Nearly 5 years ago, my husband’s precious maternal grandmother passed away. This special woman had an amazing sense of humor and a flair for life. Without saying a word, she could make me laugh with just a look. Several years before her death, she visited a local funeral home in order to plan her funeral services. When she passed away, the family didn’t have to deal with the stress of organizing her farewell services. They could relax, grieve, and concentrate on the wonderful memories they shared with her. I've grown to appreciate this. On this blog, you will discover the steps required to plan your own funeral.
Planning Your Funeral
Unique Cremation Urns
Nora Mitchelle
As you do your own advance planning for end-of-life arrangements or handle the funeral arrangements for a loved one, you'll need to decide on cremation or burial. If you settle on cremation, the next step will be to select an urn. There are many options to choose from, ranging from basic urns that can then be interred to more elaborate urns that are intended to be displayed or kept for generations. Some types of cremation urns are more unique, including the following:
Keepsake Urns
These urns are designed to hold either all or a portion of the cremation ashes and then be displayed as a family keepsake. Some are attractive shelf display pieces, made from high-quality metals or stones. Others are smaller, contain a smaller amount of ash, and are meant to allow several family members to hold on to the memory of their loved ones. Keepsake urns can also be large enough to be interred in a family crypt or small enough to become part of an heirloom piece of jewelry, depending on the intentions of the individual making the purchase and the arrangements.
Companion Urns
Companion urns are specifically designed to hold the ashes of two individuals, so that lovers, friends, or family members can be interred together. These urns are typically somewhat larger than an average cremation urn so that there is enough space in one to hold the ashes of two adults. They may be custom-designed, or you may be able to purchase one in advance with a prefabricated design of your choice.
Biodegradable Urns
Biodegradable urns are created for individuals who want to leave no trace behind. These urns are made from materials such as recycled paper, coconut shells, or peat. Ashes can be scattered, dropped into a body of water, or buried. Some biodegradable urns contain seeds so that trees or flowers are planted as the urn breaks down over time. These beautiful urns allow individuals who are concerned about their environmental footprint to leave the earth while honoring the same values they did throughout their life.
There are numerous other unique types of urns, including religious urns, urns for veterans, religious urns, and more. If you have a specific idea in mind for your own end of life arrangements or for a ceremony you're planning for a loved one, be sure to ask the proprietor of your local funeral home or crematory. They'll be able to help you design cremation services that are precisely what you have in mind.
Share