Choosing a final resting place for a loved one’s ashes is a meaningful step in the touching phase of remembrance and healing.
Care and respect – are two constants irrespective of whether you choose a cremation urn as a permanent home for the ashes or prepare them for a scattering ceremony down the line.
Follow this simple guide to help you through transferring ashes into an urn.
Setting Up Your Space
Before you start, creating a clean and stable work area. Place a sheet of newspaper or a towel on a table or countertop to catch any spills.
You’ll need a few items at hand: the urn, scissors, and a funnel or a makeshift one from paper.
Though the ashes are harmless, gloves and a mask are recommended to minimize mess.
Transferring the Ashes
- If the urn’s opening is wide, you can place the sealed bag of ashes directly inside.
- For a more gradual transfer, cut a small corner of the bag and pour the ashes slowly into the urn, using a funnel to avoid spills.
- Or you can transfer the ashes into a new bag, and then place it in the urn, for an extra layer of spill protection.
- Remember to keep the identification tag with the ashes. Once transferred, secure the urn’s lid. To be safe, some families seal the urn with adhesive.
Personalizing the Urn
Engravings, appliques, and medallions are popular choices to add a personal touch, allowing families to customize with names, dates, meaningful quotes, or symbols that reflect the loved one’s life or beliefs.
The best way to personalize an urn is usually determined by its material. For example, engraving works well on stone, metal, and wood urns.
Final Thoughts
Taking the time to prepare, carefully following each step, and incorporating personal and cultural elements can make the process of transferring ashes a more comforting and meaningful experience. There’s no one right way to do this – what matters most is that it honors the memory of the departed in a way that speaks to you and y
