How to Put Cremation Remains in a Cremation Headstone

Facing the funeral of a loved one is a trying time for most people. There are questions to be answered, arrangements to make and the process of grieving to go through. Cremation is a process that some people prefer when they leave this world. Cremation leaves many questions about where and how to bury the remains, if that was the loved-ones last wishes. Most funeral parlors offer traditional burial plots and services for those that have chosen cremation.

Make a choice for the cremation remains. Options are: in-ground burials in a cremation garden, family vaults and mausoleums, outdoor and indoor niches, glass-front niches and jewelry to hold cremation remains. One unusual option is a memorial reef; remains are cast into a cement reef and placed in an ocean or other large body of water. Always follow the deceased's burial wishes, if possible.

Make the cremation arrangements. The funeral home typically contracts a cremation out to a third-party source. Some cremation societies allow the family's presence when the body is placed into the cremation chamber, and some religions incorporate this viewing into the burial process. Check with the funeral director to see what the policy is.

Commit the loved one's remains to the chosen area. If you have chosen a cremation garden, the urn holding the remains will be buried in the ground and a headstone or marker will be placed at the location. Using a glass-front niche allows family members to place a photo of the loved one in front of the urn, for visitors paying their respects. Choosing a less traditional option like a cremation reef allows family members to place the remains inside concrete as it is being poured. A bronze plaque is placed into the reef, and the reef is lowered into the water. Family-owned crypts hold cremation remains if the room is available.