What to Do With Ashes After Cremation: 8 Beautiful Ideas

When someone we love passes, the silence they leave behind can feel overwhelming. If your loved one was cremated, you may be left with ashes and a deep aching question: What now

There is no single right way to honour them. This is your journey, and your love story. Below are eight thoughtful and meaningful ways to keep their memory close, in whatever form feels right to you.

1. Keep Them in a Memorial Urn
For many people, having a physical place where their loved one rests offers a sense of comfort. A memorial urn can become a special part of your home, a gentle reminder that they are still with you. Whether you choose something classic or something completely personal, it becomes more than just an object. It becomes a quiet space filled with memory and connection.

2. Bury the Ashes
Burying ashes can bring a sense of peace and finality. Some people find comfort in laying their loved one to rest in a family plot or beneath a tree in the garden. There are even biodegradable urns designed to grow into trees, allowing new life to grow from love and loss. It is a grounded way to say you are home now.

3. Scatter Them Somewhere Meaningful
Was there a place they loved A beach where they walked barefoot A forest where they found peace A spot you both held dear Scattering ashes in a location that holds special meaning can feel like returning them to the heart of where they belonged. Just remember to check local permissions if you choose this path.

4. Share the Ashes Among Family
Grief is something we often carry together. Some families choose to divide ashes into small urns or keepsake jewellery, so everyone can hold a piece of the person they loved. This can be especially meaningful when family members live far apart. Even across distance, you remain connected through memory.

5. Create Memorial Jewellery
Memorial jewellery offers something quietly powerful. It gives you a way to carry their memory with you in a form that feels personal and comforting. A ring worn on your hand. A necklace that rests near your heart. These are not just pieces of jewellery. They are quiet reminders of love and presence.

Here at Memories Made, we carefully create keepsakes using ashes, hair, or clothing, turning them into jewellery that holds deep meaning. Everything is made with care, and always in honour of your loved one. Whether or not it feels right for you now, just knowing the option exists might bring a little comfort when the time feels right.

6. Plant a Memorial Garden
There is something healing about bringing life from loss. A memorial garden could be a simple planter on your windowsill or an entire patch of earth in your garden. Some people mix a small amount of ashes into the soil so the memory quite literally becomes part of the living world. Over time, it becomes a place to reflect, cry, smile and feel close.

7. Incorporate Ashes Into Art
Sometimes grief goes beyond words. Turning ashes into art is a powerful way to honour the complexity of love and loss. Some artists use ashes in glasswork, paintings or pottery. The final piece becomes a one of a kind creation that holds both the memory and the emotion of the person you miss.

8. Do Nothing Yet and That Is Completely Okay
If you are not ready to do anything with the ashes yet, please know this is perfectly valid. Grief does not follow a schedule. Some people know what they want to do right away. Others need time. The ashes will still be there when you are ready. Your timing is sacred. Your feelings are enough.

In the End
However you choose to honour them, let it be rooted in love. Whether you create something, plant something, wear something or simply wait, your choice matters. Because your love for them is still here. It always will be.