There are several key things to consider before purchasing an urn. Some people prefer to have their ashes scattered while others have a special resting place designated in advance. This basic understanding will guide you in your selection of an urn.
For someone who wishes to have their ashes scattered the urn may only be ornamental or temporary. An ornamental urn may be an important keepsake and therefore the purchase similar to a permanent resting place for the ashes of a loved one.
If the plan is to bury the urn, then your options can be unlimited if the urn is to be placed in a vault and then buried. Brass, Aluminum, stone, or even wood are options in the event the urn is to be buried.
If the urn will be kept ’on display’ at home or placed in a columbarium niche, then the choice of urn can be of great importance and you will want to consider quality and design, with an understanding that dimensions are important because of the space the urn will be kept.
Capacity and dimension are determined by several factors.
An Adult size urn will hold the ashes of anyone who was 200 - 220 pounds or less before cremation. Often, ashes are divided among several people. In this case, Medium urns work in this instance. Keepsake urns are for small amounts of ashes to be kept in remembrance. Finally, Extra large urns are available for very tall or larger framed individuals.
Height, width, diameter matter for several reasons. If you are using a niche in a church or columbarium, it is important to know the niche size before choosing an urn. Some columbarium have compact niches. Other columbarium are designed for families have more room and can accommodate a larger range of urn sizes.
Urns come in many materials, including, brass, aluminum, wood and marble. Brass is heavy and feels like quality, while wood has a warm, comforting feeling to it. Sometimes the material is less important than the look of the urn.
You can make an urn feel more personal in several ways. For instance, you can personalize an urn with a pendant or engraving, depending on the urn. Or, if the loved one was retired military, for instance, you can purchase a design that highlights their service.
