Choosing an urn is both an extremely personal and practical decision. It will hold one of the most precious, irreplaceable possessions. Add on the stress of dealing with the loss of a loved one and this seemingly simple choice can become complex.
With so many urn options available today, it’s easy to get decision fatigue. Fortunately, choosing an urn is one of the few decisions that our clients have to make. Below is the advice that we give to help families narrow the selection and find the perfect urn.
The Budget
The first thing to consider is the cost. Urn prices are across the board. You can spend less than $100 or thousands. Deciding on a budget will help you focus on a smaller selection of urns that you can comfortably afford. Do this before you start looking at urns, and share your budget with the funeral home if they are helping you in your search.
Post-Cremation Memorial Ceremony
Some families choose to have a memorial service after the cremation. During these ceremonies the remains are typically in an urn that’s on display unless the family plans to scatter the ashes. If you plan to have a cremation memorial ceremony it’s something worth considering when you’re making your selection.
Single or Multi Urn
When a loved one passes away, especially if it is a spouse, it makes others reflect on their own wishes for after death. Family members may decide they too want to be cremated. If that’s the case, a companion urn could be a good option.
Companion urns are designed to hold the remains of more than one person. This type of urn is also used when a person wants an urn that can hold the remains of a pet as well.
Long-Term Plans
What do you plan to do with the remains? Do you want to keep them at home? Do you want to bury them and grow a tree?
Other than budget, what you plan to do with the remains long-term is the most important consideration. For example, if you want to grow a plant or tree from a loved one’s remains a special type of urn is needed because cremated remains aren’t suitable for plant growth. If you choose a conventional urn the plant would never thrive.
The Materials Used to Make the Urn
From the look to the weight, the materials used to make an urn affect every aspect of it. Think about things like how easy the material will be to maintain over years. How easy will it be to move the urn? Is the material easy to break?
The material can also make a difference if you plan to bury the remains or store them in a columbarium. Only natural, biodegradable materials can be used for a green burial. And some columbariums won’t accept wooden urns.
It’s important for families to know that they can get an urn from anywhere. You don’t have to buy one from the funeral home that’s handling the cremation. The Funeral Rule also states funeral homes can’t charge a fee for using an urn from an outside vendor.
Are you looking for green funeral urn options? Green Cremation Texas has a selection of biodegradable urns, eco-friendly scattering tubes and green urns for long-term storage. Contact us today for personal assistance selecting an urn.
