It is not uncommon for people to be undecided about handling a loved ones cremated remains, or ashes, given the many choices.

Burial/Entombment: Burial of cremated remains in a cemetery provides a permanent place for a memorial and a place to go to remember. Some religions, such as Catholicism, require burial of cremated remains in a blessed grave. Many cemeteries have special areas for cremated remains, offering ground burial or placement in a columbarium, a structure designed to hold urns.

Scattering: Cremated remains are commonly scattered at a favorite place of the deceased such as the beach, a lake, at sea, the mountains, a golf course, or other special location. Ordinances vary and it is always a good idea to see if scattering is allowed.

Cremation Jewelry: It is more and more common to see different types of cremation jewelry worn. Pendants that are actually small urns, but look like a regular necklace, are inexpensive and a simple way to keep a small portion of your loved one’s ashes close to your heart. Several companies have perfected a process where a portion of the cremated remains are mixed into colored glass, resulting in a beautiful piece of memory art to be worn or be a table piece.

Decorative Urns: Many people want to keep a loved one’s cremated remains at home, but don’t want the urn to look like an urn. Urns designed to serve as clocks, lamps, table tops, and statues all fill the need without looking the part.

These are just a few ideas, and, like so many things we do, we are only limited by our imagination.