If you’ve ever wondered what distinguishes cremation urns from other types of urns, you’re not alone. There are different kinds of urns; some are decorative and others serve specific purposes. If you want to learn more, keep reading.
What Is An Urn?
Another word for urn is container, and an urn is simply that: a container specifically meant to hold the ashes (or remains) of a person or pet after cremation. But there are different types and styles of urns, and different urns can serve different functions.
When we work with families who opt for cremation over burial, we discuss these options and more. We’ve been helping families plan funeral services in Pennsylvania for more than 70 years, and take pride in helping people during one of the most difficult times of their life. If we can help your family, please reach out.
What Is A Cremation Urn?
You might wonder what makes a cremation urn different from any other urn, since an urn is simply a container. The answer to that is that there are no regulations about what, exactly, constitutes a cremation urn. What works best for you and your family, and what you plan to do with your loved ones remains after the cremation, are the most important things to consider.
For example, if you plan to scatter part of your loved one’s ashes in nature, you may only need a keepsake urn. But if you would rather keep your loved one’s remains on one container to be kept with you at home, you’ll likely opt for a larger urn that can easily be displayed in your home. Alternately, if having a “green” or environmentally-friendly option is important to you, you’ll likely want to look at urns that are biodegradable or otherwise environmentally safe. Similarly, if you plan to bury your loved one’s ashes, being sure to contain them in an urn that can be buried safely is important. We can help you with all of these questions and considerations. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and can be reached at 610-876-5237.
Can Cremation Urns Be Personalized?
Some urns can be personalized. Engraving is a popular way to personalize an urn, though not every urn can be engraved. Most often, people will choose to engrave an urn with a loved one’s name and their year of birth and year of death. Other options might include a scripture verse, a poem, a song lyric, or something they said regularly that was unique to them.
Another way to personalize an urn is less obvious, but still impactful. That way is to choose an urn that reflects them in some way. Perhaps you choose a blue urn because that was their favorite color. Or maybe you choose an urn in a certain shape–a baseball, say, because they played first base when they were young. Or you might choose a certain shape or material because it best reflects their own personal taste.
Are There Rules About Urns?
There are rules, governed by the FTC, that state that a funeral home cannot force you to buy an urn from them. The truth is, a cremation urn can be anything that suits your wishes; while you can purchase an urn at your funeral home, you can also choose to use a container that’s special to you or your loved one. Examples of this might be a carved wooden box or a ceramic container that’s been in your family for generations. Urns can also be made of brass, marble, granite, aluminum, bronze, Cloisonne, ceramic, salt, alabaster, clay, plastic, glass, or cardboard.
Some cremation urns are built for environmentally friendly services. These might include organic materials that will dissolve when placed in water or buried in the ground. We’re always happy to discuss non-traditional or new ways to accommodate a family’s wishes for an environmentally-friendly or “green” service; contact us to start that conversation.
Urns can also be any shape imaginable. We’ve seen urns that look like a stack of book, urns that look like cowboy boots, urns that look like a lighthouse and urns that look like animals. The idea is that the urn will be displayed in someone’s home, and will blend into the decor.
Different Types of Urns
Urns are typically used to hold the remains of one person, but there are also companion urns, which are created to hold the remains of two people. This is often a choice for a married couple who wishes to share an urn.
Sizes of urns can also vary. They come in every size, from diminutive to large. A large, or full-sized urn, is designed to hold a full set of human adult ashes. Smaller and medium sized urns are intended to be used as keepsake urns, meaning that they hold a smaller portion of a person’s ashes. This might be a good choice if, for example, a loved one has several children who all wish to retain a portion of their parent’s ashes.
What If I Can’t Choose?
If it’s too overwhelming to choose an urn right after a loved one passes, know that there is time to do so at a later date. There is no rule that you have to immediately pick an urn. We can work with you to make the funeral or celebration of life service what you want it to be while you think about the best urn. Please know that our services are always tailored to each individual family; there are no cookie-cutter answers, and no one way to do things. Our goal is always to simply serve you in the best way possible during one of the hardest experiences you’ll have.
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