About This Q&A
Ask a question and receive knowledgeable answers from topic experts
Educational Resources Q&A
Activity timeframe
-
What material is best for a cremation urn?
Educational Resources > Selecting the Perfect Cremation Urn Material, Educational Resources > Choosing the Perfect Cremation Urn
Answer:
The best material for a cremation urn depends on personal preference, intended use, and budget. - Metal, stone, and resin urns are the most durable urns, ideal for outdoor settings or burial.
- Wood, glass, and ceramic urns last longer in controlled environments, so these urns are great options for an interior setting such as home display or interment within a columbarium.
- The most affordable cremation urns are made of biodegradable materials, which will suit those looking for environmentally-conscious choices.
Is it considered a sin to scatter ashes?
Educational Resources > Religious Views on Cremation, Educational Resources > Scattering Ashes
Answer:
For members of Christianity, scattering ashes is considered a sin. The Church believes that while cremation is acceptable, a person's cremated remains must be kept together so that they may be successfully resurrected in the future. Non-Christian religions and agnostic & atheist households are not subject to this belief.
Answer:
Scattering urns are designed to allow easy dispersion of ashes in the air or water, and have different shapes depending on the type of scattering. They can be made from biodegradable materials like paper and fiber or durable materials like wood and metal. If a scattering takes place on land, an appropriate scattering urn may be a scattering tube that features an easy-open hole or removable lid to aid the pouring of ashes. Water scattering, where cremated remains are released into the water, can use either scattering tubes or biodegradable urns that are directly placed in the water to sink.
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:
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:
When scattering ashes, you might say a few words that honor the memory and life of the deceased, sharing a personal story or a meaningful quote. It's also common to take a moment of silence for reflection, and if appropriate, invite others to share their thoughts or feelings before gently releasing the ashes into the chosen location.
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:
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.
Is it considered a sin to scatter ashes?
Educational Resources > Religious Views on Cremation, Educational Resources > Scattering Ashes
Answer:
For members of Christianity, scattering ashes is considered a sin. The Church believes that while cremation is acceptable, a person's cremated remains must be kept together so that they may be successfully resurrected in the future. Non-Christian religions and agnostic & atheist households are not subject to this belief.
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:
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:
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.
Should cremated ashes be divided?
Educational Resources > Choosing the Perfect Cremation Urn, Educational Resources > Collecting Ashes After a Cremation
Answer:
A loved one's cremated remains may either be divided among family or kept together within one urn. Some families find comfort in sharing ashes amongst themselves so that family members can keep their lost one close, while other families feel it's more respectful to keep the ashes intact so that their loved one can remain whole. Deciding whether to divide cremated ashes is a personal choice that varies by family, and both options are respectable ways to honor a loved one's memory. Ultimately, the decision should honor the wishes of the deceased and provide peace to those left behind.
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:
There is no best way to bury cremated remains, and it depends on you and your deceased loved one's preferences. You may opt to use a biodegradable urn if you prefer an eco-friendly option, or choose a traditional urn and an optional urn vault for a permanent placement. You may also consider burying the ashes directly into the soil. Any of these options are respectable ways to honor your loved one's remains, and you can choose whichever method you prefer. If you have a location in mind, they may already have made this choice for you depending on their conditions for burial.
