Short Guide to Urns

After your loved one’s direct cremation in Greenfield, WI. one of your most important purchases you will make will be their urn. With this urn serving as the vessel their remains will be kept, as well as a tribute to them, you want to select just the right one. With this purchase being one that we do not make often if ever, it can be a little tricky knowing which urn to choose. We are going to cover some of the main elements of an urn that you should consider. 

The main things you want to pay attention to when selecting your loved one’s urn are what type of urn you would like as well as its size and the material it is made from. Let’s look at each of these in more detail. 

The Type of Urn 

There are many types of urns and each one is better suited for certain situations. Some of the most common types of urns are display, keepsake, and biodegradable. 

• Display- This type of urn is what most people think of when they consider keeping their loved one’s ashes. These urns are large enough to contain all the ashes and are normally made from decorative finishes and designs. 

• Keepsake- Keepsake urns are smaller and are meant to hold just a portion of remains. These are good urns for families who have several family members who each wish to have an urn with some of the ashes. 

• Biodegradable- Biodegrade urns are becoming more popular and are used typically when a family wishes to bury their loved one’s ashes with a tree or flowers send the remains out in the ocean or a lake, or place then in another natural setting. 

Determine the Size 

Many people are unaware that urns actually come in a variety of sizes. To know what size you will need, you will need to know about how much your loved one weighed. This is because for every pound of body weight, one cubic inch of space is needed in the urn. So, for example, a person who weighed 175 pounds would need an urn of at least 175 cubic inches or more. The exception to this case is with keepsake urns since those urns are meant to be smaller and only hold a small portion of the remains. 

The Material of the Urn 

If you choose a biodegradable urn then you may think the material it is made from would not matter, however, it does. Some materials, such as paper, will break down within minutes while others, such as bamboo, can take much longer to decompose. 

When it comes to display and keepsake urns, you will typically find them made from wood, metal, glass and ceramic. Depending on where you wish to keep the urn, one material may be better suited than another. For example, if you wish to keep the urn in a sunny room, then a wooden urn may not be the best choices since direct sunlight can cause damage to the urn over time. When selecting your urn, talk to the urn provider about the materials and its properties to ensure it is a good fit. 

Selecting your loved ones urn after their direct cremation in Greenfield, WI. can seem challenging. With so many types, sizes, and materials, it can be a little overwhelming. Just take it slow and look at each element one at a time to help you decide on the perfect urn.