Five Things You Can Do With Cremation Ashes

Cremation rates are on the rise throughout North America with good reason. Cremation is less expensive than a traditional burial and some view the process as being more environmentally friendly because there’s no need for embalming chemicals or digging a burial plot. One of the results of this increase is that now there are several kinds of rituals you can take part in to honour your loved ones who have been cremated.

Scattering

Scattering ceremonies are one of the most popular ways to honour your loved one’s life. We all have favourite spots - places where we feel at rest or where we feel energized - places that we feel connected to. A scattering ceremony honours the ties between your perfect place, your loved one, and you. Make sure that it’s legal to scatter the ashes in the spot that you’ve chosen and use a scattering urn for the ritual. Public lands often permit scattering, while private lands require permission from the landowner.

Keep Them in An Urn (or Several)

You may want to keep your loved one’s remains close to you. You can get one urn in which you keep the ashes, or several urns so that friends and family can all have the loved one closeby. You can keep these urns in your home, placing them somewhere that is meaningful to you. 

Make Jewellery

You may want to keep your loved one very close to you so jewellery may be the answer. You can get small urns as pendants for necklaces so you can keep their ashes close to your heart. Alternatively, there are some companies that can turn the ashes into real diamonds. These can then be set into jewellery you already wear or be used to make a custom piece.

Plant a Tree

Biodegradable Eco urns with tree seeds are available for purchase. When you plant the urn, the ashes and soil mix together providing nutrients for the seeds to grow into a beautiful tree. This requires a bit of research because you need to find a place where you can plant the tree, but it’s a great remembrance for many people, especially nature lovers and green activists.

Something Else Entirely

There are plenty of options for cremation ashes. There’s a company that can infuse the ashes into a vinyl record - this could be great for music lovers. There’s a company that creates coral reefs infused with the ashes - perfect for people who love the sea. You can even send ashes to outer space. No matter who you are paying tribute to, there’s sure to be a ceremony that feels perfect.

Here at Alterna, we offer direct cremation in Winnipeg. We can talk to you about your loved one and help you find the perfect ceremony to honour them. Give us a call anytime of night or day; we’re here for you.