memorial ideas

5 Ways to Use Memorial Stones

January 15, 2016 urngarden.com

5 Ways to Use Memorial Stones When a loved one dies, it is becoming more commonplace to place a memorial stone in her honor. It is a personal yet comforting reminder that she now lives in the hearts of her family and friends. Memorial stones are made from resin, hand-cast stone or concrete. Depending on where you live, resin stones and statuary may need to be sheltered during certain seasons as extreme heat or cold might cause damage. Concrete is waterproof and durable and can stand up to even the harshest weather and last for many years. If needed, personalized monuments can easily be touched up with masonry paint if fading occurs over time.

Five Ways to Use Memorial Stones
If you are thinking of placing a memorial stone in memory of a loved one who died, there are several ways in which to do this so others can share their sentiments too.

1. Tree and plant dedication: If you are holding a special tree planting as part of a living memorial, you can add a dedication stone identifying and paying tribute to your loved one.

2. Sacred space: Dedicating a special place such as a spot in your backyard can be deemed a sacred space. It needn’t be associated with religion. This space, where a lovely memorial stone can be placed, is simply an area worth of dedication or respect.

3. Park: Since parks are public places, memorial stones are typically placed in them when a tree, bench or plant is dedicated to a public figure or notable resident.

4. Office or workplace: Some places of employment dedicate a room, building, courtyard, or other spot with a memorial stone or plaque typically in honor of a founder, long-time employee or someone in a leading role passes away.

5. Garden memorial: This is probably one of the most traditional ways to honor someone at home. You can place a memorial stone in a garden filled with your loved one’s favorite plants, trees or other types of garden décor.

Making a Memory Wreath

November 14, 2012 urngarden.com

tie-wreath-s3-medium_new — From Good Housekeeping

A sweet remembrance could be created from a closet full of neck ties. Inspiration can come from what appears to be old throw away items. You really only need three things for the necktie wreath:

A supply of colorful ties
Styrofoam wreath form
Hot glue gun

Wrap the ties so that the point is faces out from the center of the wreath, pin in place. Trim the tie if desired. Use your hot glue gun to secure in place. Add a wire to the top for hanging, take one more tie and cover the wire to give it a more finished look. You’re done!

Discount Funeral Urns for Less Than $100

November 22, 2010 urngarden.com

We’re clearing out the warehouse at the Urn Garden and offering families tremendous discounts on new funeral home quality cremation urns. Several styles of cremation urns to choose from for less than $100.00. These selections are a tremendous value and will save you money compared to purchasing at the funeral home for close to $300 or more. Quality wise these urns are top of the line, just discontinued styles and closeouts of some overstock. Most of the urns on sale are metal urns with secure threaded lids and occasionally wood, but you can also find containers that are designed for scattering ashes if you are planning a ceremony of that nature. See our catalog for more styles.

Memorials don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful and occasionally, we may offer discounted samples that we’ve used for display or experimented with engraving. Sometimes, we even have second quality items that are ideal for burial or sometimes set designers for movies and television will buy these cheaper urns to use as set props.

cremation urns for the home

Cremation Urn Memorial Jewelry

December 8, 2009 urngarden.com

Early examples of mourning jewelry were found in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. Black and white enameled heads or skulls were often set into both rings and brooches and worn to signify a period of mourning after the death of a loved one.

The Death’s Head motif (skull) was still used on mourning rings as late as the 17th century. A ring presented after the execution of King Charles I in 1649 shows a portrait of Charles I on one side and a skull and a crown on the other. Inside the inscription reads, “The glory of England has departed.”

The presentation of mourning rings was a status symbol in the 17th and 18th centuries. The wealthy specified the ring design and quantity to be made in their wills.

Samuel Pepys, English diarist and naval official (1633-1703) willed that 129 mourning rings be given away at his funeral.

Either he had a large family or a huge ego.

Urn Garden is pleased to launch a contemporary line of urn rings, inspired by Victorian mourning jewelry.

Keepsake Cremation Urn Ring

Keeping it on the Down Low: Ceremony for Spreading Ashes

September 23, 2009 urngarden.com

scattering ashes from the eiffel tower

Some families like to scatter ashes from way up high, this lady is releasing a keepsake amount of cremated ashes from the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Or this undisclosed location:

scattering ashes ceremony

We prefer to keep it on the down low, whether spreading ashes on the ground or over the water:

spreading ashes ceremony

U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Gabriel Hernandez

If you plan to spread the ashes on the ground, a shallow trench or groove can be dug in the soil or sand where the ashes can be placed. This process can be personalized by drawing out the person’s name or a heart shaped trench. Add candles or luminaries around the trench to create a spiritual ambiance and can be later used as a keepsake for those that attend. Wildflower seeds and tree plantings are another way to personalize the event. At the end of the ceremony, participants can either rake over the remains in the trench, or have the water from the ocean sweep the remains out to sea while family and friends join hands and remember the individual’s life.