The Popularity of Designer Cremation Urns

Hindsight they say -- is 20/20 -- so now; many years after her passing, I wonder why I never considered the option of getting a family urn (often called a designer urn) for my dear old mother when she turned the page on this life and passed on to something far better. She was in fact cremated - but to be honest I'm not sure if "designer urns" were in vogue back then. I can tell you they sure are now. And personally I think having a designer urn is a cool thing to have. Granted it may not be for everyone -- having a small designer urn with the ashes of a loved one sitting on your mantle or whatever honored spot you've set aside. But more and more families are opting for family urns because it keeps them connected with the individual who has passed away.

Designer urns are small decorative urns designed to hold a small portion of the ashes. This allows one or more family members to keep a small portion of the ashes while the remainder may be buried or scattered elsewhere. For one thing, a designer urn kept in the house it is more personal. And for another it can be a lot lighter economically on a family.

Money may seem like a cold issue to bring up. But let's face it. Burials can be expensive.

According to www.funeralassistant.com,when you discuss cremation and the having all or a portion of the deceased ashes in a designer or family urn, it really depends entirely on how you wish to commemorate a life. One of the advantages of cremation is that it provides you with increased flexibility when you make your funeral and cemetery arrangements.

For example, the site www.funeral-help.com points out that, cremation costs up to a third less than a burial as there is no headstone or grave to be purchased. The funeral director's charges are usually the same for both services. A typical funeral can cost $6,000 compared to about $1200 for a cremation and service. Caskets typically start at about $2,000 for an economy model and quickly rise from there. If you purchase a casket from the funeral home you will most likely pay twice as much or more for the same coffin online. Designer urns vary dramatically in price from a low of $100 to thousands of dollars. But a typical purchase would be $100 to $500 range if purchased online.

If you opt for a direct cremation - which means the deceased is taken from the place of death (or coroner's office) directly to the crematory (with no viewing or services whatsoever), the prices drop even more. According to www.everlifememorials.comby using your state Cremation Society rather than a funeral home (in states where this is legal) you can completely by-pass the funeral home. Typically a direct cremation can cost under $500 through a Cremation Society, yet runs $2000 or more through a funeral home.

Getting back to designer urns - most can be purchased online. Experts say that family urns can weigh as little as a few pounds to as much as several dozen. Again, it really depends on how simple or ornate you want to get.

According to Funeral Assistant.com, many families understandably are curious if they need to put all of the ashes in a family urn. To answer that question it's important to understand the cremation process. Funeral-Help.com points out that the casket or container with the deceased is placed in the cremation chamber, where the temperature is raised to approximately 1600 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. After approximately, 2 to 2 1/2 hours, all organic matter is consumed by heat or evaporation. The residue which is left is bone fragments, known as cremated remains. The cremated remains are then carefully removed from the cremation chamber. Any metal is removed with a magnet and later disposed of in cemetery grounds. The cremated remains are then processed into fine particles and are placed in the container provided by the crematorium or placed in an urn purchased by the family. The entire process takes about three hours. Throughout the cremation process, a carefully controlled labeling system ensures correct identification.

Believe it or not, there is actually a 1-800 number (1-800-CREMATE or 273-6283) which can help you decide on the best method to take regarding cremation and placement of the ashes.

For many, a designer urn picked out by family members is a lot more personal and a lot less traumatic than gravesites and cemeteries. Kept in the home, the ashes of a loved one are never that far from sight or touch and that can be a very reassuring thing.