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.
How to Write a Note to Include With Keepsake Urns: Gentle Phrasing
There are moments in grief where the “practical” choice carries a surprising amount of emotional weight. Sharing a portion of cremated remains is one of those moments. You might be...
Stillbirth Memory-Making: Hospital Photography, Handprints, and Keepsakes That Matter
After a stillbirth, time can feel distorted. Hours move too fast and not fast enough, and the world outside your room can seem impossibly ordinary while you are living through...
Cremation Choices That Feel Grounded: Urns, Keepsakes, Jewelry, and a Plan You Can Live With
After a loss, families are often surprised by the timing of the decisions. The hardest moments can arrive after the paperwork is signed and the cremation is complete—when the phone...
Cremation Urn Size Guide: Adult, Keepsake, Companion, and Pet Urn Capacities Explained
When you’re choosing an urn, you’re rarely in the mood to do math. Most families start with something simpler: you want a memorial that feels like your person (or your...
Keepsake Urns for Ashes: How They Work, Sizes, and How to Choose One
Keepsake urns exist because families don’t always grieve in the same place, even when they love the same person. A keepsake (sometimes called a mini urn for ashes) is designed...
Heart Keepsake Urns: Meaning, Sizes, and How to Choose a Heart-Shaped Memorial
A heart keepsake urn is often chosen for a simple reason that doesn’t need much explaining: a heart is the shape families reach for when they want to say “love”...
Cremation Bracelets for Ashes: Styles, Pros & Cons, and Buying Tips
Cremation bracelets are one of the most discreet ways to keep someone close. For many people, a bracelet feels more natural than a necklace—it sits at the edge of your...
Urn Alternatives: 36+ Creative Ideas for Ashes and Unique Modern Cremation Urns
After cremation, there’s often a quiet pause that no one prepares you for. The calls slow down. The paperwork stops arriving in bursts. And suddenly, in your hands, there is...
12 Meaningful Things to Do With Cremation Ashes: Unique Ideas, Keepsakes & Memorial Options
After cremation, many families feel a quiet pressure to decide quickly—where the ashes will go, what the “right” memorial looks like, and how to honor someone without turning it into...
Urn Alternatives: Safe, Respectful Containers and Creative Memorial Ideas (Plus When to Upgrade)
If the idea of a traditional urn doesn’t feel right—or you simply aren’t ready to choose one—you have options. Many families use urn alternatives for a while, either because they...
Mini Keepsake Urns: What They Are, Typical Sizes, and When to Choose One
If you’ve ever found yourself holding a temporary container and thinking, “We’ll decide later,” you’re in good company. “Later” is where most families end up making the real decisions—how to...
Alternatives to a Traditional Urn: Keepsakes Made From Ashes and Other Memorial Options
A traditional urn is a meaningful choice for many families, but it isn’t the only one. Sometimes an urn doesn’t feel like the right fit for the person who died....
DIY At-Home Memorial Ideas: Create a Meaningful Space to Remember a Loved One
In the first days after a loss, your home can feel unfamiliar. The rooms are the same, but the rhythm is different. You may notice the places where your loved...
What to Do With Cremation Ashes: 15 Meaningful Ideas (Keepsakes, Scattering, and More)
When you receive cremation ashes, it’s normal to feel both comfort and pressure at the same time. Comfort, because you finally have something tangible to care for. Pressure, because the...