Giving the Best Farewell to Your Loved One
People whose loved ones have just passed away are, of course, having a difficult time dealing with such loss. Nevertheless, saying a beautiful farewell to their departed loved ones with a proper and befitting honor might be a way to deal with this grief. It might also be a way to respect the wishes of the departed. Here, we’re going to discuss how an ash-scattering ceremony might be a fitting farewell for someone you’ve just lost.
Reasons for Preferring Cremation
Many people might prefer cremation to burial, whether this is the decision of the deceased before their death or that of the family members left behind. This could be due to the relatively lower cost as compared to burial, as cremating doesn’t cost as much as a burial site. The other main reason is the relative ease of dealing with ashes as compared to a whole body.
Environmental reasons are also a major factor for going the cremation way. While burning a body does use up fossil fuels and releases harmful gases into the air, many tend to think of it as preferable to burial. This is because burial takes a lot of resources and might release infections into the earth.
Finally, some bereaved family and friends might prefer to cremate their loved one in order to keep their remains with them. They might want to keep the ashes in an urn, or even compress them in some form of jewelry. This way, the remains can travel with them if they have to move somewhere else.
How to Plan For an Ash Scattering Ceremony
If you’ve made the decision to have an ash scattering ceremony for your departed loved one, there are several steps to take. Before proceeding to the plan, family members of the departed must have a clear vision of what the ceremony would be like.
Having a clear vision is extremely important and useful, as this would ensure that the family members know what they want. Knowing the unanimous opinion and choice of the whole family can speed up the planning. This would also increase the chances that the resulting ceremony will be exactly as the planner and the family wants it to be.
Hiring Professional Services
Having a professional planner can also greatly help in alleviating the stress on the grieving family’s side. At a time like this, when a loved one has passed away, it will be emotionally difficult for the bereaved family to execute the plans. This is why it’s really recommended that a professional planner should be hired to carry out those plans in accordance with the bereaved family’s wishes.
To ensure that the ash scattering ceremony will go as smoothly as hoped, it is important to have a clear vision, good planning of the ceremony, and family members plus other loved ones to honor to the deceased person.
Clear Vision
In order to have a proper and memorable ash-scattering ceremony, a clear vision is of extreme and paramount importance. Without a clear vision, the planner responsible for the ceremony wouldn’t have a concrete idea of how the ceremony should be carried out. If that’s the case, the planner would resort to merging the vision offered by the deceased’s family and friends.
This would be risky and will most likely disastrous results. Plus, disagreements among the family members and friends of the deceased wouldn’t be too far off in such a situation. The planner needs to have a clear vision based on the wishes expressed by the deceased himself/herself (before dying) or what the deceased’s family members have agreed upon.
Not having a clear vision will make planning difficult. Planning ahead is a good idea, so you might want to look into it as much as possible. It’s better when the deceased had made his or her wishes known and left instructions before dying, as this will make it easier for the mourning family. Of course, it will also make things easier for the planner responsible for the ceremony.
Good Planning
It is also important to have a proper plan, which will greatly facilitate the planner in making decisions and going ahead with the ash-scattering burial arrangements. As this is the time where the bereaved family has difficulties in coping with the loss, planning can get a bit too stressful and problematic.
This is why getting together and talking things out as a family is always best before you arrange the ceremony. The people who were closest to the deceased should ideally sit down along with their professional planner and hash things out. This way, there’s a limited chance of hurting anyone’s feeling, while still making sure the ceremony takes place in a timely and dignified manner.
Family Members and Loved Ones
The ash-scattering ceremony is mostly about the family members and loved ones left behind by the deceased. This is the opportunity for them to grieve together, say goodbye to their departed loved one, and offer each other emotional support. It is important that the funeral planner should let the family know about the arrangements. This way, they’ll know what to expect and be mentally prepared for what’s to come.
If these three factors are present, the ash scattering ceremony will go as smoothly as it was planned; properly honoring the departed loved one.
Considering the Urn
While we may have dealt with the major points of planning an ash-scattering ceremony above, the finer details are also quite important. One of the most essential concerns for the ceremony is the urn.
Do you want it to be bio-degradable? This might be the case if you’re burying it or releasing it into the sea. If you want the urn to last a lifetime on your mantle, you might want to go with a durable, sturdy option that won’t break easily. For an especially lovely space to hold your loved one’s ashes, some fine mini-urns might also come in handy. Check out the offering here:
These urns could set one’s minds at ease regarding their family’s remains or even their own in the future. They’re not just durable, but also make beautiful decorations. Their construction includes stainless steel, while the ultra-fine polishing helps the whole item to give off a brilliant shine.
The size is also a good idea here, as the small spaces might contain just a portion of the remains. This way, you can divide the ashes between yourself and other close family members or friends. You’ll all be able to have a part of the one you’ve lost, with no hard feelings.
Even if you choose to go with the burial method, these urns could come in handy for holding other sentimental keepsakes. These could be a piece of mourning jewelry, some hair, or any other item that makes you feel close to the departed.
Mental Preparation
When you do choose to hold an ash-scattering ceremony, make sure that everyone’s on board with letting go of the remains in this way. Some of the people who were close to the deceased might want their ashes in some form, so see if they can be allowed to hold on to a small part.
Everyone should also be aware of the kind of ceremony it’s supposed to be. For instance, some of the main family members might want to celebrate the life of the person rather than have a serious ceremony. If this is the case, everyone needs to be on the same page in order to avoid any shock or breakdown.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to scatter your ashes over water, the ground, or into the air, the practice would hopefully help the bereaved ones move on. Still, even the easier path of cremation requires some investment and preparation. Spend a little time in preparing for this important event, and the result would hopefully be positive for everyone concerned.