02/01/2026
Cremation! It’s not just for urns anymore.
For many years, cremation usually meant one of two things: placement in an urn forever or scattering somewhere meaningful. That’s no longer the case. Today, there are more options than ever for what can be done with your remains—and those options can reflect who you are.
Of course, traditional choices are still available. You may choose:
• A funeral service followed by cremation
• Cremation first, then a memorial service (with or without the urn present)
• Or a direct cremation with no services at all
But let’s talk about something people rarely discuss: keeping Grandma or Grandpa on the mantle. Here are a few (harsh) realities families don’t always consider:
1.) There’s no real place to visit. Friends and family don’t have a dedicated, peaceful space to pay their respects unless they come to your home—and that doesn’t always allow for quiet, personal moments.
2.) Accidents happen. Urns can be knocked over. And if one breaks, well… let’s just say no one wants their loved one vacuumed up with dog hair and dust bunnies.
3.) This is the big one: a couple generations down the road, your great-grandchildren won’t have memories of you. As difficult as it is to say, they likely won’t feel connected to your ashes. Families are then left unsure what to do—sometimes moving away and leaving you behind for someone else to “handle.” (Yes, this really happens!)
If you don’t want that kind of “tradition,” that’s where I come in.
Today’s cremation options are as unique as you are:
• Green options: You can be cremated by water (alkaline hydrolysis) or naturally composted into soil. You can even be buried with a tree so your remains help nourish its roots.
• Shared remembrance: Your ashes can be divided into smaller urns or keepsake jewelry so multiple family members can keep you close.
• Become a diamond: Since the human body is rich in carbon, your remains can be transformed into a diamond—set into a ring, necklace, or earrings and passed down for generations.
• Help save the reefs: Your ashes can be combined with concrete to form reef structures placed off the coast of Florida, creating new marine habitats while strengthening reef barriers.
• Reach for the stars: Your remains can be launched into space—either returning to Earth or traveling into deep space forever. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and James Doohan (Scotty) chose this option.
• Become memorial stones: You can be transformed into 12–20 stones, with colors based on your natural minerals. Loved ones can take you to meaningful places—or places you always dreamed of visiting.
• Artistic tributes: Ashes can be incorporated into paintings, glass sculptures, ornaments, or even hourglasses—creating a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
• Go out with a bang: For those with a bold spirit, ashes can be placed into pyrotechnics or ammunition cartridges for ceremonial firing.
These are important conversations to have with your family—before they’re left guessing or wondering what to do. If talking about it feels uncomfortable or overwhelming, I can help guide and facilitate that discussion.
With nearly 70% of people now choosing cremation, options should grow along with that choice. It’s not just about how you live—it’s about how you’re remembered.
Give me a call at (702) 720-1605, or contact Bunker’s Eden Vale and Woodlawn Cemeteries at (702) 388-7007 to set up an appointment—and be sure to ask for me – Caren.
