Cremation ashes: Can you bury them in your yard?
If you’ve ever wanted to keep your loved one close to you after they’ve passed, you might have considered burying their cremated remains in your yard. If you have, it’s likely you’ve got a lot of questions.
Is it possible to bury the ashes of your loved one in your own yard? Is it legal? Is it safe? The answer to all these questions is: yes.
It is possible, legal and safe to bury someone’s cremated ashes on private or public property, including your own yard. Other places that can be used for burying cremated remains include:
- Cemetery plot
- Dedicated urn garden
- Natural burial ground
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BURY SOMEONE’S ASHES IN YOUR YARD?
Wanting to bury or scatter a loved one’s ashes in your yard is perfectly normal and something a lot of people consider after arranging the final send off with funeral directors. Here are just some of the reasons people choose to create a memorial for their loved one on their own property:
- Burying ashes seems more traditional than other options, as it’s similar to the burial of a human body.
- If you decide to bury the cremains in your yard, you can choose a sentimental spot that holds special meaning for you and the departed.
- When you decide to bury the cremated ashes, you can still take part in the traditional practice of choosing a meaningful headstone to mark the grave.
- Seeing the place where they are buried in your yard serves as a constant reminder of the person you want to remember.
WHAT ARE THE STORAGE OPTIONS FOR CREMATED ASHES?
Cremation ashes are typically stored in urns. Cremation urns come in a variety of designs, shapes and sizes. They can be simple and minimalist, or bold and creative.
If, instead of scattering ashes, you plan on burying the ashes in the ground (for instance your very own yard) or floating the ashes in water, it’s a good idea to choose a biodegradable cremation urn made of sustainable materials.
A cremation urn can also be displayed in your home, typically on a shelf or fireplace mantle. Urns can also be stored in a columbarium, which is a building that is usually found within a cemetery or a church with built-in niches to store funeral urns.
WHAT ARE MY OTHER OPTIONS FOR CREMATED ASHES?
Besides storing, burying or scattering cremated remains, there are many other ways to handle the ashes of a deceased friend, spouse or family member. Here are some options to inspire you:
- Have the ashes embedded into a memorial, such as a cremation bench, grave marker or memorial rock and place it in a cemetery.
- Send in the ashes to be transformed into a timeless diamond. Small amounts of carbon will be extracted from the ashes and used to grow a genuine diamond. The diamond can then be placed into a jewelry setting, creating a unique keepsake.
- Send the ashes to a company that will swirl them in a glass memorial. A small portion of the cremated ashes will be fused with molten glass to create unique designs and patterns.
- Spread the ashes on land, water or air in a place with special meaning for both you and your lost loved one.
- Place a small amount of ashes in a piece of memorial jewelry, such as a ring, pendant, locket or bracelet.
HOW MUCH ASHES ARE LEFT AFTER CREMATION?
After the cremation process is complete, a standard adult will produce approximately five pounds of ashes. The final weight and volume of ashes is determined by the size and density of the deceased’s bones. This can cause the weight of the ashes to vary by three to ten pounds.
Cremated remains consist only of bone because fluids, fat and organ tissue burn away during the incineration process.
If you’ve never seen cremated remains before, they might not be what you’d expect. Unlike the fine powder-like substance that most of us picture when we think of ashes, the texture of cremated remains is more like coarse sand with bone fragments throughout.
REMEMBER YOUR LOVED ONE IN A SPECIAL WAY
Grief is a profoundly personal experience. No one’s journey will be the same as anyone else’s. Handling the cremated ashes of the deceased is a therapeutic way to memorialize the departed, work through your grief and attain personal closure.
No matter what you choose to do with the cremated remains of someone you love, the important thing is that you do what feels right to you, those around you and the person you lost.