Category: Cremation Jewelry

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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In the UK and the USA Every Funeral Home Has a Room for Unclaimed Cremation Ashes


Unclaimed cremation ashes sitting in storage.

Why are so many ashes being left at the funeral home? Here at Cremation Solutions, we believe that the funeral directors who are making arrangements are not going into enough depth with families as to the final disposition of their loved one’s ashes. The question is WHY?! Do you see rooms full of caskets waiting for families to make a decision? Of course not.  It would be illegal and a health hazard. With urns of ashes though, funeral directors tend to be lax in finding a home for them.  Then, they get bothered as the urns of ashes pile up. If they would just talk about the ashes and all the options available, such as cremation or keepsake jewelry in addition to traditional urns, as well as doing a little follow up with the family, we believe that the storage problem can be avoided and the survivors granted the piece of mind they need deserve. When cremation ashes are left in urns at the funeral home it can cause unresolved grief. The longer you wait the harder it becomes to deal with.  As time goes on, what could have been a ceremony turns into disposal.

What happens to uncollected ashes?

Feed Me To The Wind (Caleb Parkin Producer)

With more people being cremated rather than buried after death, ash-scattering ceremonies are gaining in popularity. But what happens when it doesn’t go according to plan – or if no-one collects the remains?

There is a moment in the film The Big Lebowski where the Dude (Jeff Bridges) and Walter (John Goodman) take their late friend Donny’s ashes to a cliff top. Walter insists on saying “a few words”, then scatters Donny’s mortal remains from a giant coffee cup.

But prevailing winds mean that Donny, instead of ending up in the “Pacific Ocean, which he loved so well”, ends up all over the Dude.

For a meaningful, solemn occasion to be unexpectedly blown off course is a real and increasing phenomenon. We want to say the right words, in the right place, at the right moment and with all the right people in attendance. But it doesn’t always go according to plan.

Adam Heath, a funeral director from Sheffield, has noticed a shift in how the bereaved treat ashes during his 30-year career.

“It used to be that everyone was scattered at the garden of remembrance [at] the crematorium,” he says. Now, as fictional depictions of ash-scattering are more common, they prefer to take the ashes to a location with personal significance for the deceased. “They would like to be able to do their own thing, too.”

Although some 70% of Britons will be cremated, few specify what they would like done with their remains. Those left behind have to make an educated guess.

“One minute he’s your dad, then the next you’ve got this urn – plastic and disappointing,” says Sally, of Bristol. “You want to do it poetically, like in the movies, but there’s always more of it. And, in the end, you’re like ‘Oh, just tip him out.'”

Kevin Browne, bereavement services manager for Broxstowe Borough Council, says it is part of our national psyche to be surprised by ashes.

“We’re so British, we don’t talk about death, do we? People aren’t aware of the options they’ll have – they haven’t given it any thought at all.

“On TV you just see a token gesture [amount] being scattered – a couple of egg cupfuls. The quantity and weight seem to catch people off guard.”

And that’s if the ashes are even collected.

Funeral directors up and down the country have a room of unclaimed ashes. These can range from tens to hundreds of ashes, some of which date from the late 19th Century. Uncertainty about what to do with these remains is certainly a factor.

Scattering the Ashes of GandI

Gandhi’s ashes – held in secret for decades by a family friend – were scattered in 2010. Many families wait a considerable length of time pondering just the right way on how to scatter ashes. Ashes do not belong to anyone, in the same way as a person cannot belong to another under British law. Ashes will be returned to whoever made the funeral arrangements, not necessarily the next of kin.

Nor do funeral directors press the issue with the recently bereaved, says Heath.

“It’s important, to arrange someone’s funeral, to get some insight into their psyche, to get what’s right for them at the time. But what they want to do with the ashes, collecting them or not, I don’t want to take sides or pick a fight.”

Until recently, there was scant advice for funeral directors on what to do with unclaimed ashes.

In December, the National Association of Funeral Directors published guidelines stating that unclaimed ashes must be stored for at least five years, with efforts being made to locate the rightful recipient, before a funeral company could dispose of them. This includes scattering ashes with a scattering urn in a garden of remembrance or at a beauty spot. Some scattering urns will convert into a memorial birdhouse where life will continue. Always get the landowner’s permission when scattering – or interring them.

Douglas Davies, of the Centre for Death and Life Studies at Durham University, says even Britons who are not religious want to mark a loved one’s passing in a way that reflects that person’s values and preferences.

“In the Christian idea, people thought you would gain a new identity in heaven. But with a decrease in this idea, this ‘looking back’ [at a person’s past] came on – and there were the cremated remains as a symbol.”

Sasha Baron Cohen "The Dictator" Scatters Ashes on the Red Carpet

But death and human remains can have shock value, as the comedian Sacha Baron Cohen showed at last month’s Oscars ceremony. Carrying an urn emblazoned with the image of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, he began scattering the ashes on the red carpet, claiming this to be the dying wish of the leader – who, incidentally, had portrayed himself as a film buff. Security did not take kindly to the gesture.

But fulfilling one’s identity through their ashes is what many hope to do. Famously, journalist Hunter S Thompson’s ashes were fired into the sky – as per his wishes – in a giant firework, paid for by his friend Johnny Depp.

Others want their ashes turned into cremation jewelery or even cremation diamonds . Many get comfort by keeping the ashes home in a simple cremation urns – or perhaps scattered from a specially designed plane.

So the choice is yours. Or at least, it should be.

Original transcript via BBC

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Cremation Jewelry Provides Thoughtful Keepsakes

Cremation jewelry comes in all shapes and sizes, including traditional style necklaces, dichroic glass, rings, and even custom cremation crystals and diamonds.

Cremation ashes are traditionally scattered, buried or kept in an urn, but sometimes it is helpful to have a small keepsake with which to remember loved ones. Such an object can be very helpful throughout the grieving process and beyond. Our Cremation Jewelry for Ashes is designed so as to preserve the memory of a loved one in a very real and beautiful memento. We offer a variety of necklaces and pendants, all of which either have inner compartments meant for ashes or actually incorporate the ashes into the piece itself. The jewelry only requires a bit of ashes, so the rest of them can be scattered, kept in an urn or buried.

We are proud to offer a wide selection of cremation jewelry keepsakes, with a variety of shapes, styles and materials to choose from. Some examples include Traditional Collection, which features religious symbols, and our Nature Inspired Pendants, which aim to emulate by the beauty and joy found in the natural world around us. We are even able to create a unique diamond using cremation ashes. Regardless of style, all of our jewelry is elegantly and tastefully designed, ensuring a dignified future for a loved one’s ashes.

Since our Cremation Jewelry for Ashes is designed to help the bereaved cope during the grieving process, its functionality is not limited to cremated remains; our pieces can also be used for other items of emotional significance such as hair, flower petals or dirt.

As with all of our products, we hope that our Cremation Jewelry for Ashes provides some comfort to those coping with the death of a loved one. Incorporating ash into the pieces helps to preserve a soul’s beauty, and speaks to emotional and aesthetic considerations simultaneously, all the while giving the bereaved something to remember the departed by. Although the grieving process is never easy, such a talisman can be a helpful touch.

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Questions About Scattering Ashes and Scattering Urns and Keepsakes

“Just scatter my ashes and have a big party” We hear it a lot these days. Such celebrations of life are easy and parties are fun, right? It should be easy, but without some thoughtful planning, survivors are faced with many unanswered questions.

Often the scattering may be put off because of all the unanswered questions (“Do I need a scattering urn?”, “What’s the best way to scatter ashes?”, etc.)and the ashes can end up on that top shelf in the hallway closet indefinitely. Helping people learn how to have a creative and meaningful scattering ceremony is a large part of the reason that Cremation Solutions exists.

Scattering ashes outdoors is on a piece of land with significance to the deceased is often selected by their families.

Families are grateful to learn that they can create a meaningful event and still follow the persons request to “just scatter me”. Scattering ashes is often the final act of love that survivors can participate in. Scattering is nothing less than a committal service, it is an event that should contain ceremony and ritual. It is important for family and friends to experience a meaningful and memorable final tribute.

People who choose to have their ashes scattered do not consider scattering to be any less respectful or meaningful than any other disposition option. In fact, families that have scattered are experiencing a higher level of satisfaction. They consider scattering to be a more natural way to return loved ones to the earth. Scattering also allows families the flexibility of choosing a site that is personable and has special meaning to the deceased and the survivors. Sites with natural beauty or familial significance are also often selected.

Ash scattering is becoming fairly common in North America with more than half of all cremated Americans and Canadians choosing the scattering of ashes. In fact scattering is now the most common disposition of cremated remains in the United States and Canada. And the number of people selecting cremation continues to grow, not only in North America, but also internationally in such areas as Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

However, funeral professionals are the only ones that aren’t catching on. Most funeral professionals consider scattering a dirty and unprofitable choice of final disposition. They will eagerly help with a burial, an interment, or the planning and creation of funeral and memorial events, but when the choice is to scatter, they will help you as far as the door!

Some of the more progressive funeral homes now offer special urns for families that choose to scatter the ashes, but that’s about as far as it goes. Cremation Solutions was started when our founder, a funeral director for over twenty years noticed how those who choose to scatter have been so neglected by the funeral professionals in general. He created Cremation Solutions to be an informative and authoritative source of information for those choosing to scatter.

Here are some things to consider when planning a scattering ceremony. Hopefully a funeral or memorial event will take place before the scattering ceremony. Planning these events are what funeral professionals are really good at. Even if you’re not having public viewing and or visitation, you should still give survivors the chance to gather and celebrate the life that was lived. This helps survivors not only with the healing process but also to continue important relationships with each other and to support those who really need it.

For the scattering ceremony you should consider first if you want a public ceremony or will it just be the family gathering. For a public ceremony, you might want the scattering to follow the memorial event, just like when a procession follows to the cemetery for committal services.

  • Will more than one person scatter the ashes or will there be a chance to share in the scattering of ashes?
  • Will the gathering be at the place of the scattering or somewhere else, either before or after?
  • Will there be more than one scattering if there are relatives or friends in another part of the country? If people know the date and time the scattering will occur, they can then take that time to honor the memory of the deceased in their own way.

As the popularity of scattering ashes has grown, new options for remembrance have been created. Three popular product types that relate specifically to families that desire to scatter are scattering urns, keepsakes, and keepsake jewelry.

Families often scatter ashes over water during scattering ceremonies.

Scattering urns can be displayed at services, creating a focal point and sense of reality. Urns allow the cremated remains to be easily disbursed while adding dignity to the process. The location of the scattering sometimes determines the style of scattering urn to be used. The most popular location is over water and there are many water soluble urns that are specifically designed for this purpose.

The second most popular location is on the family property. Birdhouse memorial urns are a great option for these families because they are scattering urns that will convert into a memorial birdhouse, providing comfort for the years to come. Some scattering urns can be kept as an art piece or provide a place to keep mementos of the deceased or be used as a vase.

Because scattering is irreversible, keeping some of the ashes can be very important to the family that chooses to scatter. If families relocate, they can be left with feelings of abandonment. Keepsake urns and jewelry help provide the comforting knowledge that part of the earthly remains can always be kept close. They come in many sizes and styles and can usually be ordered match the style of the scattering urn. Keepsakes can be used to contain the ashes as well as jewelry, hair or other mementos of the deceased.

Scattering is not new a new practice: it has been happening for over a thousand years, but it has lost much of its ritual, most of which never made its way into modern times. Research tells us that today’s families still want meaningful celebrations of life with ceremony and personal memorable tributes.

Many families are hiring or consulting with funeral celebrants to help create and a more meaningful and memorable event. Funeral celebrants are ceremony specialists who have a sound background in the history of ritual, ceremony and funeral traditions in many cultures and religions. Funeral Celebrants have been drawn to this work by a strong realization that every life has meaning and deserves to be celebrated and celebrated well. Many have experienced grief themselves. All are convinced that funerals can be a valuable source of healing. Nothing can take away the grief, but a genuine, well prepared tribute may ease the pain. Whether your family is secular, religious, spiritual or interfaith, or if you simply wish to express yourself in a manner of your own, choosing a Celebrant can help to create a meaningful, memorable, fitting end of life tribute.

If you have any question about scattering ashes, cremation urns, scattering urns, or anything else, please feel free to contact Cremation Solutions for further info.

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Cremation Jewelry

Cremation jewelry is nothing new, for years people have used lockets to hold a small amount of ashes or hair. The concept of holding onto something personal of a deceased loved one adds special meaning to the jewelry. Although most cremation jewelry can still hold hair or flower petals and earth, most people choose to have the jewelry hold ashes.

Cremation Jewelry comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes; it's easy to find a design that fits the memory of your loved one perfectly.

Cremation jewelry became more widely available in the early 90’s when it was first marketed through funeral homes. Because Cremation Solutions is a web based company, we can offer a much larger selection then funeral homes. Our overhead is lower so we may offer better prices on our cremation jewelry. Cremation Solutions not only carries our own line of cremation jewelry but also work with several US based artist so we can offer our customers with a wide variety of hand crafted cremation jewelry custom made in the USA.

Most of our cremation jewelry is easily filled by the customer. Each piece comes with simple step by step directions to ad a small amount of ashes to a hollow chamber in the jewelry. A small screw is removed and a mini funnel guides the ashes into the chamber. Then just put the screw back in the jewelry piece, a drop of glue can be used for a permanent seal.

We have recently added a cremation jewelry piece to our fingerprint jewelry line. It combines the popular use of a person’s fingerprint on a pendant, but also has an inner chamber for cremation ashes. Some of our jewelry is made with the ashes being a part of the piece. With cremation jewelry beads and glass pendants the ashes are added to the jewelry while in a hot molten state. Cremation crystals and cremation diamonds are actually created with elements of the cremation ashes. When this type of cremation jewelry is ordered, we mail you a kit to safely mail some ashes directly to us.

One of the reasons cremation jewelry has become so popular is the continued growth in scattering ashes. People like the idea of our physical elements being returned to nature but also like the idea of retaining some of the ashes to always hold a part of the earthly remains close to themselves. Cremation jewelry and keepsake urns are the perfect solutions to satisfy both needs. Even when not scattering, cremation jewelry can and comfort and a sense of closeness that survivors need.

Thumbprint Cremation Jewelry lets you remember your loved one by keeping a unique imprint them by you side.

Jewelry for ashes give us a sense of connection that other jewelry just can’t provide. It’s being able to hold something sacred and very personal close to your heart and a sign of our continued love and devotion. Cremation jewelry is something that is often shared among family members that also reinforces the bond between surviving family members. For example a group of grandchildren will feel and be more connected when each is wearing a pendant containing grandma’s ashes. When cremation jewelry also takes the form of a religious or spiritual symbol, it can help reinforce our beliefs as well as ad a sense of being.

When I was a funeral director and cremation jewelry was first introduced in the 90’s, I must admit I was a skeptic and did not think many people would want jewelry that contained ashes. Yes, I thought it was a gimmick to help increase sales. My mind was soon changed after the first few families received their cremation jewelry. When I ran into one women in the supermarket she confessed and thanked me for the now very special piece of jewelry she now always wears as a pendant. Like myself, she too was skeptical even when she made the purchase. Now she says the cremation jewelry somehow makes her feel closer to the memory of her lost son. She picked a dolphin because he loved the ocean and she scattered his ashes in a favorite fishing area. Her two daughters also wear a cremation jewelry pendant in memory of their brother.

Since then I have heard hundreds of similar stories of peoples experience with cremation jewelry. I now have reverted to a favorite philosophy when introduced to new memorial choices, and that is, if it feels right then it is the right thing to do.

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