If the deceased left behind a Will, the Executor appointed within it has a moral duty to ensure that their wishes are respected. However, they are not legally bound to do so. If your loved one didn’t leave any specific burial wishes behind, try and think of something they would like. There are many unique ways to store or scatter cremated remains, including sending them to the moon, turning them into a tattoo, or having them made into a coral reef memorial in the ocean. [2] X Research source
Disagreements between family members within the same category or ranking will prevent legal division until settling the matter in court. [3] X Research source The exception to this is if an Executor was appointed by the Will. In this case, they may decide to not consider the opinions of the deceased’s relatives. Consider all of the benefits of division, such as giving everyone a chance to keep or spread them in their own unique way. Remember: grieving is always a difficult process, and everyone reacts differently. Don’t push your wishes too hard—give everyone time to discuss what they feel is the best way to move forward, otherwise the final decision will be left to the highest ranking family member (or members) in the hierarchy.
If you’re having a funeral or viewing prior to cremation, renting a casket is an affordable option. If you want to bury your loved one’s remains in a cemetery instead of dividing them, you’ll need to purchase a casket, as well as grave liner or a burial vault.
For example, if the deceased weighed 150 pounds (68 kg), they will need an urn that is at least 150 cubic inches (2. 5 L).
Keepsake urns are typically in the form of jewelry or mini-urns. Display urns are typically made from ceramic, metal, marble, stone, wood, or glass. Columbarium urns are usually made from marble, glass, or brass. If you’re scattering ashes, lightweight urns with removable lids are ideal. Land burials usually require biodegradable urns.
Extra small urns are around 25 cubic inches (0. 41 L), and small urns are between 26 and 50 cubic inches (0. 43 and 0. 82 L). Medium urns are between 51 and 125 cubic inches (0. 84 and 2. 05 L), and large urns are between 126 and 200 cubic inches (2. 06 and 3. 28 L). Anything over 200 cubic inches (3. 3 L) is considered extra large.
For example, if the deceased was 150 pounds (68 kg), you need 150 cubic inches (2. 5 L) of space. To find out how many urns are needed for 8 people, divide 150 by 8, which leaves you with 18. 75. This means 8 urns that accommodate 18. 75 cubic inches (0. 3 L) in total is sufficient. Keepsake urns are typically extra small [around 25 cubic inches (0. 41 L)] and small between 26 to 50 cubic inches (0. 43 to 0. 82 L). Some are as much as 100 cubic inches (1. 6 L).
Urn vendors will usually offer the option of shipping directly to the funeral home or crematorium of your choice, and you don’t have to be there when your urns are delivered.
Cremations typically cost around $2,000, although prices are as low as $1,000 without any extra services, such as division or memorial. Most cemeteries have columbaria on-site, which is usually an extra $1,000 for storage. Check the following resource to find services near you: https://www. bbb. org/.
For example, if the deceased weighed 170 pounds (77 kg), you’ll need a total of 170 cubic inches (2. 8 L) to hold all of it. Keep this in mind when selecting both keepsake urns and larger urns so you can purchase 1 or more containers with enough space to hold the remains.
Put on disposable latex, nitrile, or vinyl gloves.
For larger urns, choose a size that allows the funnel to sit comfortably in its top opening. In the case of keepsakes, select a size that provides a steady flow of remains into the top opening.
If you’re unsure of how big to cut the hole, make a small sized cut at first to be safe. If it doesn’t pour enough at a time, cut it larger.
Gently tap the funnel and your urn regularly to ensure proper settling of the ashes and prevent clogs in the funnel.
Be sure to hold the keepsake over the newspaper to catch any remains.
You can swap in a new piece of newspaper during the funneling process if you begin making too much of a mess.
Epoxy resin adhesive is sold at most hardware stores. Once sealed, you can continue this process for any other keepsakes you have until your remains are evenly divided amongst them all. For a temporary seal, secure a single strip of tape along the top of the lid to hold it to the 2 opposing sides of the urn’s opening. You can also wrap the entire container with plastic wrap to keep the lid secure.
