Urns play an important role as they are the vessels that hold your loved one’s ashes after their cremation services in Elba, NY. They also serve as a small memorial as well as a visual way of remembering your loved one. But what if the urn isn’t looking so good? What if the engraving is getting difficult to read? Maybe there are cracks or it simply doesn’t match the décor of your home anymore. Many people may not think about updating their loved one’s urn, but there are many reasons you may want to consider doing just that. 

Reasons to Update You Loved One’s Urn 

Just like how other items may need a little updating, urns are no different. Some people may feel as if they change the urn it is somehow disrespecting their loved one, but actually it is the opposite. Making sure your loved one’s ashes are placed in an urn that is in good condition and something you are proud to display shows respect for them. 

If you aren’t sure if your urn needs updating, here are some things to consider helping you decide: 

• Is it showing signs of damage such as cracks or chips? 
• Would you like to have personal identification markers on it but there is no way to add engraving? 
• Does it no longer matches the décor in your room or home? 
• Did you purchase your current urn because it was what you could afford at the time but can now afford a nicer one? 
• Is there an urn you found that would represent your loved one’s personality better?
  

Incorporating the New Urn 

Once you decide to update your urn and find a new one to purchase, you are probably going to have some questions. You may wonder things like how to transfer the ashes or what to do with the old urn. Let’s look at some of these questions and more. 

• How do I open the urn? How you will open the urn will depend on that individual urn as they all have their own type of closure. If the closure is sealed tight, then you may need to use a solution to wash away the glue. Fingernail polish will often work in this case. With a vase style urn, many of the closures you simply unscrew. Wooden urns will most open from the bottom. Other urns may open at the bottom by twisting the stopper.   
• How do I transfer the ashes?  You may be hesitant to update your urn due to not wanting to transfer the ashes. Despite what you may think, this is typically very easy and not messy at all. This is because most ashes are placed in a plastic bag which is placed in the urn. To transfer the ashes, simply remove this plastic bag from the old urn and place it in the new one. 
• What do I do with the old urn? There are many options to discard the old urn. If it has seen better days you could consider tossing it or recycling it. If it is not in too bad of shape you could repurpose it, sell it online, or donate it to a thrift store. 

If you would like more information on urns for your loved one after their cremation services in Elba, NY, give us a call anytime and let one of our cremation directors assist you.