The purpose of this website is be a resource for those in search of information about burial urns. The history of burying urns extends hundreds of years and the site intends to provide detailed information on the topic.
Jan 19 10

Tips on How to Select a Burial Urn

by admin

Planning a loved one’s funeral is a very painful thing to do for everyone. Aside from the fact that it is very hard to move during the grieving phase, trying to fulfill the last wishes of the deceased is very agonizing. If the deceased wished to be cremated once he or she dies, it is the responsibility of those left behind, more often than not the close family members, to prepare the funeral. This includes the cremation of the body and the selection of a burial urn, which will serve as the storage space of the loved one’s ashes. Here are some useful tips on how to select a burial urn.

•    First of all, you will have to decide where the burial urn will be situated after the funeral service. Remember, this is a burial urn you are getting and not just a cremation urn. The difference being that the former is buried somewhere whereas some cremation urn is placed in the house. A burial urn can be buried in a cemetery or in a place where the departed wished to be buried.

•    Second, in selecting the material, you must be sensitive of the wishes of the deceased. There are burial urns made of metals while there are burial urns that are made of wood, which is biodegradable. If the loved one didn’t leave any preference, then try to suit it to his background. If he or she was the type who loved the environment, it may be good to use a wooden burial urn. But if you want the ashes to be safe underneath the ground, then use a metal burial urn.

•    Third, as much as possible, decorate the burial urn with designs that reflect the personality of the deceased. The urn, as much as possible, should never be generic in appearance. You can have the name and date of death of the loved one engraved on the surface of the urn. If the loved one was a member of an organization like the Marines, you can have the coat of arms of the marines engraved on the surface of the urn. Another thing that can be engraved on the burial urn is an image of the deceased.

•    Fourth, also purchase a burial urn from a reputable manufacturer. If you have the budget, always get the best quality burial urn for your loved one who passed away.

Thank you for reading and I hope this information is useful.

Jan 5 10

Headstones: A Memorial for Eternity

by admin

People are unique in their ideas and choices of headstones.  For some lucky families, the decision is already made long before a loved one passes.  This should be considered a gift by the family, as it helps them avoid the stress and expense after death, when they are emotionally distraught and grieving.  However, many times the choosing of headstones comes after the death, and leaves many families in a quandary.

What type should you choose?  When should you put a marker on the grave?  These are memorial questions that should be decided by the immediate family, but there is no need to rush.  In fact, choosing headstones weeks or even months after a loved one’s death is a good decision in many cases.  While you are morning and grieving losing a loved one, it may not be the best time to choose a headstone; you certainly do not want to regret the decision you made at a later date.

Headstones are a tribute to your loved one that will last for eternity.  A century from now, descendants can visit the grave and learn the date that your loved one was born, when they passed, and often their parents names.  These days, family genealogy is a growing trend, and many times family members visit the cemetery to be certain of birth dates, correct name spelling and other information pertinent to their family history.  Headstones and memorial urns can be engraved with a variety of information, which is up to the deceased or their remaining family members.

Special quotes, prayers and poems are often engraved on headstones.  If family members are left to make the decision of purchasing a headstone, they should not rush the decision.  Any engravings should be carefully thought out as well; you may want to include a loving message from the family, or a specially written epitaph.  These words remain forever, and are a special memorial to the life of your loved one who has gone on in to eternity.

From simple and delicately decorated to elaborate and stately, headstones represent the life that your loved one lived.  Never be hasty if you are left to making the decision yourself; carefully think it through, and do the right thing.  When it comes to headstones, the interests and preferences of the departed should be considered first and foremost.  Choose a memorial that would have made your loved one proud.

Nov 13 09

Burial Urns For Every Need

by admin

Easing the Process of Memorializing a Loved One

Burial urns are a personal choice and preference when your loved one has passed and has chosen to be cremated. In recent years, cremation has been gaining popularity not only because of the affordability – more people are also interested in preserving the environment as well. Urns for ashes take up a much smaller area in the earth, and many are even biodegradable now.

“Green” urns for ashes are made of ingredients that are safe to put in the ground, and will disintegrate over a period of time. For instance, the Through Time Grass Leaf Scattering Green Burial Urn is made from banana leaf and papyrus grass, which are completely natural. This style has a look of nature, and is very fitting as the center point for your memorial. There are many methods to a green burial including scattering ashes and burying a biodegradable cremation urn.

What is chosen for memorializing your loved one depends largely on who they were in life. Their hobbies, passions, personality and beliefs should be considered when choosing the perfect memorial. While death is something that saddens everyone and causes true heartache, it is a certainty that everyone must face. When you choose an urn for ashes that truly represents the life of your loved one, it will show them true respect and heartfelt love.

All people are unique and have different preferences, which is true with burial urns as well. Suppose your uncle or grandfather passed, and he was a true woodsman – someone who loved hunting, fishing, and simply enjoying nature. The Log Cabin Urn would be a very fitting memorial, and a truly peaceful resting place. Or, as unthinkable as it is, you or a close relative has lost a baby. While their is truly nothing in the world that can comfort your soul, an Angel Infant Urn is a touching and beautiful way to remember the little one. Several wonderful infant urns and memorials are available. It will help lift your spirits and know that this special little person is safe within the arms of an angel.

Death is a fact of life that no one wants to face, but inevitably it comes. Hopefully, you never have to face a sudden or unexpected tragedy. In any event, an urn for ashes helps you remember a loved one in a very special way. They also help the remaining family members get closure and begin the healing process. There is a day in the future when you will meet again with your loved one for eternity. Until then, show your love and respect with beautiful a wonderful memorial.

Sep 28 09

What Kind of Burial Urn is Best

by admin
Burial Urn

Burial Urn

As mentioned above, many people choose to bury their deceased loved ones even though they have been cremated.  They could also have a mausoleum for their past family members.

Regardless of how they will bury the cremated remains of their loved one, it is important that the fact the urn will be buried is considered.

One perspective is like any casket, burial urns should be durable enough to withstand the test of time and protect the remains they hold in its eternal rest. Another perspective is that the urn should degrade and breaks down, so as to not affect the environment.

Some Burial urns for the purpose of actual burial are usually made from marble, stone, ceramics, brass or any other type of metal. These materials are all durable enough to last for eternity. And other types of burial urns are made of paper based products, sand and environmentally friendly materials.

Burial Urns for Dispersal

Many families opt for dispersing the ashes of their deceased loved one, especially when it was the specific wish of the deceased before he or she has passed on. In this case, the urn is only temporary receptacles of the remains.

What is important in choosing urns for dispersal is its ability to assist in dispersing the ashes without any problems. For example, if the dispersal will be done at sea, the burial urns should be light enough to sink into the water. This is referred to as water burial. If the dispersal will be done by air, the urn should be secure enough to handle this job.

The best choice of burial urns for dispersal is the biodegradable urn. These biodegradable urns are usually made from paper or cardboard.  They are easy to handle and are secure. Most of all, they are friendly to the environment and will not cause problems, especially if they are sunk at sea.

When you choose burial urns for your loved one, it is important for you to consider how you will be taking care of his or her remains after the cremation. This will help you get the urn that is most suited to your needs.

Sep 14 09

Natural Cremation Urns

by admin

Loosing your loved one is definitely the most terrible experience that one goes though, and death is an evident incident for us mortal beings. There are different cremation urns that one can opt for to store the ashes of their loved ones after they are cremated. These urns come in various different materials like wood, metal and stone complete with beautiful carvings and beautiful colors. Another cremation urn that most people these days are opting for are urns. As urns are a term that refers to different contexts, it is best to understand what a natural cremation urn is.

Materials used

The term natural cremation urn usually refers to the material used to manufacture these urns. In this sense, natural cremation urns are made of natural materials like marble and granite and not with materials like brass. Anyways for someone who is looking for natural cremation urns usually feels that the urn is made of biodegradable material. In this case it would be strong paper or wood that generally disintegrates when the elements of nature work on it. And those who are looking for these materials are not generally interested in urns that are made of marble or granite that will stand the test of times.

The natural design in some context urns made of materials like steel and fibreglass can also be termed as natural cremation urns. In this case it is not the materials that play the deciding factor, but the design of the urn. When an urn is designed to depict an animal or a natural scene it is also termed as a natural cremation urn. These types of urns can be made of traditional materials (wood, paper, glass, metal etc) as well as non traditional materials like steel or plastic. There are also several cremation urns that are termed as natural urns as they are modelled in the shape of an animal. These urns also help store ashes, but are not how traditional urns are. At first it is not easy to accept that this is a natural cremation urn, infact if given some thought one would see the relevance lies in the art.

Natural Urns

There are the other types of cremation urns that need to be in placed in the midst of nature. These types of urns are most possibly made of material that is biodegradable, as these materials break down quickly and are integrated with the soil of the earth. However these urns can also be made of materials like steel, bronze and are mainly made of these so that they can be placed in the outdoors to stand the test of time. This type of urn are popular for those who were nature lovers, people who had passion for the outdoors and its beauty and are installed as a fitting tribute in memory of them, once they are deceased.

From here we see that the term cremation urn can conjure up different meanings that can be confusing initially. Thank you for reading.

Sep 7 09

Biodegradable Urns and the Environment

by admin

With the consequence of global warming, people have started looking after their environment more seriously. With this in mind, people have also started keeping an eye on funeral services.

Honoring the dead is a practice that is followed in each religion, culture and part of the world. If any of this process involves being environmentally friendly, then biodegradable urns could be considered. A biodegradable urn can be used when one wants to make sure that the burial place does not harm the earth. Infact these urns could also give nutrients and minerals back to the soil.

These urns are prepared from environment friendly resources and have an ability of roughly 220 to 400 cubic inches displacement. If one thinks that the only advantage of these urns is the environment friendliness, then the beauty of these urns could surprise one. People are of the opinion that since these urns are not made of marbles and granite, they could not look as beautiful. Although these urns are made of the bark of a tree and recycled products, artists work hard to get these urns to look as good as the others available in the market. These urns contain no metal parts and the only plastic used is an EPA approved biodegradable plastic bag. Interestingly, the glue used in the urns is biodegradable as well.

Biodegradable urns come in all forms of sizes, colors and shapes. One can also choose from paper based products that are primarily found in vases and pillows. A few of the shapes that these urns come in are that of hearts, sea shells and tubes. If one is looking at something that is simple yet beautiful in design, then biodegradable urns are the one.

There are a few types of biodegradable urns and one of them is the burial urn. Made of a paper like material, one can embed seeds in to the paper which makes a new plant grow as the urn breaks down. Another type of urn is the scattering urn which scatters the ashes by having a pre-perforated hole opened at the top of the urn. The conventional looking urn is made of cornstarch and could also be painted using water based colors.

The deep water urn is meant to be used in sea or river. These urns initially float on the water and once water seeps in, they sink and break down in a couple of days. A well known water urn is made of Himalayan rock salt.

Biodegradable urns are considered to be much cheaper than the conventional urns that are made of stone, marble and metal. There are times when a death in a family could happen at the time of a financial crisis. Since these urns are valued rationally, it would avoid a family from spending lots of money on a funeral service.

Irrespective of the resting place of the deceased being the soil or water, using a biodegradable urn brings a lot of deference and trustworthiness to the occasion.

Aug 27 09

Four Important Tips on Buying Burial Urns

by admin

Buying burial urns is a highly personal matter.  No matter how great the need is to make the purchase immediately, it does not do well to get them at a haphazard manner.  When you buy an urn for ashes for a departed loved one, you are making a final gesture that shows how much you cared for and honored your loved one that passed away.

Nobody really likes shopping for burial urns and this is a task that many people find difficult to perform.  Nonetheless, here are four tips that you can use to help you choose the perfect burial urns.

  1. Take your time.  When you buy a cremation urn for a departed beloved, you should take your time in selecting it.  The memorial service may be only a few days away, but you should try not to rush in choosing the right burial urn.
  2. Consider your budget.  One of the things you should ask when buying a cremation urn is how much you can afford to spend in buying one.  This is another reason why you should take your time in shopping for an urn.  A beautiful and meticulously crafted urn may cost thousands of dollars, but it is possible for you to find a burial urn that is just as beautiful for a fraction of the price.
  3. The departed’s personality.  In selecting an urn, you should keep in mind whether or not your departed beloved would not mind having his or her remains stored in the urn you are considering.  Approach this task as if you are buying a gift for your loved one.  Will he or she like it or not?
  4. Material to use.  There are many different materials that you can choose from. Some of the most common are brass, wood and biodegradable urns. Biodegradable urns are becoming more used because of the effect that an urn has in the ground. Sometimes materials carry with them toxins and other urns will not biodegrade for some time. Consider your ethics when purchasing a burial urn. We respect all personal choices.

Buying a burial urn can be a painstaking task that can be draining to the people the departed left behind.  One way some people do to avoid giving the people they love such a pain is to buy their own burial urn, one they would use for storing their own ashes when they pass away.  That is one thing everyone should think about.

Aug 11 09

Expressive Burial Urns

by admin

Burial urns can be a work of art, and can better express the spirit and personality of a loved one who has passed better than any words you could ever say. Often, grief and emotions run high, and finding the perfect words seems impossible. Burial urns can actually be unique art pieces that portray the deceased with love and express their true soul and spirit.

Expressive Burial Urn

Often when someone truly close to us passes on, we wish to celebrate their life and spirit in a way that is truly meaningful. While traditional burial is common, it cannot touch the souls and hearts of the ones left behind like cremation often does. When your loved one is cremated, their soul, spirit and physical body are once again ashes and dust, just as they began their life. Burial urns contain these remains, and can be buried under the ground or kept by the remaining loved ones as a constant remembrance.

Life is to be honored and celebrated, even when it is gone. The art and craftsmanship involved in the creation of many burial urns often has the unique power to unite, heal and express feelings that are unable to be expressed fully by those of us left behind. See more of these artistic cremation urns. Cremation is a rapidly growing and popular ritual in recent times, not only because of cost concerns, but largely because there are so many ways to memorialize a loved one that truly express who they were, what they represented, and that their spirit is truly free now.

For thousands of years, cremation has been an accepted practice by many. However, many religions had problems with this practice due to their beliefs that the body should remain intact so that it unites with the soul at a certain point in time. It seemed that a traditional casket burial was the only choice, and that cremation was somehow degrading to the deceased, or decreased their worth. In reality, the outer body is just a “shell” that contains the soul and spirit, so cremation is actually a very natural process. Many burial urns are biodegradable, so in time become one with the earth. This is very powerful and meaningful to many people.

Burial urns also allow two loved ones to be buried together – also known as companion urns. In unimaginable and tragic circumstances, you may lose more than one loved one. In the case of siblings or a mother and father, this is truly comforting and meaningful, knowing that they can be together eternally. Rather than having two caskets buried in two separate plots, burial urns allow your loved ones remain united in spirit and soul as one. Your options for creating a custom urn for the passed are great and with a little research you can find something that fits your needs and their personalities.

At one of the most difficult times in your life, burial urns can be the best way to express what words often cannot say.

Aug 5 09

Burial Urns Hold More Than the Remains of Your Loved One

by admin

Burial urns not only hold the remains of your loved one who has passed, to many they also represent the soul and wishes of the deceased. The ritual of cremation goes back thousands of years, in fact some evidence has placed it back as far as 26,000 years ago.

While this is certainly not a new ritual, it is just becoming a popular method of memorializing your loved one in the past few decades. Burial urns can be chosen that represent the personality and likes of the deceased, many that even relate to areas of the deceased loved ones life such as military service. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, burial urns are not plain ordinary square boxes with no design or beauty.

Religion and culture plays a big role in what should be done with a loved ones remains when they pass. Some religions have strict and complex rules that will determine how the remains are buried depending upon how strict you choose to follow these rules. Choosing cremation is a completely natural choice, as the body is returned to the ashes from where it came.

Burial urns hold these ashes, whether you decide upon ground burial, scattering of ashes, or keeping them in your home. For those who choose this method, it can create peace in their mind knowing that unlike traditional burial, the body will not lay in a casket underground and slowly decay over time. When cremation is chosen, the body can become one with earth. This is healthy for the earth in these times of environmental concerns, and biodegradable burial urns are often chosen.

Combining the ashes of more than one loved one into a single urn is also something that is very sentimental to some, but cannot be done with traditional burial. Large burial urns are made so that in the event of a tragedy that takes more than one of your loved ones, such as your parents, their remains may be combined so that they can be together in love and spirit forever.

As time goes on, people are learning that traditional burial requires a large amount of space which is more difficult to come by, and the costs are astronomical. Choosing cremation does not mean that the life of your loved one who has passed was less valuable or meaningless. Quite the contrary, in fact. Burial urns, while much less costly and often earth friendly, are the perfect way to allow your loved one to meld peacefully back into nature.

Jul 20 09

The History of Urn Burial

by admin

Over time, remains of deceased have been handled in many ways. The degree of funeral practices depended upon the deceased’s culture, religious or family beliefs and political importance. Remains were often prepared and buried in graves of different magnitudes, such as elaborate tombs or shallow graves of the earth. Historically, cremation urns were often used as a memorial for a loved one or an enemy. Many cultures used burial urns or jars to bury their deceased, containing deceased skeletal remains or ashes.

Burial Urns and Controversy –
Researchers believed that cremation, a practice used to assist in burying the deceased, began in the early Stone Age era in Europe. Cremation became more widespread over the following few centuries accumulating countries and cultures all over the world. Christianity nearly put a complete stop to cremation practices with the belief that deceased persons should be traditionally buried. Exceptions were made when necessity arose for health reasons, such as during the period of the black plague. In 1873 Professor Brunetti invented a cremation chamber, once again making cremation a popular choice for funeral techniques.

Cremation in Religious Practice –
China was one country reluctant to succumb to the practices of cremation due to their strong beliefs of the afterlife. The Chinese believed in body preservation, adding items of importance to the coffin in order to make the afterlife more comfortable for their ancestors. The Chinese believed the soul stayed close to the body and if left unhappy, the soul could become a dangerous ghost. It wasn’t until later, just before Buddhism was introduced into Chinese culture that the resistance of cremation began to change. Funeral urns containing the ashes Chinese ancestors began being placed in tombs, decorated much like a home and containing items of family importance.

Burial Urns Discovered –
In 1876 and further into the 1910’s over 160 urns were discovered at an archaeological dig located at a burial ground in India. The burial urns exposed were made of pottery, illustrating many animals, some with illustrations of gold crowns. In a rare find, there was an appliqué depicting a detailed storyline. These particular urns were buried with several iron and copper objects, arrowheads, axes, and spearheads. Inside, the burial urns contained skeletal remains consistently found in a squatting position, indicating that cremation was not practiced as part of urn burial in this ancient Indian culture.

Personalized Burial Urns –
From ancient times to today, personalizing urns has been a significant choice for funerals. Burial urns come in a wide variety of materials and styles made of ceramic, marble, glass, metal, wood, or bronze. Metal or bronze is more often used for urns intended to be buried underground. In modern times, urns continue to be designed to follow religious or family practices. Smaller burial urns are preferred for children’s ashes and larger urns are intended for more than one person.

For centuries burial urns have been an important part of funeral burial practices in many cultures. Burial urns from ancient ancestors will continue to be uncovered while more modern day cremation practices and personalized urns will allow people to prolong celebrating loved ones memories who passed before us.