What Is It Like to Keep Ashes at Home?

One of the many benefits of cremation is the sheer variety of ways we can display or honor our loved ones’ remains. The concept of displaying an urn invites thoughtful consideration as to how you might feel in the presence of a loved one who passed away. Now more than ever, people are choosing to keep the cremated ashes of children, spouses, parents, and pets at home, so they can feel comforted by and connected to their memories.

Deciding to Keep Cremated Ashes at Home

For many people, the decision to keep cremains at home is an easy one. In most instances, people aren’t aware of all the memorial options available to them. There are a wide variety of memorial providers that produce granite benches, jewelry, and concrete mixtures used to create artificial reef habitats as alternatives to traditional urns.

However, deciding what to do with a loved one’s ashes can pose a peculiarly modern problem. A study conducted by a group of crematories and funeral homes in California and Washington sheds light on recent attitudes toward death. Of those surveyed, over 50 percent say that they kept the cremated ashes of their parents. 15 percent say that they kept the cremated ashes of their spouses. Survey respondents liked the idea of permanent placement in a cemetery, because it provides a place for future generations to visit. Alternatively, many people prefer placing cremated ashes at home, because they can keep them close while simultaneously providing a private place apart from a cemetery that immediate family members and friends can visit.

Your decision to display an urn at home may warrant religious or spiritual considerations. The Vatican recently issued new guidelines recommending that the cremated remains of Catholics be buried in cemeteries, rather than scattered or kept at home. However, cremation is no longer banned by the Catholic church. Your decision should be a private one, with careful consideration of how you plan to commemorate your loved one’s memory or how the presence of your loved one might affect you and your family.

If your parents pass away and they wished to be kept together, a companion urn will provide a beautiful way to keep them together even in the afterlife. There are also urns that are designed to hold a nominal amount of ashes, which are perfect for the cremated remains of children and pets. By choosing an urn that is as beautiful as it is significant, the presence of your loved one may become more comfortable and comforting with time. If there’s one thing we can learn from current attitudes toward death, it’s that we are becoming gradually comfortable with the idea of cremation.

Finding a place to keep your loved one’s cremation urn may be a difficult thought to bear, but you are not alone. Find inspiration by reading our blog article: Feng Shui and Other Tips on Where to Place a Cremation Urn at Home. If you have any questions about this article or would like to learn more about our urn selection, please contact OneWorld Memorials today for additional information or further assistance.