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Educational Resources Q&A
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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:
Burying cremated remains is often referred to as interring ashes. Interment is the proper term for the burial of a deceased person's body or cremated remains in their final resting place. Ashes can be interred in a variety of locations, such as a cemetery plot, a columbarium niche, or a designated area in a memorial garden.
How long do cremated ashes last in an urn?
Educational Resources > A Quick Guide to Cremation, Educational Resources > Collecting Ashes After a Cremation
Answer:
Cremated ashes are actually bone fragments that have survived the cremation process. During cremation, heat burns away any decomposable material, so the remaining bone fragments are sterile and can last indefinitely in an urn if stored properly. A sealed, dry urn can preserve your loved one's ashes for eternity. Ashes will also remain intact outside of a container if they remain moisture-free, so it isn't necessary to have an urn immediately once you receive your loved one's remains from the crematorium.
Answer:
Cremation does not require blood or any other fluids in the body to be drained. However, if a viewing or open casket funeral is planned for your loved one prior to cremation, they will need to be embalmed first, which involves draining blood from the body and replacing it with formaldehyde. This process helps preserve the body by slowing the rate of decomposition. Embalmed bodies can still be cremated, but an embalming is not necessary for cremation. If your loved one will not be viewed post-mortem, you do not need to have them embalmed.
Answer:
After you are cremated, your ashes can be buried in a variety of ways, such as in a traditional cemetery plot, a columbarium niche, or even in a family member's garden. The ashes can be placed in an urn or biodegradable container before burial, or they may be deposited directly into the ground, similar to a scattering.
Answer:
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:
Religious views of cremation depend on the specific religion, spirituality, or culture. Some religions, like Hinduism and Buddhism, prefer cremation and see it as a way to release the soul from the physical body and facilitate its journey to the next life or state of being. On the other hand, certain branches of Christianity and Judaism traditionally prefer burial, viewing it as a more respectful way to honor the body, though perspectives within these religions are evolving.
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.
Answer:
You can bury your loved one's ashes in a cemetery. To bury cremated remains within a cemetery, you will need to purchase one of the cemetery's burial plots. Burial plots for urns will typically cost less than burial plots for caskets because they take up a smaller area of land. Some cemeteries will have designated areas for urn burial, such as urn gardens, that are separated from the area for casket burial. If you are burying your loved one's urn within a cemetery, you may also wish to purchase a headstone to mark your loved one's resting place.
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.
What should I engrave on a cremation urn?
Educational Resources > Choosing the Perfect Cremation Urn, Engraving & Printing
Answer:
A custom cremation urn is frequently engraved with the deceased's name, birth date, and death date. You can further personalize your engraving with an epitaph, which is a short expression of love or respect that goes on memorial items. Examples of epitaphs include "In Loving Memory" and "Beloved Wife and Mother"/Husband and Father". If there is room, a short quote or statement such as "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" can also be included.
Answer:
A cremation jewelry urn allows you to keep a loved one close wherever you go, which can provide you with comfort. Wearing a cremation jewelry piece can also symbolize how important your loved one was to you. For practicality's sake, a cremation jewelry urn is additionally the memorial option that takes up the least space if you want to display the jewelry as a keepsake.
What do ashes or cremated remains look like?
Educational Resources > Collecting Ashes After a Cremation, Educational Resources > Understanding the Cremation Process
Answer:
Cremated remains are often referred to as ashes, but they are actually remnants of bone that have not burned during cremation. After cremation, the remaining skeleton is crushed into small particles that can vary in size, but usually resemble coarse sand or crushed seashells. These remains may vary in color from white to dark gray, and the exact shade can vary depending on factors such as the temperature of the cremation chamber, the duration of the process, and the composition of the individual's bones. Typically, higher temperatures and longer durations result in whiter or light gray remains, while lower temperatures and shorter durations can produce darker gray or even bluish hues.
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The Transportation Security Administration does not require paperwork for cremated remains, but your specific airline may request copies of existing paperwork or ask you to fill out their own paperwork. In any case, it's recommended to bring a death certificate or certificate of cremation with your loved one's ashes when you are traveling by plane. Make sure you are familiar with the protocol for your airline and have prepared any necessary documents beforehand to ensure a hassle-free flight.
Answer:
To transport cremated remains to a new location for burial or scattering, you may choose to drive by car, fly by plane, or ship the ashes ahead of you. Traveling by car is the easiest way to transport ashes because there are no regulations or guidelines that you have to follow. If you are shipping ashes or bringing them on a flight, you will have to make sure your loved one's cremated remains are in a suitable cremation urn or other container for your chosen method, and pack the urn accordingly. The best mode of transportation depends on your specific needs, but any of these methods can get your loved one to their final destination safely.
Answer:
A temporary cremation urn can be any urn or container that is used to store ashes temporarily until they receive final disposition, whether that is placement in a different urn, scattering, burial, or something else. Because the container is temporary, any simple yet sturdy container can be appropriate, and a temporary urn can be made from lightweight materials like cardboard, plastic, or paper.
Answer:
A cremation urn can be displayed at home in any manner you feel appropriate. To prevent any damage to the urn, you should ideally find a visible location where the urn will not be disturbed, such as a mantle, shelf, or dedicated memorial space. However, some families without pets or children prefer to keep the urn on a well-used surface, like a coffee table or dining table, to keep their loved one close to them. In either case, personal touches like photos, candles, or flowers can add to an urn display and create a thoughtful tribute.
Answer:
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:
Unlike a traditional burial, when cremated remains are buried, they do not decompose further in the ground, because they have already been reduced to bone through cremation. Some families may choose an eco-friendly or "green" burial by burying their loved one's ashes within a biodegradable urn that breaks down in the soil over months or years, eventually allowing the ashes to mix with the earth. More commonly, ashes will be buried within a permanently lasting cremation urn encased by a durable urn vault. This urn vault can be buried underground at a cemetery plot, designated memorial garden, or other chosen location. Burying cremated remains allows family and friends to give their loved one a final resting place in a memorial location that they can revisit.
