After a person’s death, families are tasked with making decisions. From the funeral arrangements to personal belongings, you have to think about all the details while you’re grieving. You must consider your family member’s wishes, the cost, and more. If you’re looking for the right resting place for your relative, this is the place for you. Here are five ways you can lay your loved one to rest:
Traditional Burial
While some details vary, burials in the cemetery are common for a lot of religions and even for animals. In Salt Lake City, you can get well-made headstones to honor your relative while you can bury your pet in New York City. Tangible markers such as headstones can provide comfort and peace to family and friends. They can also help with the grieving process by providing a sense of finality.
Besides the emotional benefits, cemeteries can also be educational. Author Loren Rhoads has compared graveyards to open-air museums because they preserve history as well. You can learn about your own family’s past, world wars, and pandemics with a cemetery visit.
Burial at Sea
If your family member has a fondness for water and marine life, consider a burial at sea. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows people to be laid to rest by caskets or cremated remains with several requirements. The biggest deterrent to this method is the hefty cost, which starts at around $10,000.
An alternative is the Eternal Reef. It involves using cremated remains into making artificial reefs to help fish and other marine life. Currently, their reefs are present on the coasts of seven states.
The cheapest and easiest option for a water-themed resting place is by scattering ashes at sea. You just have to do it three nautical miles from land and let the EPA know 30 days in advance before you do so. You can also scatter ashes in rivers or lakes without notifying the agency, but laws may differ per state.
Living Memorial
Give a new definition to life after death by planting with your loved one’s remains. Italian designers have invented an organic pod for cremated and non-cremated remains. The pod provides nutrients to a tree planted above it. If you’re interested in planting one, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s legal in the U.S.
For a more floral option, there are products on the market that you can combine with ashes so that it can be used as soil. You can then use the mixture to plant flowers to honor your relative or even your pet.
If you want something that you can keep indoors, opt for a biodegradable urn. The high-tech invention waters your plant for you while sending you with updates with an app. These options are great for a relative who’s passionate about the environment.
When selecting a resting place, make sure to consider your loved one’s wishes. It’s a way for you to pay your respects and honor their memories on their terms. Ask your other family members and close friends for their opinions before deciding.
