Alternative ways of dealing with the body of a loved one after death

The National Funeral Directors Association estimates that less than 40% of Americans are traditionally buried after they pass. The percentage is expected to drop even lower over the next twenty years. This is because more American families are moving and unable to visit burial sites frequently. Additionally, many burial sites’ have limited space, restrictions on visiting loved ones, and restrictions on leaving them gifts. This article describes four unique alternatives to traditionally burying your loved one after they pass.

Jewelry

If you have a very strong relationship with your loved one, you can keep them close to your heart figuratively and literally. Your loved one’s ashes can be infused into pendants of various sizes, shapes, and colors for both men and women. The same can be done with your loved one’s hair if they wish to be buried, but you are unable to visit their burial site frequently. People who are not comfortable with infusing any part of their loved one’s body can infuse flowers from their loved one’s memorial service instead. Your most beautiful accessory can be made with a small piece of your loved one.

Fertilizer

Your outdoorsy loved one can rest in their favorite environment without disturbing it. This can be accomplished through promession, the use of liquid nitrogen to break down the body into fertilizing powder. A person that is interested in promession can select the types of bushes, flowers, and trees that they would like to fertilize after they pass.

The company that founded promession has studied the process for over a decade, received millions of dollars in funding, and grown interest from Americans. The process has received so much support because it is more eco-friendly than burial and cremation; it does not occupy land or release toxic fumes. Through promession, one death can produce lots of life.

Vinyl record

Your creative loved one does not have to leave behind their artwork; they can become it. It only takes a teaspoon of your loved one’s ashes to create a vinyl record that can play up to 45 minutes of their voice. The vinyl record allows you to preserve your loved one’s cremains, life advice, and final messages to family members.

If the vinyl record is properly taken care of, it will last for generations and allow future family members to learn what your loved one was like. The vinyl record can be kept safe inside of a personalized sleeve that has artwork by or of your loved one. Your loved one does not have to be here for you to hear them.

Fireworks

Even after your loved one passes, they can still be the life of the party. You can tribute a fireworks display to your loved one with fireworks made from their ashes. The fireworks can form meaningful symbols that make you think of your loved one. The fireworks can also be colors associated with your loved one’s favorite sports teams, characters, and more. You can make the fireworks extra sentimental by synchronizing them to your loved one’s favorite song. As the firework display progresses, your loved one’s ashes will be released into the sky. In the form of fireworks, your loved one can make sadness about death feel like the celebration of life.

Traditional burial is not your loved one’s only option. As more and more people are starting to think outside of the box, or in this case, the casket (sorry, not sorry), they can be transformed into a beautiful sight, such as a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry or an abundant garden. They can also be transformed into a heartwarming experience, such as a vinyl record that tells their story or a fireworks display that celebrates it. It does not matter if your loved one is commemorated in a way that is traditional or non-traditional, but in a way that makes them happy.

— Madison Kemp