9 cremation memorial ideas to honor your loved one

Making the final arrangements after the loss of a loved one is always difficult. It’s only natural to want to keep hold of your loved one and let them know that you treasure them just as much in death as you did in life. One comforting way you can say goodbye to your loved one is to memorialize them in a creative, thoughtful way that they’d be proud of.

If you’re planning to have your loved one cremated, you don’t have to place their ashes inside an urn and bury it in a cemetery. From memorial rocks with heartfelt engravings to cremation plaques you can place anywhere you like, there are plenty of inventive ideas to make sure your loved one is never forgotten.

Here are 9 imaginative cremation memorial ideas to inspire you to do something loving and meaningful as you bid your final goodbye:

1. Cremation urn

If you’d prefer to keep things simple and traditional, consider storing your loved one’s ashes inside a cremation urn. You can choose a readymade urn in a minimalist style or get creative and design a one-of-a-kind urn that reflects your loved one’s personality.

When you’ve chosen or designed the urn, it’s time to decide what to do with it. You can bury the urn in a cemetery plot or even in your own yard. If you’d rather keep the urn close, you can put it on display somewhere in your home.

2. Columbarium

Another place you can store urns is inside a columbarium. A columbarium is a building with individual niches, each of which houses a single urn filled with ashes.

You’ll find columbariums in many cemeteries. Sometimes they’re standalone buildings and sometimes they form part of a mausoleum. If you’re searching for a more personal cremation memorial option, you can choose to have your own private columbarium built just for your family.

While each niche typically holds one urn, they can be created to house any number of urns. When a niche is complete, a personalized plaque is placed in front of it, detailing whose remains are inside.

3. Memorial headstone

If you’re planning on burying the urn, you may want to consider creating a memorial headstone. Just like the headstones you see in cemeteries for people who have been buried, headstones for buried urns can be engraved with whatever information you like.

You can keep things simple and engrave your loved one’s name, the year of their birth, and the year of their death. Or you can take things a step further and engrave a few kind words about them or even some lines from a poem.

4. Miniature headstone

A miniature headstone is a good idea if you’re planning on burying the urn in your own yard. A full-size headstone is often too big for a standard yard, while a miniature headstone is much more appropriate and still allows you to pay a tribute to your loved one.

Miniature headstones come in just as many variants as ordinary headstones. You can customize it however you like and be reminded of the bond you shared every time you see it.

5. Cremation plaque

If you’re considering scattering the ashes somewhere meaningful, you may want to think about a cremation plaque. A plaque allows you to add longer inscriptions that won’t fit on a standard or miniature headstone.

You can place the plaque in the same place you scatter the ashes. Alternatively, you can leave the plaque somewhere that meant a lot to your loved one if you’ve got different plans for the urn and ashes. A cremation plaque provides you and your family with a place to visit the person you lost.

6. Memorial vase

A memorial vase is a personalized, often engraved, vase designed to hold flowers in a spot close to your loved one’s final resting place. This could be in a cemetery, columbarium, or even your backyard.

You can have words, dates, and images engraved on a memorial vase, so you can really make it as unique as you wish. It’s a beautiful way to memorialize your loved one and continue to honor them whenever you fill it with fresh flowers.

7. Memorial rock

One of the oldest cremation memorials which dates back centuries, a personalized memorial rock is a sustainable and natural option. There are two different types of memorial rock — one in which you place the entire urn inside and one in which you place some loose ashes inside. The type you choose really depends on how much space you have and where you’re planning on keeping it.

When the stone is cut flat, you can also personalize it with some heartfelt words or a portrait of the person you want to remember. You can keep the rock on its own or use it as part of a small memorial garden dedicated to your lost loved one.

8. Memorial Bench

A memorial bench is a great option if you want to make a big impact. It also allows for a lot of personalization and creativity.

Memorial benches come in many different styles, colors, sizes, and designs. You can even go one step further and have the bench customized with thoughtful words and meaningful dates. To make the bench even more personal, consider having a plaque with a portrait of your loved one added to it.

There are many different spots you can place a memorial bench. Inside a cemetery, at your loved one’s favorite park, or even in your own garden are just some ideas.

9. Cremation jewelry

If you want to do something meaningful with your loved one’s ashes, consider turning them into a diamond. You only need a very small volume of ashes to make a genuine diamond. So even if they’re being divided between family members, it’s more than likely you’ll have enough.

When you create a memorial diamond, you can have it placed in a beautiful piece of jewelry and keep it with you at all times. If you’re not ready to say goodbye just yet, memorial jewelry will help you feel closer to your loved one and provide you with closure.