial gardens specifically designed for scattering ashes.

4. Memorial Jewelry

  • Lockets or Pendants: Incorporate a small amount of ashes into a piece of jewelry that can be worn or kept close.

  • Rings or Bracelets: Create custom pieces that hold a portion of the ashes.

5. Artistic Memorials

6. Tree Planting

  • Biodegradable Urns: Use urns that contain a tree seed or sapling and plant them to grow a memorial tree. https://www.thelivingurn.com/

  • Memorial Forests: Participate in programs where ashes are used to help grow trees in designated memorial forests.

7. Unique Memorials

  • Fireworks: Incorporate ashes into fireworks for a celebratory and memorable tribute.

  • Reef Balls: Mix ashes with concrete to create artificial reefs, which are then placed in the ocean to support marine life.

  • Space Launch: Send a portion of the ashes into space as a symbolic gesture.

8. Donation

  • Research: Some families choose to donate a portion of the ashes for research purposes or to institutions that honor the deceased’s memory.

9. Integration with Natural Elements

  • Coral Reefs: Combine ashes with coral and place them in the ocean to help build or enhance coral reefs. https://www.eternalreefs.com/

  • Memorial Rocks: Embed ashes in memorial rocks or stones for placement in gardens or special locations.