Burying Ashes after Cremation. What You Need to Know.

Burying ashes is a popular way of demonstrating symbolic closure following cremation. For those who aren’t interested in keeping urns at home, the interment of ashes can be a practical option. Did you know that there are multiple options involved when arranging for the interment of ashes? Choosing a burial location, browsing between different cremation urns for ashes, and organizing a ceremony are all things to consider.

Burying Ashes in a Cemetery

Many people don’t realize that cremated ashes can be buried in a cemetery, and in most cases, the interment of ashes in a burial plot is much more affordable than traditional burial, since the plot doesn’t require as much space. Shared family plots offer the ability to bury ashes alongside deceased loved ones, which can be an extra source of confidence for families.

Calla Lily Urn for ashes - Medium size urn

In addition to burial in a plot, some cemeteries offer the option of storing cremated ashes in a columbarium. Many columbarium spaces are leased for a set amount of time. A great benefit of this is that the ashes can remain in beautiful ceramic urns. Protected from the elements, these cremation urns for ashes can then be collected if the family decides later that they would like to keep the urn at home or commission the creation of specific keepsakes for ashes.

Familiarize yourself with the regulations and guidelines set by the cemetery regarding the burial of ashes. They may have specific requirements for urns, markers, headstones, or any memorialization options. It's crucial to adhere to these guidelines to ensure a respectful and proper burial.

Set of artisan ceramic urns for ashes. Model "Light"

Community Memorial Gardens

There are also a number of communal memorial gardens that allow the interment or scattering of ashes. These typically offer a very natural setting with flowers, shrubs, trees, and reflection ponds. Community memorial gardens are unique in that the space is shared by many, and permission to access the space must be approved by the managing authorities.

Churchyard Interment

Traditionally, church parishes reserved space for the interment of ashes and traditional burials, either in a plot or columbarium. However, because of space limitations, this is not as common nowadays. It’s typical for religious leaders to require an official ceremony when using a churchyard facility. In addition, there may be additional rules on what types of cremation urns for ashes are allowed for interment in a churchyard. For example, handcrafted urns, some type of religious urns, artisan urns, or urns made from certain materials may be prohibited.

Interment of ashes refers to burying cremated remains into the ground or placing an urn into a columbarium. In the United States, you can legally bury or inter ashes in a wide variety of locations, including cemeteries, wilderness areas, private land, or in the sea. There are rules, benefits, and costs associated with each option, so there's no single "right" decision for every family.

Artisan urns for ashes. "The Passage" set of urns - buy here directly 

Burying Ashes on Private Property

This is the interment option with the least amount of red tape, and it offers an endless amount of options, as you can use ceramic, wooden, biodegradable urns, or no urns at all. As long as you have the permission of the land owner, burying ashes on private property is allowed.

Selecting Cremation Urns for Ashes

Once you’ve decided where to bury the ashes, you can then think about what type of cremation urns for ashes you’re interested in. With a wide variety of urns for ashes on the market, it can be an enjoyable and meaningful process to find the perfect memorial for your loved one. Just keep in mind that different burial sites will have standards on what type of cremation urns for ashes are approved for interment.

Handcrafted urns for ashes by Pulvis Art Urns 

Organizing a Ceremony for the Interment of Ashes

Finally, organizing a ceremony for the burial can be an opportunity to personalize the experience and pay homage to your loved one. Whether reading a poem, playing a certain song, or gathering in a group prayer, ceremonies can be designed with as little or as much time needed to commemorate the moment.

Determine the Date and Location: Choose a date and location for the interment ceremony.

Officiant or Ceremony Leader: Determine who will lead the ceremony. This could be a religious or spiritual leader, a family member, or a close friend.

Guest List and Invitations: Decide who you would like to invite to the ceremony. Consider close family members, friends, and other individuals who were significant in the life of the departed.

Ceremony Program: Prepare a ceremony program that outlines the order of events and includes any readings, music, or tributes that will take place during the ceremony.

Readings and Eulogies: Select meaningful readings, poems, or passages that reflect the personality, values, and beliefs of the departed.

Commemorative Items: Consider providing small keepsakes or mementos for attendees to take home as a remembrance of the ceremony.

Transporting the Cremation Ashes

Wherever you're planning burying ashes, you'll need to have a safe way of transporting them there. If you've purchased a cremation urn, make sure that it seals securely, and/or the ashes are in a sealed bag inside the urn.

Most airlines will allow you to transport cremation remains, either as air cargo, or as carry-on or checked luggage, but each airline’s policy differs, so you’ll need to check with your airline prior boarding.

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Read our article about transporting cremation ashes: 

https://www.pulvisurns.com/blogs/news/transporting-cremation-ashes-what-you-should-know

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Choosing the Right Burial Urn for Ashes

Burial in a public cemetery typically requires either an urn vault or an urn burial container. It's important for the appearance of the cemetery for there to be a solid container to hold the interred ashes. 

If you plan on burying cremation urn on your own property or in another location where it is permitted, you can consider some of our urns, suitable for burial, such as the "Eternity".

Cremation urns that will be interred in a columbarium must have the right size and shape to fit in the space of the columbarium niche. Columbaria have individual niches where urns can be placed, so you'll need to know the correct dimension, prior to ordering the right memorial urn for your loved one. 

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