Considerations For Keeping Your Loved One's Ashes At Home
Many options exist for cremated remains, but many people choose to keep the ashes of their loved one at home. Are you wondering where in the home is a good place, or what vessel would work best? Here are a few things to consider.
Choose a Proper Container
You will need to choose a container, but the container of your choice only needs to meet a few basic requirements. Choose a container large enough to hold the ashes. 200 cubic inches is the average amount of space needed for ashes, but the space requirements vary based on weight.
In addition, the container needs the ability to seal tightly and securely. Outside of that criteria, you can choose whatever container you want. A traditional urn is one way to go, or you can choose any of the hundreds of non-traditional urns out there.
You don't have to use an urn at all. Anything from a mason jar to a whiskey bottle can work. You can even use a larger container, such as a memory chest or tackle box, to hold both the ashes and some keepsakes of your loved one.
Pick the Location That Feels Right
As long as your container has a tight seal, there's really no right or wrong place to put the ashes. You can place them anywhere that feels right to you or anywhere you know your loved one would enjoy or get a kick out of.
What you do need to consider is who will have access to the container. If you have children or pets, then make sure you consider their possible interaction with the container when choosing a spot. Also, look out for things that can cause the container to fall or sustain damage. For example, placing the container on a table close to a door people frequently use isn't a good idea.
Consider Other Ways to Keep the Ashes at Home
You don't have to sit a container somewhere expected, and you don't even have to place all the ashes in a single container. You'll find a whole world of options for creative ways to store ashes, such as containers in the shape of a book that will fit right on your bookshelf.
You can wear the ashes in jewelry or keep the ashes in a sculpture designed to hold the ashes. You'll even find options that include having the ashes incorporated into paints, so the ashes can become a permanent part of a piece of artwork.
After a cremation funeral, you can keep the ashes of your loved one close in various ways. When choosing cremation funeral services, you can also ask about their recommendations and best practices for dealing with the remains.