10 Meaningful Things To Do With Cremation Ashes

After a loved one is cremated, many people feel uncertain about what to do with the ashes.  What is the best way to memorialize the spirit of the person who has passed?  

Of course, there is no right or wrong answer to this question.  Some people wish to keep cremation ashes close, while others prefer the idea of scattering them in nature.  Then there are those who feel it is most appropriate to divide the ashes or to have them turned into a meaningful keepsake.  

Nowadays, there are many creative options for people seeking ways to memorialize their loved ones.  Here are ten possibilities that range from traditional to a little less conventional:  

1. Cremation Urns

Probably the most traditional way to contain cremated ashes is inside an urn.  Urns come in all shapes and styles and can be displayed in a home or elsewhere.  There are standard urns (which hold the ashes of one person), companion urns (which hold the ashes of two individuals), keepsake urns (which hold a portion of a person’s ashes), jewellery urns (which hang from a necklace or bracelet), and biodegradable urns (which can decompose in nature).  

2. Interment

Another common choice for human ashes is to inter them.  Essentially, interment is the storage or burial of ashes in a specific location.  Often, this location is a cemetery, cremation garden, or urn garden, but it could also be a landscaping feature (such as a bench or fountain) or a meaningful place on private property.  

3. Scatter the Ashes

There are several ways to scatter ashes, and all of them can be incredibly meaningful.  Over land, over water, raked into soil, or washed away by waves, scattering ashes returns a loved one to nature.  

4. Cremation Jewellery

A piece of jewellery that includes human ashes can be a very personal way to keep a loved one close every single day.  Rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings are all examples of cremation jewellery.  You can even have human ashes transformed into diamonds.

5. Plant a Tree

Burying ashes in a biodegradable urn to nourish a tree planted atop it can be a concrete, sustainable, and beautiful way to remember a loved one.  In some places, entire memorial forests like this exist to honour those who have passed.

6. Memorial Fireworks

Talk about going out with a bang!  Memorial fireworks are custom-made to incorporate human ashes and can provide a stunning farewell for an adventurous soul.  

7. Memorial Coral Reefs

Artificial coral reefs incorporating human ash have become yet another eco-friendly option for nurturing marine life in a loved one’s honour.  

8. Vinyl Records Made From Ash

Music can be a powerful conduit to connect with a loved one’s memory.  You can now commission custom vinyl records created from human ash.  

9. Ceramics From Ash

Another option is to incorporate human ash into a ceramic glaze.  Cradling a warm cup of tea in your hands might be an intimate way to feel your loved one’s presence every day.  

10. Glass Products

Glass paperweights, vases, or ornaments can be a functional and artistic way to keep a loved one close by.  

Alterna Cremation

If you’re seeking cremation services in Winnipeg, contact Alterna Cremation.