Personal Cremation Urns

Every Detail is Captured

We have been getting a lot of press about our Personal Urns For Ashes, so I thought I would write a little about them myself. As many of you may or may not know I was a funeral director for over twenty years before starting Cremation Solutions. I attend the industry trade shows and read the trade journals. The industry has been trying to help make services and products more personal for some time now. In the urn department, urns with photos and engraved personal information has become popular. Even urns with digital slide shows are popular. I thought what about an urn that looks just like the deceased, what could be better than that!

The company called “That’s My Face” was the solution to the latest technology capable of producing such an urn. That’s my Face was founded by a PhD from the University of Cambridge (England) computer lab. ThatsMyFace.com specializes in patent-pending technologies around facial reconstruction, facial analysis and in transforming 2D portraiture into 3D sculptures. They make mask’s and action figures that look just like you! The best part is that they can do it from just a photo or two. They digitally create a three dimensional image from a two dimensional photo. The software can adjust coloration and fix blemishes and so on. I suggest people use images from their mid-life era to capture themselves in their prime. One recent customer wanted his own urn created in black and white and wanted his hand on his chin like Rodans famous sculpture “The Thinker”.

So we have been selling the urns now for two years. Sales are not as good as I had hoped for. I call it personalization gone too far! It seems that the Personal Cremation Urns just plain look too real. Creepy is the term that most used for their description. So they are not for everybody but most people do find them fascinating to say the least. At least the people that have purchased them are very pleased with the resulting urn. They rest on a handsome Verde marble base. A threaded plug is removed from the bottom of the base and the ashes are poured directly into the urn for all eternity. For a very personal one of a kind product that is selling well for Cremation Solutions, check our our selection of fingerprint jewelry. Fingerprint jewelry is jewelry that is made from an ink print of anyone’s fingerprint. Our fingerprints are like our one of a kind signature that nature has given each to us. No two fingerprints are alike.

I think in the near future I will offer them with the option of coming in a bronze tone. Casting of heads and bust have been around as memorials and art for hundreds of years and no one calls them creepy. The natural coloring as they are done now really brings them to life. Even the eyes look incredibly real.

Some of the strange request we have been asked are: Can you make them with movable eyes. Can we add a recording that is motion activated. I would like an Ozzy Ozbourne urn so I can spend eternity riding on the “Crazy Train”.  Lucky I have a sense of humor and am used to being asked strange questions. It’s not strange to me! twenty years in the funeral biz have prepared me. Ask away!!

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The Circle of Life. Returning to the Holy Land Is The Final Pilgrimage.

It is estimated that seven percent of the world’s Christians, over 150 million people make the pilgrimage to the Holy Land every year. Since the 1950s, millions of Christians have traveled to the Holy Land to visit the historic sites associated with Jesus’ life and death.  The Holy Land is one of the most popular tourist destinations on earth.

Looking Across the Sea of Galilee to Mt Beatitudes

Why do so many visit the Holy Land? The Holy Land has witnessed the origins and early history of three of the world’s great religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. With earth that has been walked by Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus, the apostles, and the Prophet Muhammad, the Holy Land has been a sought-after destination from ancient times until today.  History stands still here.  In Jerusalem, Jews still pray at the Western Wall, Christians still visit the place where Jesus’ body was laid in the tomb, and Muslims still worship at the ancient Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque

Some Christians are spiritual and therefore more place-centered, whereas Catholic pilgrims are more focused on the Bible and a “personal relationship” with Jesus. There are also those whose pilgrimage is initiated by life cycle transitions such as the death of a spouse, retirement and the birth of grandchildren.  For all it’s the journey of a lifetime.

Pilgrimage is both ordinary and extra-ordinary, since pilgrims leave home in a dramatic way, often for the first time. Pilgrimage to the Holy Land is the one way Christians travel with the purpose of stabilizing and preserving their faith.

Most pilgrims report that their journey to the Holy Land was a life changing experience. Some feel transformed and at peace with themselves. Still others report a renewed awareness of their spiritual roots. For each traveler, the experience is different.  In the words of Martin Buber -“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”

Behold the Spectacular Beauty of the Holy Land

For the Christian, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is the ultimate spiritual journey to the birthplace of Christianity, to the place where “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”. Attesting to its’ powerful impact on the visitor; William Johnston, author of the acclaimed handbook on the Holy Land, says: “Here the pilgrim who is open to God’s grace will be deeply enriched in the Faith, for the mind will be filled with the awesome wonder of so many sacred shrines and this will be cemented in the heart never to fade”.

If a pilgrimage to the Holy Land changes lives and is the ultimate spiritual journey for millions of people during their lifetime, returning to this sacred place after our lives are completed would be the ultimate final destination.  For those choosing cremation, your final resting place can be the Holy Land. Your ashes can be placed in a private garden overlooking the Sea of Galilee.  HolyLand Ash Scattering can place your ashes in the most spiritual place on earth, for all eternity.

Private Memorial Scattering Garden

Holy Land Ash Scattering has a private garden overlooking the Sea of Galilee, near Tabatha, the Mount of Beatitudes. It is the traditional site of Jesus’ delivery of the Sermon on the Mount, probably the most famous sermon of all time. Pilgrims have been drawn to this historic place since the 4th century.  After your journey in life is complete, you can choose to return to the birthplace of civilization for all time.

HolyLand Ash Scattering can make your final pilgrimage to the Holy Land possible.  Your ashes can only be scattered once.  Let HolyLand Ash Scattering  perform a sacred ceremony and honor your memory. Complete the circle of life and find your forever home .

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Fingerprint Jewelry

Fingerprint jewelry is the ultimate in personal custom jewelry.

Silver Shown With Optional Birthstone

Each piece is as unique as our own fingerprints. Nature has graced each of us with our own natural signature. Now with a simple ink kit and the magic of scanning technology, we can replicate anyone’s fingerprint and even our pets paw prints in beautiful one of a kind jewelry. We create high quality precious metal fingerprint jewelry using the old age process of lost wax casting. The patented process used to create our unique collection of fingerprint jewelry, transforms a simple ink print into stunning jewelry keepsakes that will be cherished for years to come. The ink kit is free with any order and if you already have taken the prints we can use them too. We prefer whenever possible the original prints and not copies. Black ink on white line free paper works best. For children under the age of two and under, fingerprints are not fully developed, so for them we use whole hand and footprints, also captured in our supplied ink kits. Pets can supply paw prints as well as nose prints.  One we have obtained the prints, we will select the best part of the best print. The print is laser etched in wax and the wax is cast. Every detail is captured in sterling silver or 14 kt gold. Each is cut and polished by skilled craftsmen. It will take 3 – 4 weeks to receive the jewelry. Each week we complete one step in the process and we start every Monday.

As if fingerprint jewelry isn’t already personal enough we can further personalize each piece with custom engraving at no additional cost.

A birthstone or diamond can also be added. We also have the ability to do custom work as well. You can order fingerprint jewelry pendants with a chain or use your own. Everything is made right here in the USA and shipping is free. We never use any precious metal clay in any part of our process.

Fingerprint jewelry is for sharing, for staying connected to those we care about and reinforcing relationships. Parents  can hold close the touch of their children. It is also a nice way to remember those we have loved and lost. Sharing fingerprint jewelry is a creative and personal way for family and friends to bond the relationships we have with each other. To wear fingerprint jewelry is to feel the memories and cherish to their touch forever. Each piece an heirlooms destined to be  passed on.

Couples can swap prints and even create fingerprint wedding bands.

Friends will always feel connected when wearing fingerprint jewelry.                                                       Fingerprint jewelry “Dog Tags” have become popular with those serving in the military.For those who serve and those in waiting for their safe return home. Pet parents can cherish the unconditional love and touch of their loyal companions. No matter who the fingerprint jewelry is for, we will be here to help guide you along the way. So you can be sure your fingerprint jewelry will be all you had hoped for.

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Aquitted of Murder Cassie Anthony Now Wears A Cremation Jewelry Pendant

This Thursday People magazine will release a story called “The Strange and Lonely Life of Casey Anthony”.

Cassie and Caylee in Happier Times

It will be a year since Casey was acquitted of murdering her daughter, two year old Caylee. The article talks about her boring life living in seclusion surfing the internet and checking on her most hated women in America status. She now lives in West Palm Beach Florida were she serves a year on probation for check fraud. According to a friend she has gained twenty lbs from inactivity and eats allot. She plans on leaving the country when her probation is complete. Apparently enough bleeding hearts have sent her donations to live on and she lives with a sugar daddy she calls Pop’s.

So why are we writing about Casey on our Cremation Solutions blog!. Apparently Last year Casey and her mother Cindy reconciled via skype. While Casie was in jail, Caylee was cremated and Cindy purchased two pendants which hold some of little Caylee’s ashes.

Casey Wearing Pendant Containing Caylee's Ashes

Due to our privacy policy I cannot confirm that she purchased the cremation jewelry from Cremation Solutions. She waited two years to give it to Casey and asked her first if she would wear it. The two made a pact to always wear the identical pendants to honor the memory of Caylee. Here at Cremation Solutions we know this is not an unusual way of families using keepsakes like jewelry that holds ashes to connect survivors to share in their grief.

Reading the latest news on the subject though, I noticed the media has portrayed the wearing of what they are calling an ashes necklace as some kind of freakish invention of this bizarre family. Here at Cremation Solutions we know that this is far from the truth. Our experience tells us that our many customers that purchase our jewelry for ashes, can’t thank us enough. It’s how I know how important and cherished the jewelry becomes. I can’t count how many times I’ve been told how comforting the jewelry is, and how many never take it off.

I guess I just wanted to point out that there are many in our society that still have never heard of cremation jewelry and find the idea of wearing it a bit strange. I must say that even I thought it was a strange new fad when as a funeral director I started selling cremation jewelry 15 years ago. After one former client approached me months later in the supermarket to thank me for helping her through the funeral of her husband, she began to speak softly. A warm glow came over her face as she opened her blouse to reveal the fish pendant I sold her, as she whispered he’s always with me. I never questioned the jewelry again as a new gimmick to make a sale. The people I have served over the years constantly remind me of the importance of their most cherished piece of jewelry. For some people the Idea is just too much. It’s these people that I now recommend fingerprint Jewelry, which is a one of a kind pendant or rings, faced with the actual fingerprint of our loved one. The fingerprint Jewelry is equally cherished and shared amongst family members.

Murder or not we all need to heal. I think it was a very thoughtful gesture of her mom to gift her the necklace. Family is family you only have one. It took a long time for her mom to give it, the healing will not erase the scared life Casey lives. What strange is that the media acts like the cremation jewelry is some strange family creation. Cremation Jewelry is purchased and worn by thousands of Americans every year and is widely available at funeral homes and online at www.cremationsolutions.com

How do you feel about people wearing cremation jewelry and jewelry made from a fingerprint. We’d love to hear your thoughts.

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Sacred Ashes

Judy had not opened the box the funeral director had handed her almost a year ago. Just holding the bag when he handed it to her had made her knees buckle and she had to sit before falling. The reality was the earthly remains of her husband were inside the box and she just couldn’t face the reality that his glorious body has been reduced to a few pounds of ash. The scattering was to be in a month and the 6 x 6 box had never been opened. It was slowly building on her nerves and she knew she didn’t want the scattering ceremony to be the first time she confronted the reality. She knew she wanted to see , feel and smell the ashes in private before the ash scattering event. One sleepless night she knew it was time, her hand’s shook as cut away the brown tape and opened the box. She removed a twist tie from the plastic bag inside the box and there was John!. Tears fell like rain drops as she ran her finger through the John’s ashes.

Cremation Ashes

She had read that the ashes were heavy and course. They were grayish and white and she imagined johns spirit talking to her as she examined the bits and pieces of bone ash. Her larger than life husband and best friend was now in the palm of her hand. She stroked the ashes and as marveled at the strange reality that seemed so unreal.
As she regained control of her emotions and feelings she realized the remains were still beloved and sacred. Nothing was scary anymore. She had already been devastated by her loss months ago and nothing could compare with the actual loss of her husband. Though she knew he was not in the box, she gained comfort speaking to the ashes and thanking John for the years of love. She could now be comfortable as she walked past the ashes as they rested on the mantel. Her sister had purchased an urn that was made for the scattering of ashes and together they put the ashes inside. Having the ashes in the handsome wood scattering urn made Judy remember his fondness of nature and trees. Her sister told her that after the scattering on Johns favorite hiking trail the urn was specially designed to serve as a memorial birdhouse that they would put in John’s garden.
As a funeral director and crematory operator for over twenty years it is good for me to share Judy’s story as it serves as a reminder that we in the funeral business do not simply handle ashes and urns. Like bodies and caskets we are honored to be entrusted with the care of others loved one’s. Like our physical bodies, ashes are our earthly remains and should be treated as so. The idea that so many in this business still hand over the ashes when a cremation urn is not selected, in the ugliest cardboard or plastic we can find disgust me! At least they should use a fancy gift box or tasteful cardboard urn. The reflection on your funeral business is also questioned. The time I heard a family member telling a friend that the cremation cost $2000.00 and they gave mom back to us in this box. That’s all I needed to hear to know it was wrong.
I was visiting a funeral director in Maine a few years ago and I was impressed when he showed me how his funeral home turned the ashes over to the family. Once the ashes were signed for he would guide the family member or members to a tasteful quite side room. There on a table in the corner of the room stood the urn. The warm glow of a white tapered nice candle flickered beside the urn and a fresh red rose laid at the base of the Cremation urn. Once in the room he would invite them to sit on the couch and take as long as they needed as he left the room. Some would take a minute and some an hour. The important part was they had the time and space for themselves as long as they needed. When they were ready they would let him know and he would then come and place the urn in a tasteful bag and offer to carry it out to the car. I learned from him, how less traumatizing this simple and dignified this thoughtful handover of ashes could be and I never handed another cremation urn over in a funeral home bag again. Remember we are creating an experience for the families we serve, this is just one way to show you care and are sensitive to the needs of the families who have entrusted your services.
The majority of people choosing cremation today will also choosing to scatter the ashes of their loved one. Most do not know where, only that it should be a special and sacred location.

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A new service now allows funeral homes to assist these families by offering scattering in the most sacred location on earth, the holy land. A place of natural beauty where Jesus had lived and taught, overlooking the Sea of Galilee along the Jesus trail in Israel. Funeral homes anywhere can offer ash scattering in a professional and dignified way by partnering with Holyland Ash Scattering. This is just another way to show your funeral home understands the needs of today’s society, while offering new services and standing out in your profession. Learn more at www.holylandashscattering.com or call #888-720-1961

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