There are many things to consider when choosing an urn for your loved one’s cremated remains. Urns come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors, styles, and materials. It can be difficult to figure out which one will be right for your family member. Your funeral home will help you pick out an urn and determine the size that you you may need.

Sizes

Urns come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some are large and vase-like; while others are compact cubes. Most urns are made to fit the average amount of cremains. If you have decided to place the urn in a niche in a cemetery columbarium, you should see what constrictions they require. Otherwise, the size you pick should be one that can fit comfortably in your home while properly storing your loved one’s ashes.
Most urns will come in a variety of standard sizes. Adult-sized urns will cover most people. Larger framed or taller individuals may need an extra large sized urn. Medium urns are most often used for keeping a loved one’s ashes divided amongst several family members. Keepsake urns are small urns meant to hold only a small amount of ashes. A family that wants to scatter the ashes of a loved one might keep their loved one close with a keepsake urn.

Displaying the Urn

If you plan on displaying the urn in your home, than you should pick an attractive, but respectful urn. Urns are often displayed at home on a mantle, or on a shelf in a living room or den. The urn you choose to display in your home should be solemn and beautiful.

Engravings

Most urns can be engraved to display your loved ones name and more. You can have the urn itself bare the engraving; or you have the information placed onto an attached placard. Your loved one’s name, birth and death date, a quote, and even an image can be added to an urn via engraving.

Materials

Urns are made in a variety of materials. The most common among them are brass, ceramic, wood, and marble. Within the last few years, glass and aluminum urns have become more popular. Each urn material has it’s pros and cons; but marble is often the best choice for families. Marble urns can be engraved without risk of wearing down the letters. A marble urn can also be buried at a grave rather than in an urn vault; depending on the cemetery.
If you plan on taking the urn on a plane, such as to scatter the ashes, make sure that you pick an urn that can be x-rayed. Wood and marble can be x-rayed, whereas most metal urns cannot.

Keepsake Jewelry

Keepsake jewelry is a pendant, bracelet, or ring with a hollow pocket to house a small amount of a loved one’s ashes. A family may wish to give a number of relatives a keepsake piece after a loved one’s death. It is a way to have your loved one with you always.

For almost 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.