Ashes to ashes and dust to dust.
Cremation has increased in popularity and is becoming the preferred choice for final arrangements. Over half of all Americans polled said they would choose to get cremated instead of buried six feet under.
Cremations are more affordable than burials, and they offer the ability to keep a loved one in the house in an urn. The idea of being separated from our loved ones permanently is too much for some people to bear, which is where this comes in as the preferred alternative.
Once a loved one has been cremated, you may wonder what the next steps are regarding handling and storage of the ashes after they arrive from the funeral parlor.
Below are five tips to help you take care of your loved one’s remains in a respectful and dignified manner:
- Display Case
Keeping the ashes of a loved one inside the house isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve thought about it and there is no place else that you’d rather have them then all you need to do is ensure that they are safe.
A display case is a secure spot to place your loved one’s ashes, and it gives you room to add mementos and photographs around it if you would like to honor them that way.
- Avoid Direct Sunlight
After the memorial service, once everyone is finished expressing their condolences, your home will seem quiet. You will start taking comfort in speaking to your loved one who has passed on, and that is perfectly normal.
Keep the ashes of your loved one in an urn in an area that avoids direct sunlight, heat, and moisture. Extreme temperatures can cause it to crack or warp (and best-case scenario) – it will cause fading and discoloration.
- Choose The Perfect Urn
Choosing urns for cremation ashes may seem like a challenging task. After all, you loved your person so much during their time on this earth that it wouldn’t do them justice to get an urn that is anything less than perfect.
The good news here is that the right urn will speak to you. It won’t be in clear words, obviously – but you will feel drawn to the one that fits your loved one’s character and personality the best.
- Talk To Loved Ones
No one should decide where and how to store the ashes of their loved one alone. That is a huge decision and will have long-term psychological and emotional effects on everyone involved.
Talk to your friends and family and let them offer their advice and suggestions; the more heads thinking about a problem – the better. The most important thing is that the ashes of your person are kept safe.
- Columbarium
If you are new to this, and hopefully you are, you are probably wondering what on earth that is. A columbarium is a structure used to store and display urns containing the ashes of loved ones.
They are buildings or walls that can be outdoors or indoors and have designated spots called niches.
To End
This is a big decision, and it should not be made in a hurry. Don’t force yourself to make any decisions that do not feel right.
Honoring your loved one is a decision that should never be made lightly, so do your research and only go through with choices that make your soul feel good.
