How To Choose A Cremation Urn For Your Loved One
When choosing a cremation urn for your loved one, deciding on the best way to memorialize them can be tough. This is especially true if it’s your first time facing these types of decisions. There are many ways to honor your loved ones and keep their memory alive, but deciding on the best option can be an emotional and overwhelming process. Let us help guide you through this difficult task with some simple guidelines.
When exploring urn options, there are a few factors to consider, such as intended use, size, material, design, and cost. Are you choosing a cremation urn for a loved one but not sure where to start? Keep reading to learn more about cremation storage options and how to pick the right one from Maine Cremation Care in Gorham, Maine.
Intended use
The first thing to consider when choosing an urn for your loved one is the intended use of the urn. The design and style of the urn will depend on the plans after cremation.
Below are some of the most common uses for cremation urns.
Burials
Some families choose to bury the ashes of their loved ones. For this option, you’ll need to make sure the urn you select meets local cemetery requirements, as they often have size limits and restricted materials.
For an urn burial, cemeteries usually suggest the following materials:
- Metal
- Wood
- Ceramic
You can also opt to place your loved one’s ashes in a biodegradable urn such as The Living Urn. A biodegradable urn grows a tree in combination with ashes or cremated remains. After the biodegradable urn is planted, a tree begins to sprout, and the container breaks down over time. Maine Cremation Care offers The Living Urn as well as many other biodegradable options.
In Your Home
You may choose to keep the ashes of your loved one close to you by keeping them in your home. This is the best opportunity to be able to select the style that best fits your design preferences. Maine Cremation has a large selection of beautiful urns and keepsakes to choose from that can be used to keep on display and honor your loved one.
Scattering
There are many different ways to scatter ashes. Some people choose to scatter at their loved one’s funeral, while others prefer scattering the ashes at a place that is meaningful to the deceased. There are many affordable urn options designed to help you easily scatter ashes.
Size
As you narrow down your choices, you’ll need to consider the size of the cremation urn. The urn should be big enough to hold the ashes of your loved one but not too bulky. Taking measurements of where the urn will be displayed can help you choose the size accordingly.
Material
You can find cremation urns made out of many different materials. Some of the most common urn materials include wood, metal, stone, and ceramic. Picking an urn material is a matter of preference as most of them are designed to last many years. You can also choose a biodegradable urn to return your loved one’s remains to the earth in an eco-friendly way.
Design
There are limitless options available when it comes to designs and themes of urns. From urns customized with a photo or engravement, you can customize however you like to create the perfect final resting place for your loved one.
A few popular design examples include:
- Angels
- Birds
- Butterflies
- Dolphins
- Doves
- Flowers
- Fishing
- Golf
- Hummingbirds
- Trees
- Lighthouses
- Motorcycles
- Ocean/Beach
- Praying Hands
- Sailing
Maine Cremation Care has a wide array of gorgeous urns to choose from in order to honor your loved one.
Cost
Like many other products, the price of an urn will depend on the size, quality, material, and design. As you search for urns, decide on a budget beforehand to narrow down options in your price range and avoid overspending.
Why Do People Choose Cremation?
In recent years, choosing a cremation urn has risen in popularity over a traditional burial. Why are more people choosing cremation as a final disposition method?
Affordability
Cremation is the more affordable alternative to a traditional burial since many of the expensive services, like purchasing a casket, embalming the body, extensive transportation, and even funeral services, in some cases, are eliminated. Most direct cremation providers offer a package of services that comes at around $1000, which is much more cost-effective than a protracted funeral affair.
Better For The Environment
Cremation is better for the environment than being embalmed and entombed, as harsh embalming chemicals aren’t involved. Embalming chemicals are harmful to the environment and inevitably speed into and contaminate the burial site.
Ease Of Service
Cremation requires minimal planning, which means reduced stress for the deceased’s family, who is already grieving. All the family needs to do is complete the required paperwork, after which the cremation provider will transfer the body to its center and start the cremation process.
If you need an urn for your loved one near Portland, Maine, contact Maine Cremation Care. Choose from our extensive collection of urns and keepsakes ranging from stone, marble, biodegradable options, hand-painted wood, and more. We are happy to help you in the process and answer any questions you may have about choosing a cremation urn for your loved one. Head to our website to learn more.
