For many people, the idea of cremation carries with it the image of a silver urn filled with ashes resting on the mantel of the deceased person's family home.  But today, there are so many more options for friends and family to create truly memorable and individualized memorials for someone who passed away and was cremated. 

Keepsake Jewelry

Many people want to keep their departed family or friend close to their heart... and what better way than jewelry worn physically close to the heart?  Glass or metal jewelry can be custom-made to carry a small amount of ashes hidden inside.  Pendants are simple and easy to create, but other cremation jewelry may include a bracelet or ring.  Combined with a wedding ring, a cremation ring offers a surviving spouse a touching way to memorialize shared love. 

Cremation Art

There are just about as many ways to creatively use ashes in art as there are forms of art.  During the process of hand-blowing glass, a small amount of ashes can be melted beautifully right into the glass, creating an ethereal flowing colored memorial.  Painters can mix ashes into the paints to create original pieces of art, to recreate a beloved photo, or to write a unique poem on canvas as a memorial that can be passed down as a family heirloom. 

Tattoos

A growing - but controversial - trend to memorialize a dead loved one is to use some of the cremation ashes in the ink of a tattoo.  This practice is still relatively uncommon, so many tattoo artists are hesitant to participate.  If you choose to pursue such a memorial, be sure to locate a tattoo artist with experience in this particular art form, since the addition of foreign material into the ink may cause some alteration or impurity in the ink itself. 

Fireworks

While few families have the financial means to send their loved one's ashes into space, a fitting way to memorialize an adventurous person in life might be to send him or her off with a grand fireworks display.  Specialized companies incorporate cremation ashes as part of the fireworks' powder load, resulting in a spectacular display that is not only grand and beautiful, but that also launches your loved one as close to outer space as most of us can get. 

No matter what method you choose to honor a person who has passed away, you can be certain that it's easier than ever to make it a special, permanent, and respectful memorial. Talk to a funeral service like Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral And Cremation Services LTD to learn more about cremation options.