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Answer:
Cremation urns made from metal and stone are best for burying ashes, because these materials are strong enough to resist collapsing under the weight and pressure of soil. Urns made of wood may still be buried if the urn is enclosed in an urn vault designed for burial, but metal and stone urns are preferable because wooden urns may degrade over time from moisture.Biodegradable urns are also ideal for burial, because they are designed to break down in soil and water in an eco-friendly manner. You should decide if you prefer to bury an urn that will last for decades or centuries, or an urn that will break down and leave no environmental impact.
Answer:
Wood cremation urns all use durable hardwoods, so the "best" wood for urns is simply a matter of personal taste and style. Different kinds of wood offer unique grain patterns and colors, and cherry, walnut, and oak are all popular picks.
Does the Bible say anything about scattering ashes?
Educational Resources > Religious Views on Cremation, Educational Resources > Scattering Ashes
Answer:
There is no mention of scattering ashes in the Bible, but the Catholic Church prohibits scattering because it teaches that a person's body should be interred in a sacred resting place (i.e., graveyard, which is a cemetery located on church grounds). Cremation is permitted under the basis that cremated remains are treated as if they were a whole body, and the act of scattering goes against this practice.
Answer:
Cremation jewelry typically has a small compartment where a tiny amount of ashes can be placed, often sealed with a screw or other closure method. For your convenience, we include a filling kit with each jewelry order, which contains a detailed instruction pamphlet, a funnel, a pipette, a toothpick, and sealing glue.
Answer:
Showering with cremation jewelry isn't a good idea, because you risk damaging the jewelry piece or introducing water into the ashes compartment. To protect your cremation jewelry, you should set it in a dry place before performing routine hygiene tasks.
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When filling an urn, you can choose between placing the entire bag of ashes into the urn (bag transfer), or pouring the ashes from the bag into the urn (direct transfer). Both methods are acceptable, and if you feel uncomfortable directly touching cremated remains, it's perfectly fine to keep your loved one's ashes inside the bag they came in.
Answer:
Cremation is not universally forbidden in Christianity, and it is becoming increasingly accepted among many denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church. A respectful Christian cremation must bury the deceased's cremated remains intact, and prohibits dividing the ashes or scattering them. Some traditional branches, like Eastern Orthodoxy and certain conservative Protestant groups, discourage cremation because they believe that the body must be intact in order for resurrection to occur.
Answer:
The Bible does not explicitly forbid cremation. In the Old Testament, 1 Samuel 31:12 mentions that Saul and his sons were cremated and buried, although this cremation occurs as a response to their bodies being dismembered post-mortem by the warring Philistines. On the other hand, Amos 2:1 describes God punishing the people of Moab for sins which include burning the bones of Edom's king. Burial is depicted much more frequently in the Bible, which implies that burial is the preferred method of final disposition according to the Bible. It is important to note that views on cremation are changing within Christianity, and many denominations today permit it.
What are the steps in cremation?
Educational Resources > A Quick Guide to Cremation, Educational Resources > Understanding the Cremation Process
Answer:
- First, the deceased's body will be prepared for cremation. This includes removing items that can’t be cremated such as jewelry or certain medical implants, identifying the person with a unique number stamped onto a small metal disk, and placing the body into a casket or combustible container (optional).
- Then, when it is time for cremation, an operator will load the casket into a cremation chamber, where intense heat will reduce the body to bone fragments over the course of a few hours. The identifying metal disk will be hung on the outside of the cremation chamber during this time.
- After the cremation has finished, the remaining fragments will be processed into a fine, sand-like consistency, finally being returned to the family as cremated remains or "ashes." The identifying metal disk will be included in the bag of cremated remains to confirm the person's identity.
Answer:
You do not always have to wait to cremate a deceased person, but most funeral homes and crematoriums in the United States will wait three days before proceeding with either cremation or burial. This waiting period allows grieving family and friends to make arrangements for a memorial service or funeral, and provides time for transportation and the service itself. Additionally, the extra time allows the funeral home and crematorium to obtain a death certificate and the immediate family's permission to cremate. If your loved one has pre-planned for a direct cremation without a memorial service, you may be able to have your loved one cremated immediately, depending on your cremation provider.
Educational Resources > Collecting Ashes After a Cremation, Educational Resources > Filling a Cremation Urn with Ease
Answer:
Anyone can fill a cremation urn with ashes or other sentimental items, and there are no special qualifications or training needed. However, if you are uncomfortable with handling your loved one's cremated remains, you can ask your funeral home or cremation provider to fill the urn for you.
Answer:
If a cremation urn has not been permanently sealed with glue, it can be opened again by unscrewing the threaded closure or removing any screws holding a lid in place. An urn may be opened to transfer the remains into a new urn, perhaps because the current urn is a temporary container or a new urn has been chosen for the ashes. An urn may also be opened to remove the remains for other final disposition, such as scattering. However, a cremation urn does not need to be opened for maintenance or cleaning, and does not need to be replaced unless the urn is damaged. Opening an urn can introduce moisture to cremated remains, so it shouldn't be opened unless necessary.
Answer:
Selecting the right urn size is important to ensure you have an urn that can accommodate your loved one's remains. It can be distressing to discover that an urn you picked is too small for your loved one. Fortunately, a standard-sized urn is properly sized to hold the full volume of ashes from most adults, which can take some of the guesswork out of choosing urn sizes. Use our urn size calculator to estimate the approximate volume you will need for your loved one's ashes, and when in doubt, always size up.
How many cubic inches should a cremation urn be?
Educational Resources > How to Choose the Right Urn Size, Educational Resources > Choosing the Perfect Cremation Urn
Answer:
Generally, one pound of a person's weight when alive will correspond to one cubic inch of cremated remains. For example, if a person weighed 150 pounds while alive, their loved ones can expect to receive 150 cubic inches of cremated remains, and should look for an urn with a volume of at least 150 cubic inches. A standard adult urn, which has a volume of at least 200 cubic inches, would be appropriate for this person.For a detailed estimation on the volume of ashes you may expect to receive after cremation, please visit our Urn Calculator. To read more about urn sizes, visit our detailed urn size guide.
Answer:
Depending on where you bury your loved one's ashes, an urn may or may not be a requirement. If you or your loved ones own the property where you’ll be burying the cremated remains, the decision to use an urn is entirely up to your preference. However, cemeteries often have specific rules on how to bury ashes, and public and private properties may also have regulations for burying ashes. Always ensure you comply with a location's set guidelines and local laws to avoid any issues.
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Vase-style urns seal with a threaded closure on the lid, while box-style urns seal with additional screws that hold the lid in place. Keepsake urns and cremation jewelry urns will also have a type of secure lid that seals, usually featuring a threaded closure. These urns will all safely hold ashes without opening, but for further peace of mind, you may choose to additionally seal a lid with silicone, resin, or epoxy glue. To permanently seal an urn using glue, only a small amount of glue is necessary.
Answer:
As a rough estimate, someone who weighed 200 pounds while alive would have about 200 cubic inches of cremated remains. One pound of a person's weight generally equals one cubic inch of cremated remains. However, a more precise estimate can be found through our urn size calculator, which takes into account age, height, gender, and bone mass to calculate ash volume and suggest a recommended urn size.
How do you know you get the right ashes after cremation?
Educational Resources > Collecting Ashes After a Cremation, Educational Resources > Understanding the Cremation Process
Answer:
When you receive the remains of your loved one, the bag of ashes will include a small metal disk with a number on it. This metal disk has been used to identify your loved one prior to cremation, with the number being a unique identification number, and has not left your loved one's side through the cremation process.
Answer:
When you are arranging a cremation and funeral service through a funeral home, the funeral home will typically offer cremation urns for sale. However, urns sold by a funeral home are often priced extremely high in order to create profit. You should know that you are not obligated to purchase an urn from a funeral home, and you can use your own urn to hold your loved one's ashes. By United States law, a funeral home or crematorium must accept outside urns when transferring cremated remains into a container. Purchasing urns from a third party like In the Light Urns is often preferable to purchasing directly from a funeral home or crematorium, because it allows you more flexibility in pricing and urn customization.
