Army National Guard Bronze Cube Cremation Urn

It’s never easy losing a parent, and when my father, a retired naval officer, died of cancer last month, taking care of his final arrangements was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. Since he stated in his will that he wished to be cremated, we honored those wishes, but then came the issue of what to do with the ashes. The funeral home suggested that we buy an urn so that we could display his ashes if we chose, but when we looked over the choices they presented, nothing really seemed to fit dad’s personality. He’d been a warm but tough man whose service to this country had meant everything to him. While the urns we looked at were attractive, they didn’t seem to suit the man he’d been at all. Continue reading →

Large Teddy Bear Cremation Urn - White

I can’t remember a time when my Grandma Teddy didn’t have teddy bears in her house. From the time I was old enough to walk, I recall toddling through her house, from room to room and seeing bears sitting in her rockers, on shelves, or cuddled together companionably in the corner. My grandmother’s unusual name, Theodora, led to her being nicknamed “Teddy,” and she always said that there was plenty of room in her home and in her heart for these bears. She collected them for years, and she always let me play with them when I went to her house. Continue reading →

Weeping Angel Cremation Urn - Engravable

I have always felt a connection with dogs, and I was fond of telling my husband, “If there are no dogs in heaven, I want to go where they went.” I suppose it was that connection that led me to volunteer at our local no-kill animal shelter once or twice a week, where I would help to clean the grounds, feed and water dogs, or even just spend some time with the ones that never seemed to get much attention. Continue reading →

Floral Vine Cloisonne Cremation Urn

Traditionally, when people pass away, most families hold wakes, which include the viewing of a body so that people can have closure and say goodbye. The day after the wake, the funeral is usually held, which may or may not include a grave-side service. However, more and more, people today are choosing cremation for their loved ones as an alternative to burial for several different reasons. While some may be uncomfortable with cremation, it is still important that a service be held, even though it will not be quite the same as a wake. Continue reading →

Weeping Angel Cremation Urn - Engravable

Cremation, which is the burning of a dead body down to ashes, is becoming a more popular choice when it comes to planning the final arrangements of a deceased loved one. Whether it was a beloved grandparent, a spouse, a child, or even a family pet, many people are choosing cremation because it is seen as a more hygienic and less macabre way to end life’s cycle. Many people cannot bear the thought of burying their loved ones underground, and this is why they choose cremation because they can retain the ashes in an urn or scatter them on their property, which helps them feel close to the person or pet they have lost. If you are considering cremation for yourself or a loved one, there are several things you should know. Continue reading →

Navy Blue EcoUrn Cremation Urn

When I was a kid, my Uncle Aaron took my brothers and me on fishing and camping trips at least twice a month. He loved being outdoors—fishing, hiking, camping—Uncle Aaron did it all, and there was no other place he loved more than his cabin in Upstate New York. As I grew up, I didn’t get to Uncle Aaron as often, and when he died in a boating accident during a fishing trip, I felt sad and angry that he died so suddenly and that I never got to say goodbye. Since Uncle Aaron’s parents had passed away some time earlier, it was up to my father to make the final arrangements. Continue reading →

Marble Insert Engravable Garden Cremation Urn

When a loved one dies, one of the last details to be completed is the marker, or headstone. There are many options from simple to ornate. Almost anything from pictures of family to hobbies can be placed onto a headstone. One of the fascinating new technologies is the use of RFID computer chips to allow headstones to speak. The iPad sized stone tablets are implanted with the chip. Cell phones with the right app will receive a signal from the chip and hear the last words prerecorded onto the chip. Continue reading →

Crest Marble Cremation Urn

Very few things are as jarring and disruptive as the passing of a loved one. One of the many details is the planning of the funeral. Fortunately, very few people have ever had to plan a funeral. However, the lack of experience can make task of planning a funeral all the more difficult. Below are four tips to help make the planning of the funeral easier. Continue reading →

Ruby Marble with Angel Infant Cremation Urn

One of the most difficult experiences any parent can have is outliving a child. The loss of a child, particularly a young child, seems to go against the natural order of things. How can a parent cope with the loss of a child, particularly if the loss is unexpected?

The first truth of grief over the loss of a child is that a parent will never “get over” the loss. Time is a great healer, and time will allow the grief to be more bearable, but a parent will always carry grief in their heart. Continue reading →

Loving Swans Sculpted Companion Cremation Urn

Many people are increasingly turning towards cremation and funeral urns in their end of life planning. While many are influenced by economic circumstances, another reason more people are choosing urns is because of the personalized touch an urn can convey. The wide variety of urns has made clear that individuals are able to choose how their remains will be displayed. This allows for a last artistic or stylistic choice. Continue reading →