Are you struggling to choose the right urn for a departed loved one? With so many types of urns to choose from, it can be overwhelming to select one while you’re in the depths of grief.
That’s why reading through an easy guide that explains each type makes this selection process much simpler for you and your family. Listed down below is everything you’ll need to know about cremation urns and their unique differences.
Common Materials
The first place to start is by selecting which type of material you’ll want for the urn. This often depends on the place in which you buy the urn, but many places offer similar materials.
The most common materials include ceramic, stone, and metal. Less common are special urns made of crystal, glass, and wood but these materials offer a new spin to the memorialization of a loved one.
Wooden urns for ashes also vary from one wood to another, ranging from oak to mahogany.
Singular
When people think of funeral urns, they often think about individual urns. This is an urn made for a single person and is the most common urn families choose.
Since it is the most common, that makes it easy to find it in any type of material or style that you want. With an individual urn, you’ll never have to settle on a less-than-perfect urn since there are many options available.
It’s even possible to order a customized one that’ll match the interests and personality of your loved one perfectly.
Companion
Sometimes situations happen where we want to have a memorialization of two people as a single unit. This is where companion urns ease the grieving of many families.
It’s a great choice for the ashes of parents or couples and signifies their everlasting bond to one another.
Some companion urns combine the ashes of both parties into a singular urn, whereas other styles keep the two sets of ashes separate. Despite this separation, the companion urns remain cohesive and it’s obvious that they’re meant as a pair instead of two separate urns.
The companion urns don’t need to be filled at the same time. Some families choose the companion urns when one family member passes away, intending to fill the other when the time comes.
Companion urns may not be as common as individual urns, but they’re still a choice many families make for their loved ones. Many styles and options exist throughout the market that help you customize each urn to your heart’s desire.
Decorative
Although many of the best urns offer beautiful details, they still have a stately design to them. They’re intricate but they don’t draw the eye.
Some people prefer an urn that celebrates the life of the departed in a more colorful and eye-catching way. If this describes your family, then you’ll want to look for decorative urns.
These types of urns are unique in that they add a lot of extra color and pizzazz to the urn’s design. It’ll be a talking point whenever you have guests over to your home.
One thing to keep in mind is that decorative urns often have a lower capacity than traditional urns.
Temporary
If you spend a long time trying to pick the perfect urn and still don’t know which style to settle upon, then a temporary urn can help until you’ve made that decision. These urns are plain in construction and made of durable plastic. This also makes them the right choice for any family that needs to travel with the urn for a lengthy trip.
While using a temporary urn, make sure you take extra precautions to prevent spillage and moisture during transit.
Outdoor
Not all urns need to stay indoors. Some families prefer to keep the ashes of their loved ones out in the bright sunlight. These urns are as beautiful as indoor ones but often come in sturdier and stronger materials.
Outdoor urns need to be made to last against weather elements but it’s still important to bring them inside during a strong storm.
Biodegradable
On the other hand, sometimes our preference is to allow the urn to become a part of nature. Biodegradable urns degrade over time in various parts of nature, whether it be in water or soil.
Urns put into water break down the quickest, while those buried into soil break down over several years.
Many people love the idea of one life leading to another and look for urns that have seeds inside of them. As the urn begins to degrade in the soil, it gives life to the seeds inside. Vibrant flowers or strong trees are the typical plants families choose, but these seeds are as customizable as the urn itself.
It’s a beautiful way to honor a person’s memory while also improving the world they left behind.
Memorial Jewelry
Sometimes a mourning family doesn’t want a single place in which to keep the ashes. Sometimes, family members prefer to keep a part of the departed with them at all times in the form of a keepsake jewelry piece.
A small portion of the ashes go into a pendant, small compartment, or mixed into the metal used to make the jewelry. The nice thing about this method is that your entire family gets to keep a part of the departed rather than only one person keeping the entire urn.
Understanding the Different Types of Urns Helps You Choose the Best One
With many types of urns to choose from, it’s important that you take your time choosing the best one for your loved one. There’s no right or wrong answer as long as the urn you choose makes the grieving process easier for you and your family.
There’s also no need to rush through the process. Take as much time as you need and go through our list as many times as necessary until you find the best urn for the departed.
If you need more support, don’t forget to check out the rest of our blog. We have articles that’ll help you through all the different aspects of life.
