Month: May 2022

After your loved one’s cremation services in Irving, TX., there are several options for how to keep their remains. You may want to purchase a decorative urn and keep it in a special place in your home. Or you may choose to scatter the remains with an ash scattering ceremony. Even still, if you would like to always keep them close to you, you may decide to purchase a piece of cremation jewelry. If you are not familiar with this option, don’t worry, many people aren’t. We are going to explain this option a little more.

What is Cremation Jewelry?

Cremation jewelry is a very special way to keep your loved one close to you. This unique jewelry looks like any other piece of adornment but allows you to house a small portion of your loved one’s remains in the piece.

These pieces can be found as necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Each piece typically has a chamber or “pocket” that opens to reveal a space to add the ashes.

Probably the most popular piece is the cremation necklace with a pendant. This pendant is typically a heart, cross, or other comforting or religious shape and is the area the remains are filled into. These necklaces are nice because the pendant is close to your heart.

Can You Only Add Ashes?

While most people use these pieces to hold a portion of their loved one’s ashes, other small tokens of remembrance could be added instead. These items could be a lock of your loved one’s hair, dried flowers from their service or any other small item.

How Do You Get the Ashes Inside the Piece?

When you receive your piece of jewelry, you will typically also receive a small funnel, pin, and screwdriver. The interior compartment that holds the ashes will be accessed by unscrewing a small screw.

Using the funnel, you will add a portion of your loved one’s remains into the compartment. You may need to use the pin to help the remains go in evenly. After the compartment has been filled, you simply secure the screw back in until it is flush with the piece.

Unique Benefits with Cremation Jewelry

Choosing cremation jewelry has some unique benefits that many people are drawn to. The first one is, as mentioned before, it is a wonderful way to always have your loved one close to you. This can be extremely comforting as you are going through this very difficult time.

Another reason people like this option is since only a small portion of the remains are used, many family members can purchase and wear a piece. Some families choose to get matching pieces while others choose to get individual styles. In any case it is a nice option if several family members wish to share the remains rather than them staying in one home.

After your loved one’s direct cremation services in Irving, TX., there are several ways to hold on to their remains. If you would like a way to feel close to them and always have them with you, cremation jewelry is a perfect option.

When a family chooses a direct cremation, the remains of the deceased are returned to the family in a temporary urn. Some families choose to purchase a more permanent urn and keep these remains in a family member’s home so their loved one can always be close to them. However, some families may choose to scatter the remains. If you are interested in spreading your loved one’s ashes after their cremation services in Dallas, TX., keep reading as we explore five ways to do so.

Casting Ceremony

This type of event to release the ashes is typically the most common and is what most people imagine when they think of an ash scattering ceremony. In this event, the remains of the deceased are released and tossed into the air. This can either be done by one person, or several depending on how the family would like it to be performed.

Raking Ceremony

Another option is a raking ceremony. In this type of event, the remains are dispersed across an area of soil in a garden or other outside area. The remains are then raked into the soil becoming one with the earth again.

You might find that one person rakes all of the remains or everyone may take turns and share a found memory or story when they are at the rake. This ceremony can be performed on public lands that allow it or in scattering gardens that are created specifically for this service.

Trenching Ceremony

A variation of the raking ceremony is a trenching ceremony. With this event, the remains are not raked into the earth but buried. A trench or hole is dug, and the ashes are scattered inside. The family then fills in and covers the hole.

This is a nice option to perform alongside a flower bed or in a garden. You could also plant a new tree or flowers and have them serve as a tribute to your loved one for years to come.

Water Ceremony

If your loved one adored the water, you may decide on a water ceremony. These can be done in two ways. One is like the casting ceremony where the remains are tossed into the air over the water. The second way is to purchase a water-soluble urn for the remains to be placed in. This urn will be environmentally safe to release into the water and stay afloat for a little while before dissolving.

Guests may also add flowers or wreaths into the water but must ensure that all items added decompose easily and completely and will not be environmentally harmful to any of the water life.

Sky Ceremony

This is definitely the ceremony that makes the biggest statement. With this ceremony, your loved one’s ashes are taken up into the sky and released into the air. You can find companies that do this with a plane, helicopter, glider, or even a hot air balloon.

One downside is that space for passengers is often very limited (if allowed at all). So, if being with the remains as they are released is important to you, or you have many people who would like to attend, you might be better off choosing another option.

You can see that there are several ways to release your loved one’s remains after their cremation services in Dallas, TX. And with each one of these ceremonies, you can choose to make it as personalized for your loved one as you wish to create a truly special and meaningful tribute.

If you are preplanning your direct cremation services in Farmers Branch, TX., that is fantastic. While most people agree that preplanning is important, very few actually follow through and make the arrangements. By taking the initiative and completing this process, you are already ahead of the pack. However, without the proper guidance, you might be susceptible to making some big mistakes. We are going to address some of the most common mistakes so you can be sure to avoid them.

1. Not Letting Others Know

It’s great to preplan and make all of your final arrangements but failing to let others know these plans will make them pretty much void. You may think that by having everything written down and kept with your other important papers may be enough, but most times arrangements will be made before any of your papers are sorted through.

If nobody is aware that you made any plans, they will have to make arrangements based on their own judgement and preferences and this may not coincide with what you wanted. To ensure that your final wishes are carried out, let your loved ones know what your wished are, what services you have already preplanned, and what providers they have been preplanned with.

2. Not Setting a Budget

While cremation in general is less expensive than burials, and direct cremation is the least expensive option of all, you shouldn’t have to have an extremely large budget. Because of this, you may feel that there is no need to set one. However, it is always a good idea to have a set budget before you shop for this or any other service.

Even though you may think you have one price in mind and will be able to stick with it, there may be more options you end up selecting and before you know it, you have spent way more money than you intended to. Make sure you set a reasonable budget and stick with it.

3. Not Thinking About Others

True, these direct cremation services are for you, but they are also for the ones who will be left to mourn your passing. It may not be important to you to have any type of service after your cremation, but what about your loved ones? They may really appreciate having a small service and being able to mourn together.

When deicing your last wishes, of course, think about yourself and what you would like to have happen, but also keep in mind those who love you and what they might need.

4. Not Considering All Your Options

You may think that after your direct cremation, you would like your ashes to be released at a special place that holds meaning to you such as a national park you always camped in. However, with so many options these days, what else might you include? Maybe you would like your ashes to be buried in a biodegradable urn and planted with a tree or some flowers. Perhaps you would like to have a butterfly or dove release. Take some time and explore all of your options before settling on your final choice.

When you are ready to preplan your cremation services in Farmers Branch, TX., we are here to help make this process easy and guide you from making these mistakes.

If you are talking with providers of cremation services in Irving, TX. about direct cremation, you may be wanting to know if you can have a viewing or visitation with this type of cremation. While there is not an opportunity to have a service before the direct cremation, there are several services and events you can hold after. Some of these include holding a memorial service, celebration of life event, or an ash scattering ceremony.

If you are not sure about what type of event you would like to hold for your loved one after their direct cremation, let’s look at each on a little closer to help you decide.

Memorial Service

A memorial service is much like a more traditional funeral service in that they are solemn, structured events. They can be religious and include readings of scriptures or prayers, or they can be more secular in nature. These events also mimic funeral services in that they tend to be quiet, reserved, somber events.

These services can be held at a church or other event space or even someone’s home. They are led by a master of ceremonies and allow time for eulogies, songs, and other traditional service elements.

Celebration of Life Event

If you would like to host an event that is less structured and livelier, then you would want to opt for a celebration of life event. These events are more like a party and less like a funeral service. There is typically no structure or predetermined outline of events. Instead, this is a time for family and friends to gather with one another and honor the life of the deceased rather than mourn their passing.

These events are focused more on being happy and joyful and remembering the deceased and all the good times. Friends and family can share stories and found memories of the loved one and pay tribute to their life on earth.

Ash Scattering Ceremony

An ash scattering ceremony, also called casting ceremonies, take place where the remains will be scattered and are open to be held in anyway the family would like. These ceremonies can be religious or secular in nature and can be quieter and more reserved, or lively and loud. There is truly no “right way” to hold this service.

The way the ashes are scattered can also be done in any manner the family wishes. For example, all the remains could be dispersed by one person such as the deceased’s spouse or someone who was closest to them. Another example that some families may choose is to have a symbolic toast and divide the ashes up into glasses. Each guest gets a glass and after the toast is said, everyone releases the ashes at one time.

Final Thoughts

You can see that while there is no time to hold services before a direct cremation, families have ample opportunities to hold a variety of services after. One advantage of this is that there is no rush to plan the event. Since the body has been taken care of, families have time to slow down, decompress and really plan a perfect event.

If you were worried that you would not be able to hold an event with cremation services in Irving, TX., you can see that there is a myriad of options available.