How to Select the Right Urn for Ashes

Dealing with the death of a loved one can be incredibly challenging and emotional. You may be expected to make a lot of decisions when it comes to honoring their life and determining what should be done with their remains. One of the decisions you’ll need to consider is what type of urn to get if your loved one has been cremated.

There are numerous beautiful urns that you can choose from to store your loved ones’ remains. However, when it comes to finding the right one, there are some things you’ll need to consider. To make this process as easy as possible, below are the things you’ll need to think about.

How Do You Plan on Using the Urn?

The primary role of an urn is to hold your loved ones’ remains, but there are several things you can do with that container. Fulfilling your loved one’s last wishes or doing what the family decides is best will determine the type of urn you need to get.

Putting the Urn on Display

Many people will place an urn in a prominent place in their home to honor and respect their loved ones. This is a great way to preserve a person’s memory and find comfort in knowing that they are always around. If this is what you decide you want to do, then you’ll need to find an urn that can accomplish this goal.

Most of the beautiful urns that are used to keep a loved one in your home are made from stone, metal, wood, or composite resin. Look for the one that makes you happy and reminds you of your loved one.

Scattering the Ashes

If you plan on scattering your loved one’s ashes, then get an urn with a top that is designed to release the remains easily. After this task has been accomplished, many people like to place flowers inside the jar to honor and remember their loved ones. This can then be placed in your home.

In-Ground Burial

When it comes to burying your loved one in the ground, you’ll need an urn that fits inside the burial container that is placed in the earth. This will prevent the soil from sinking at the burial site. Knowing the dimensions of the vault is essential, and you may need to speak with the funeral director to get this information so that you can get the right urn.

What Size Do You Need?

After you have decided what you will be doing with your loved one’s remains, the next step is determining what size of urn you will need. In general, an adult will require one cubic inch of space for every pound of bodyweight they had before they were cremated. Thus, if they weighed 120 pounds before they passed, they will need an urn with 120 cubic inches of space or larger. If you are looking for beautiful urns for pets or children that may have passed, then talking to a professional to find the right size will be in your best interest.

After your loved one has been cremated, the crematorium will transfer the ashes to you in a cremation urn. The ashes will be contained within a plastic bag to protect it from getting spilled or wet. When moving the remains from the cremation urn to the final resting urn, you’ll want to keep them in the bag. Should you find this step to be challenging, asking the funeral director or another professional for help is acceptable.

Finding the perfect urn for your loved one shouldn’t be a challenge. However, when going through this difficult time, if you struggle with making a decision, consider talking to a professional to help you find the right urn to honor your loved one.