The Funeral.com Journal

Resources to help you create tributes as unique as the people (and pets) you love. Learn how engraving, photos, colors, and symbols add meaning; discover scattering rituals and at-home memorial ideas. We focus on the details that matter—because small choices can carry a lifetime of comfort.

Which Urn Material Lasts the Longest? Durability of Metal, Wood, Ceramic, Stone & Biodegradable Options

Which Urn Material Lasts the Longest? Durability of Metal, Wood, Ceramic, Stone & Biodegradable Options

If you’re asking which urn material lasts the longest, you’re probably not asking like a materials engineer. You’re asking like a son or daughter who wants to make one decision...

How Long Does a Cremation Urn Last? Material Lifespan, Care Tips, and When to Replace

How Long Does a Cremation Urn Last? Material Lifespan, Care Tips, and When to Replace

Most families don’t ask about “lifespan” because they’re shopping for a container the way you shop for cookware or furniture. They ask because they want reassurance. If you choose an...

Choosing an Urn Material: Metal vs Wood vs Ceramic vs Biodegradable (Pros, Cons, Care)

Choosing an Urn Material: Metal vs Wood vs Ceramic vs Biodegradable (Pros, Cons, Care)

When families begin comparing cremation urns, it’s rarely a purely “shopping” decision. It’s a way of answering a tender, practical question: what will hold this person’s memory in a way...

Biodegradable Ocean & Water Burial Urns: How They Work, Sea Scattering Tips, and Best Options

Biodegradable Ocean & Water Burial Urns: How They Work, Sea Scattering Tips, and Best Options

For some families, water feels like the most honest place to say goodbye. Maybe it’s the ocean where your loved one found calm, a lake tied to summers and tradition,...

Biodegradable Urns Explained: How They Work, Types, and When to Choose One

Biodegradable Urns Explained: How They Work, Types, and When to Choose One

When a family chooses cremation, the next question often arrives quietly but with a lot of meaning behind it: What do we do with the ashes now? For some people,...

Biodegradable Urns Explained: Types, Materials, Costs, and How Eco “Living Urns” Work

Biodegradable Urns Explained: Types, Materials, Costs, and How Eco “Living Urns” Work

If you are reading this, there is a good chance you are holding two ideas at once: love for someone (or a beloved pet) you miss, and a desire to...

Are Cremation Ashes Biodegradable? What They’re Made Of and How Biodegradable Urns Really Work

Are Cremation Ashes Biodegradable? What They’re Made Of and How Biodegradable Urns Really Work

Most families don’t start with a science question. They start with a real-life moment: an urn on the table, a temporary container from the crematory, a quiet urge to “do...

Biodegradable Urns & Living Urns: How They Work, Costs, and What to Expect

Biodegradable Urns & Living Urns: How They Work, Costs, and What to Expect

There’s a particular moment many families describe after cremation: the calls have slowed down, the paperwork is finally in a folder, and the urgency of the first days eases just...

Biodegradable Urns: How They Work, Types for Water or Ground Burial, and Where to Buy Eco-Friendly Options

Biodegradable Urns: How They Work, Types for Water or Ground Burial, and Where to Buy Eco-Friendly Options

When a family chooses cremation, the next questions tend to be quieter and more personal: what to do with ashes, whether keeping ashes at home feels comforting or heavy, and...

Biodegradable Pet Urns: Best Options for Water, Garden Burial & Tree Planting (What to Know)

Biodegradable Pet Urns: Best Options for Water, Garden Burial & Tree Planting (What to Know)

When a pet dies, families often find themselves making decisions they never wanted to make—quickly, while sleep-deprived, and with a heart that feels like it’s trying to learn a new...

Eco-Friendly Urns and Biodegradable Options: Water, Soil, and Tree Memorials

Eco-Friendly Urns and Biodegradable Options: Water, Soil, and Tree Memorials

For some families, choosing eco friendly urns isn’t about doing something trendy. It’s about making the memorial match the person. If your loved one composted, hiked, gardened, volunteered for conservation...