If you've chosen to cremate a loved one, you'll likely be keeping their cremation remains in an urn. How long they stay in the urn depends on whether you plan to scatter the loved one's ashes at some point or leave them in the urn indefinitely. In either case, though, choosing the right cremation urn is an important, consequential choice that nobody should rush. Here are several factors to consider when picking an urn for your loved one's remains. 

Top 3 Things to Consider When Choosing a Cremation Urn

1. Size

General industry guidelines can help determine what size cremation urn you decide on: a pound of body weight typically translates to a cubic inch of cremains. So if a loved one weighed around 200 pounds, they would need an urn with a capacity of 200 cubic inches. Fortunately, standard adult urns come in exactly that size—200 cubic inches—which should be large enough for most adults. If your loved one was larger than that, make sure you get an urn with a larger-than-standard capacity. 

2. Design

Designing the exterior of your urn should be an opportunity to find something that perfectly expressed the deceased loved one's passions, taste, and style. You'll have an enormous selection to choose from—including angels, butterflies, trees, crosses, and much more—plus the option to customize the urn however you want. Selecting the right design for your loved one's urn will be especially important if you plan to display it in your home. 

3. Price

Funeral costs can quickly pile up, and nobody wants to overpay for products and services they can get for a better price—even when it comes to something as solemn and meaningful as their loved one's remains. Try to shop around and do a fair amount of research before deciding on an urn. In some cases, the exact same urn could cost you hundreds more or less, depending on who it's being sold by. 

Jacqueline M. Ryan Home for Funerals has been carrying out compassionate, meticulously detailed funerals for residents of the Keansburg, NJ area since 1947. Through 70 years of experience, the funeral home has learned how to make every step of the funeral process run smoothly and tastefully, including funeral preplanning, memorial services, and cremations. Visit the local funeral home's website to learn more about its services, or call directly at (732) 787-1177.