What to do With Your Loved One's Ashes

By: Matthew Funeral Home
Monday, August 4, 2025

After your loved one is cremated, there may be a question of what to do with the remains. There are a number of options available to you and your family. In this article, we will explore options for your family after a loved one is cremated.

Traditional Urn

After a loved one is cremated, most families will choose to put the cremains in an urn. This urn may sit in the home of an immediate family member. Generally, urns are displayed on a mantlepiece or shelf. 

Scattering Ashes

Some families choose to scatter their loved one's ashes. Common places can include the ocean, parks, and family properties. Most families who choose to scatter ashes will make a day of it, including some memorial services or eulogies.

Keepsake Urns

Keepsake urns are smaller than traditional ones. Generally, they are used to hold a small amount of ashes. Some families choose to divide the ashes into multiple keepsake urns for different family members to hold onto.

Keepsake Jewelry

Keepsake jewelry is a wearable accessory that can contain a minute amount of a loved one’s ashes. It is a special way of keeping your loved one close to you. Common options for keepsake jewelry may include pendants, rings, or bracelets, for example. 

Cemetery Options for Cremains

While many people choose cremation as an alternative to burial, there are options for cremated remains within a cemetery setting. Different cemeteries will have their own rules and regulations for cremains. This may include housing the urn in a mausoleum or a columbarium (a mausoleum specifically for urns). Columbaria may have niches in the walls to safely store urns or shelves for the urns. Some cemeteries may offer burial plots for cremated remains. Many cemeteries have gardens specifically for the scattering of ashes.

For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.

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