There is a wide range of options to choose from if you decide you would like to hold your loved one’s ashes close. There are memorial urns, decorative blown glass vases, even pieces of art and jewellery. This helpful guide will allow you to consider some the options for you to decide which suits you and your loved ones the most.
Cremation Jewellery
Memorial and cremation jewellery look just like regular jewellery, yet acts as a small keepsake urn with a small amount of cremation ashes held inside. They can be used for comfort to recall a loved one’s presence. Some people choose to wear these pieces only on special occasions, whereas others enjoy wearing them more often. You can choose whether you are discrete about the contents of the jewellery or use it as a conversation starter to share special memories of your loved one. Another use for this type of jewellery is holding different types of memorials from a funeral, such as sand, soil or dried flowers from the day.
Cremation diamonds
A way to make a lasting reminder of your loved one which you can carry with you everywhere, is through cremation diamonds. You can create stunning jewels with your loved one’s ashes, or hair, so you can hold them close and create a living bond. Here’s a process some companies follow:
- Select memorial diamond shape, colour & style
- Choose cut and weight
- Select setting
- Send loved one’s cremation ashes
- Receive your personal diamond
Roughly, the cost for cremation diamonds ranges between $2,000 – $9,000.
Memorial glass ashes
With a piece of memorial glass the ashes are carefully and tastefully encased in tactile and ornamental objects and jewellery that are designed to be touched and treasured. The glass blown objects that encase ashes of a loved one can be used as ornaments, art, paper weights, comfort stones or even jewellery. These special heirlooms cannot be spilled and are a great way to have cremation keepsakes made for the whole family to cherish. You may choose to create many for each family member or have one in a special place which you all visit. The tactile nature of these pieces may also be helpful for small children as they remember a loved one.
Tattoo with ashes
Yes, you heard correctly, there is now the ability to commemorate a loved one with a memorial tattoo. Memorial tattoos in recent years have become an increasing trend in the tattooing world, and it is now not uncommon to see people exhibiting a piece of ink dedicated to someone they have lost.
The process of using ashes within ink is as follows:
- The ashes of the person to be used in the tattoo are sifted and filtered to remove any large pieces until you are left with a very fine dust.
- It is then common place to bake the ashes before the tattooing begins to further sterilise the ashes.
- Finally, when the ashes are sterilised and left as a fine dust the artist will mix a small amount, and it is truly a small amount, of the ashes with the ink before beginning the tattoo as any other.
It is advised that you check with your doctor before organising a cremation tattoo and seek sterilisation and safety advise.
Other ideas of things to do with cremated ashes:
There are many remembrance ideas for cremation ashes. You may choose to:
- Scatter ashes
- Inter or bury at a Cemetery
- Store at home
- Plant them
For more ideas visit our blog Scattering Ashes: Everything you need to know, or for the Bethel Funerals range of memorial urns, we have created a comprehensive urn booklet to find a memorial style to suit you and your loved ones.
