Cremation is on the rise in the United States. According to the 2014 NFDA Cremation and Burial Report: Research, Statistics and Projections, the number of cremations is expected to surpass that of burials in 2015. As more people began to turn to cremation, more creative ways of spreading ashes have developed.
Traditionally, cremated remains (or “cremains“) are kept in an urn in the house or buried in a cemetery. It is also quite common for people to scatter the cremains of their loved ones over land or sea. Thanks to the creative minds of an eccentric generation, these are no longer the only options.
Here is my countdown for the top five, most unusual options available for handling cremated remains. Chances are you have heard of some of them or maybe they have never even crossed your mind.
5. Coral reef
Cremated remains can be mixed into a concrete structure, which forms the base for a coral to latch onto and grow. The coral site is mapped, and all it takes is a simple scuba dive to visit the final resting place of your loved one in the coral reef.
- stevecadman / Foter / CC BY-SA
4. Vinyl record
If your loved one was big into music, their cremains can be pressed into a vinyl record. Plan ahead, and he/she can record a personal message and a last will & testament, or create an entire soundtrack. Artwork and portraits are also available for the record.
3. Stained glass
Looking for an alternative to displaying ashes in an urn on the mantel? Now you can make your loved ones ashes a part of your home by mixing them into a stained glass window. Your loved one’s cremains can be part of a beautiful piece of artwork, and no one needs to know unless you choose to tell them
2. Bullets
For the avid hunter or outdoorsman, a box of bullets might make for the perfect memorial. Cremains can be incorporated into hollow-point bullets or shotgun shells, and well, we all know what you do with those. Go turkey hunting, of course!
1. Outer space
It turns out you don’t have to be an astronaut to orbit the Earth. Make it a round trip to space and back or a one-way ticket into deep space.
By Diane Durbin, OGR Membership Coordinator
Sources:
“10 Weirdest Things You Can Do With Your Ashes”
“27 Things To Do With Cremated Remains”
“10 Amazing Things Your Ashes Can Do After You Die”
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