Many people are under the misconception that once you choose cremation services in Ridgeway, SC. the only option you have to keep the ashes is to do so in an urn at a home. Although this is a popular and typically the most common method of retaining their loved one’s remains, it is not the only option families have.  Two other very popular choices include burying the ashes and keeping them in a columbarium niche.

Burying Cremated Remains

You may be surprised to know that after a cremation the ashes can be buried just like that with a casket burial. This can be done in cemeteries as many offer specific areas on the grounds for urn burials. This can also be done in places more specific for cremation such as a cremation garden.

Many families choose to bury the remains for a number of reasons. Some families do so because it is part of their religion. As some religions do permit cremation, they also state that the remains should be kept together and returned into the earth in a burial.

Other families may choose to place their loved one’s ashes into a burial plot because they wish to have a physical location they can travel to and visit when they want to feel close to their loved one. Having a burial plot often times also allows the family to have a headstone designed and installed which is another factor families may enjoy about this option.

When ashes are buried, they are done so in an urn. This urn is then typically placed in a cremation vault which is much like a casket vault. This vault is an outer container that is sturdy and helps ensure the ground remains stable and the urn stays protected.

When burying the ashes in a cemetery or other space, it is important to talk with the location directly as many may have certain rules or specifications on the type, size or material of urn that is permitted.

Placing Urn in a Columbarium Niche

Another option for placing your loved one’s remains is to have them kept in a columbarium niche. A columbarium is a structure that can be found in cemeteries as well as other memorial sites such as cremation gardens. These structures contain spaces in them referred to as “niches”. It is here that the urns of loved one’s ashes are kept.

Families may choose a columbarium niche because if it provides a safe and secure place for the remains. It also provides a central location for family members to visit.

When purchasing an urn for a columbarium niche it is important to contact the location the columbarium is located in and confirm what materials of urns are allowed as well as what dimensions the urn needs to be to ensure it fits properly into the niche.

If you would like to know more about what can be done with your loved one’s ashes after their cremation services in Ridgeway, SC., give us a call anytime to talk with a funeral director one-on-one and see how we may best serve you.