Cremation and Personal Belongings: Exploring the Possibilities
For many people, choosing personal items to accompany their loved ones is a significant part of end-of-life rituals. There are countless ways to honour your loved one’s legacy. We’ll discuss which items are typically permitted in the context of cremation and the main ones to avoid.
Cremation Items: What Can You Be Cremated With?
What items can be cremated with a body? Similar to a burial casket, an array of personal items can be placed inside a casket for cremation. Consider if the person had any wishes on the matter or what preferences you and other family members might have.
We’ve created this non-exhaustive list of items to give you some ideas to get started:
- Photos: Add pictures of friends, family, pets, or significant places.
- Flowers:
- Religious items: If the person was religious, honour their beliefs by including prayer beads or cards, pieces of scripture, or other meaningful symbols as permitted by their faith.
- Stuffed animals or blankets: Stuffed animals and blankets can be a comforting choice, especially in the case of a young person's passing.
- Letters or books: From old letters sent by loved ones to new letters that people wrote specifically for the cremation, these notes can be a special companion. Letters can also be a meaningful way to say goodbye. Or, if they had a favourite book that comforted them, consider including a copy in the casket.
What Materials Can NOT Be Cremated?
Some materials can’t be cremated because they pose a safety hazard or are otherwise prohibited by the crematorium.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the most commonly restricted items, but remember that each crematorium has its own particular set of guidelines for what’s suitable to conduct a safe cremation. Your best option is to ask for clarification.
- Pacemakers and some other medical implants
- Prosthetic limbs
- Any sort of electronic device, such as a cellphone or e-cigarette
- Alcohol or lighters
- Battery-operated devices
- Items containing trapped air, like a closed bottle
- Some objects made from plastic or glass
- Some items made from metal
Can You Have Jewellery On When Cremated?
While jewellery may be cremated depending on the crematorium’s policies, metals melt and become solid again after they’ve cooled. After the cremation process, the crematorium operator removes any metal remains from jewellery or medical implants by hand using a magnet. The family can permit the metal to be recycled or properly disposed of.
If the person wished to be cremated and wanted their jewellery to stay with their remains, an alternative would be to place the jewellery with them in the urn following the cremation.
If the jewellery is made from a flammable material like wood, it will combust during the cremation process.
Honouring Cultural and Religious Practices for Cremation Items
For many religions and cultures around the world, placing items in the casket allows the person to bring precious mementoes into the afterlife–whether literally or metaphorically. While this is still entirely up to any wishes the person had and the desires of the family, there are some general ways this is practiced.
Here are a couple of examples of how different religions and cultures around the world personalize items in their loved ones' caskets:
Christianity: If your loved one was a devout Christian, including religious symbols such as a rosary, bible, pages from scripture, or prayer cards can be a thoughtful touch.
Judaism: Since cremation is permitted in Reform Judaism, some Reform Jews may wish to include traditional items for burial in the cremation casket.
Hinduism: During a person’s visitation, viewing, or service, holy basil and other items are typically placed inside the casket and can enter the cremation chamber with them.
Personalizing the Cremation Experience
Including personal items in the casket with your loved one can allow you to contribute to a meaningful farewell. It can be a significant step in the grieving process and a powerful way to connect with the person in an intimate and practical way. To learn more about how to dress a body for cremation, please read our blog post, Are People Dressed When They Are Cremated?
