Memorial Merchandise
There are several options available to those who want to have a tangible item that memorializes their deceased loved ones, spanning from jewelry, to vinyl records, to coral reefs. Many of these items incorporate cremated or hydrolyzed remains into the material, while others actually preserve unique aspects of the person for loved ones to keep (such as postmortem tattoo preservation). Here, we provide an overview of several of these available options. Availability may vary depending on the state.
Parting Stones
Parting Stone, which is based out of Santa Fe, New Mexico, solidifies cremated remains into 40-60 stones that can be returned to and shared between loved ones. These stones vary in size--between thumb-nail to palm-size--and in color (they are often white in color, but may also be blue, green, or other slight variation).
Vinyl Records Incorporating Cremated Remains
Vinyly is a company that incorporate a small amount of a loved one's cremated remains (approximately 1 teaspoon per record) into a personalized, playable vinyl record. The company is based out of Europe but provides its services internationally, and it will collaborate with a family's selected funeral home. The company will formulate records using either human or pet cremated remains, and families can choose between a 12-inch of 7-inch record size in addition to submitting their own artwork. Once the company has all of the necessary materials, the process takes between three to five weeks.
Biotree Biodegradable Urns
Biotree biodegradable urns incorporate a loved one's cremated or hydrolyzed remains with a tree sapling, enabling families to plant a tree in that person's memory. Each urn comes with a Biotree certificate that loved ones can redeem to receive their tree sapling.
Eternal Reefs
According to the Eternal Reefs website, "an Eternal Reef combines a cremation urn, ash scattering, and burial at sea into one meaningful, permanent environmental tribute to life." These reefs incorporate a loved one's cremated remains into the environmentally friendly cement mixture used to create artificial reef formations ("Reef Balls"), which marine organisms will populate and build upon. Pet cremated remains can also be incorporated into the cement mixture alongside those of a beloved person. These reef formations are then placed on the seafloor in one of the company's permitted ocean locations, which the person or a loved one selects.
Eterneva Memorial Diamonds
Eterneva, which is a company based out of Austin, Texas, extracts carbon from a loved one's cremated remains to create memorial diamonds. Families can receive monthly updates on the process.
Postmortem Tattoo Preservation
Save My Ink Forever is an Ohio-based company that will provide mortuary professionals the resources needed to recover and preserve decedents' tattoos, should individuals and/or their families reach out with that interest. Pricing varies depending on whether individual tattoos or full sleeves are being preserved. Families will receive the preserved, framed tattoo(s) in approximately three months. This process is legal in every U.S. state other than Washington.
Memorial Jewelry
Many of us are familiar with memorial jewelry, but several options are available. Families may choose to purchase necklaces or rings that contain small spaces for storing small amounts of cremated or hydrolyzed remains; they may choose to divide the remains themselves or enlist the help of a funeral director to do so. These options range in price and personalization, but they can be found on sites like Amazon. Additionally, there are multiple companies that will use either paper or digital scans of a loved one's fingerprints or handprints to create pendants, rings, and other jewelry (Thumbies is one example), which funeral homes can help families connect with.