FAQs - Urnes

Cremation urns come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and with so many options one may wonder what is the appropriate size cremation urn for their loved one. In deciding on the right size urn to purchase there are a couple of considerations to be made.

Displacement of Cremated Remains

First and foremost consider the displacement of the cremains (cremated remains) of the person the cremation urn will be for. The displacement of cremains varies from one person to another and may not be relative to a persons body weight or height, yet here are some guidelines that may help with your decision.

Adults: Typically most of our cremation urns will be able to accommodate the entire cremains of an adult. When the crematory returns the cremains to the family they are contained in what is referred to as a "temporary cremains container" or "temporary cremation urn" which is usually made of plastic, rectangular in shape and has a hinged lid on the top from where the cremains are placed. The most common dimensions for this type of container are approximately 8" tall x 4-1/4" deep x 6" wide. The capacity of a container with these dimensions is about 200 cubic inches give or take a couple of inches depending on the thickness of the container walls.

The best way to determine what the displacement of an individual's cremains are is to open the top of the temporary cremation urn (or if you feel uncomfortable doing this have a close friend or relative do it) and measure the distance from the very top edge of the container to the top of the cremains (usually stored within a plastic bag in the container to prevent separation). For every inch of distance between the top of the cremains and the top of the temporary cremation urn that distance translates to approximately 25 cubic inches and should be subtracted from the total volume of 200 cubic inches to arrive at the approximate displacement.

This figure may vary if the temporary cremation urn's dimensions are different from the ones given, but most temporary cremation urns fall within the dimensions provided.

Infants & Children: Infants and children usually require far less space than an adult. Typically an infant 1 year and younger will displace under 30 cubic inches. With children it varies due to the size of an individual and can be determined using the method prescribed for adults. Placement of a Cremation Urn in a Columbarium or Niche

A columbarium or niche is modular in design consisting of many compartments or niches which open from the front and measure just large enough to accommodate one or two cremation urns and a few mementos. Usually located on cemetery grounds the columbariums can have marble, granite or even glass fronts for viewing the cremation urns.

If placing the cremation urn in a columbarium or a niche within a cemetery one must also consider the interior dimensions of the niche. Some of the urns we carry may not fit in every niche, it is important to make that determination prior to purchasing one as to avoid any returns. Every one of our urns has the dimensions and cubic inch displacement information provided on the product pages.

Cremation Urns

The traditional choice for containing the ashes of a loved one,cremation urns are a container usually made from a wide variety of materials. They are used for both indoor and outdoor use. There are many styles and types of urns. From decorative to theme based urns and religious to sculpted urns there is a diversity of choices to suit any need.

Urns can be displayed in one’s home or in a glass front columbarium niche within a cemetery mausoleum. They can also be stored in an outdoor columbarium niche or even buried in a burial plot within a cemetery garden. Some urns are made from biodegradable materials for the environmentally conscious which can be placed in water or buried in the ground.

Cremation Memorials

Cremation memorials generally refer to any outdoor memorial designed to hold the ashes of a loved one. These can be a grave marker, cremation bench or memorial rock. Each of these memorials has an integrated repository which can hold the ashes of one or two persons.

Cremation memorials are versatile enough to be placed either in a cemetery or a private garden.

Cremation Jewelry

This type of jewelry has been around for just over a decade, yet it has created quite an impact. Cremation jewelry pendants look just like a normal piece of jewelry, but have a small repository for storing a tiny bit of ashes. The repository is usually accessible by removing a screw or plug in which the ashes can be placed. Cremation jewelry gives one the opportunity to have their loved one close to their heart. Cremation jewelry is available in many styles, shapes and metals and they are discreet enough so that only the owner knows what it really is.

This type of jewelry is the perfect choice when several family members wish to keep a portion of the ashes. It allows them to store the cremated ashes in a cherished keesake.

Keepsake urns, by design, are made to hold a small portion of the cremated remains and serve as a memento. They come in numerous styles and materials and can be purchased as a single urn or in a set. Keepsake urns provide the opportunity for all family members to share in remembrance the time spent with a loved one who has passed away. In many cases they can serve as a starting point for each family member to find their own path to closure.

Why a Keepsake Urn?

Keepsake urns are used to meet an assortment of needs. One of the most common needs being that if several family members want to keep a portion of the ashes, then a keepsake urn will fill that need. This is very important especially for large families that were close to the loved one who passed away. They can also be used to keep a portion of the ashes at a separate location such as your office. Another situation is when the main urn is placed in a cremation niche at a cemetery and a surviving family member wishes to keep a small portion for themselves at home. The same applies when the ashes are scattered and a portion is kept for a keepsake memorial.