How to Honor a Life After Cremation
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Cada familia se despide a su manera. Some families choose burial for their loved ones, while others choose cremation. Both are dignified ways to let go of a person’s earthly body. However, when you choose cremation, you must also decide what will be done with their ashes, (also known as cremated remains) once the cremation has taken place. You have many different options, and the staff at Latina can help you decide what is best for you and your family.
What the Catholic Church Says About Cremation
While burial is still encouraged by the Catholic Church, cremation is allowed, and many families of this faith choose this method of disposition. However, the church has specific rules as to the way the ashes should be handled afterward:
- Cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium.
- Ashes should not be scattered on land or sea, nor preserved in mementos, pieces of jewelry or other objects.
- Although ashes should not be scattered at sea, they may be released in an urn into the ocean.
- The ashes of two individuals may not be mingled together, although they can be buried together in two separate vessels.
- Cremated remains should not be kept at home.
Latina Funerals & Cremations serves a large number of Catholic families in Denver, but our doors are open to all families and all faiths. What to do with a loved one’s cremated remains is a deeply personal decision, and below we’ve included additional options to lay your loved one to rest after cremation services.
Burial
Did you know you can bury a loved one’s ashes in a traditional gravesite? Burial of ashes can also be accompanied by a graveside service. Other types of above-ground “burial” include keeping the remains in a niche or a columbarium. These types of structures are typically located in cemeteries and give families a permanent place to visit their loved one for generations to come.
Keep Them Close
You may feel comforted knowing a loved one will always be nearby, by keeping them in an urn in your home. You may place them in an ofrenda or bookshelf, or on your nightstand. An urn doesn’t have to be on display to give peace of mind either. Just knowing a loved one’s ashes are close and tucked away can bring comfort. Necklaces with pendants or other keepsakes that hold a small amount of ashes are popular, and come in many different styles to choose from. You can also divide the ashes among individuals who would like to keep some of the ashes. This can be especially meaningful when family members are separated by many miles.
Despedidas Únicas
While scattering, burial and keeping cremation urns at home are the most common methods of handling a loved one’s ashes, there are numerous other ways to memorialize them. Portraits can be painted or sculpted of someone you’ve lost using their ashes mixed with the paint or clay. The same can be done with a tattoo. Cremated remains can be mixed with soil to plant a memorial tree or rose bush. Ashes can be sent to the moon, turned into fireworks, made into a diamond, or pressed into a vinyl record that plays your loved one’s favorite songs. There really are limitless ways to honor the person you love through cremation.
A final resting place is one last step in a difficult journey. At Latina, we’ve been the shoulder to lean on for hundreds of families of Denver and Aurora, helping bring peace of mind during loss. We are always here to take your call, day or night, to be there when you need us or to answer any questions you may have. Reach out at any time at 1-303-996-0701.
Go en paz.
As members of Denver’s Hispanic communities, we feel a deep responsibility to help its families through some of their most difficult days. We are here for you and your loved ones, and our staff is available to answer any questions you may have.
Llámanos al (303) 996-0701.
