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When you purchase an urn for ashes, you often have the option to personalize it. Sometimes words, images, or photographs can be added directly to the side of the urn, and other times you can purchase a small plaque that can be engraved and added to the base.
Our Top Picks for Honoring Your Loved One
- Custom Urns by Foreverence
- Cremation Diamonds by Eterneva
- Cremation Stones by Parting Stone
- Memorial Benches by Cremation Solutions
- Cremation Monuments by Mohawk Valley Monuments
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Different Types of Cremation Urn Plaques
- Cremation Urn Plaque Sayings and Wording Ideas
While you can certainly include the name and birth/death dates of your loved one on the plaque, you may also consider adding a few lines on how much the deceased will be missed.
That’s the purpose of this article. Keep reading to learn about the different types of plaques and wording that you can use to personalize the urn.
Different Types of Cremation Urn Plaques
Since cremation is a growing industry, you will find that urns have changed over the last several years. While we discuss plaques that can be added to the side of a traditional urn, we will also discuss other containers and plaques that you may have never considered.
» MORE: Create a free online memorial. Honor your loved one, share funeral details, and collect memories and tributes.
1. Memorial plaque urn
Search online for a beautiful, customizable urn that can be hung on the wall. The urn holds the cremains, but the image on the outside can be personalized to include the person’s image, a favorite hobby, or a saying.
2. Small memorial plaques or plates
At the risk of sounding insensitive, the easiest way to describe amemorial plaque or plate is that they look like dog tags.
These engraved items are typically small and would only hold three or four lines of text and maybe one little line drawing. They can be added to any sort of receptacle that holds the remains of someone you love.
3. Urn pendant
Since many traditional urns have a curved side, you may not be able to add an urn plaque unless it has a flat base that is wide enough for a label. To get around this issue, you may consider purchasing an urn pendant.
These are small engraved plaques similar to the one described above. These plaques hang around the neck of the urn from a chain or ribbon.
One unique idea is to include a memorial diamond on your urn pendant. This is a small, custom diamond created from your loved one's ashes or hair. Eternevaspecializes in making gorgeous, one-of-a-kind memorial diamonds in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
» MORE: Create a free website to honor a loved one who has passed away
4. Columbarium plaque
If you decide to put the cremains of your loved one in a final resting place, you may choose to purchase space in a columbarium wall.
Most cemeteries will give you the option of adding a plaque on the door of the niche with the name of the deceased. The cemetery may have rules regarding how much text can be added to the plaque.
Cremation Urn Plaque Sayings and Wording Ideas
You may have avoided ordering the urn plaque for your loved one because you don’t know what to say. Your loved one was special, and you don’t want to use the same memorial plaque wording as everybody else to describe how much they will be missed.
We understand the problem of not being able to come up with the appropriate words to express your sorrow. After all, you would probably need thousands of lines to describe why you loved the person who is now gone. Below, we’ve listed some examples to give you some inspiration.
For humans
5. ‘Forever In Our Hearts’
Your family member was loved by many, and they will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone they encountered throughout their lives. Your loved one will be forever in many people’s hearts.
6. ‘Much Loved By Family and Friends’
Did your loved one have an exuberant personality? Was he or she loved by all? Perhaps you should add these words to the cremation urn plaque.
7. ‘Dearly Loved Husband and Father’
You might want to include other important relationships that your loved one may have had with others. Was he also a loved brother, son, or grandfather?
8. ‘Safe in God’s Care’
If your loved one was spiritual, you might consider adding a message of faith on the urn plaque.
9. ‘Love Always’ or ‘Beloved Always’
You may not have very much room to add a lengthy message on your cremation plaque. If you are limited in the number of characters, consider these two-word options.
10. ‘Treasured Memories are Ours to Keep’
Sometimes, the only solace you feel when you lose a loved one is thinking back on treasured memories. Refer to those memories on the plaque of the urn.
11. ‘He lived for those he loved, and those he loved remember.’
It may take you a minute to interpret this phrase, but it is a rather unique way to say that the person loved and was loved.
12. ‘Always Loved. Never Forgotten. Forever Missed.’
You may play with the punctuation in this statement. Having three periods may not be attractive, so you may want to use a dash or comma instead.
13. ‘Always On My Mind’
We don’t think you will have to pay Willie Nelson any royalties if you choose to use this phrase on a cremation plaque for a loved one.
14. ‘You Were a Ray of Sunshine in Our Lives’
Did your loved one have a cheerful disposition? Let all of eternity know by adding this to the plaque on her urn.
15. ‘Rest In Peace’
This saying has been on headstones for centuries. Consider this classic phrase for the plaque of your loved one’s urn.
16. ‘Until We Meet Again’
If your loved one believed in the afterlife, consider using this quote on the cremation urn.
17. ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’
This verse is from Matthew 25:23. It is what every Christian wants to hear from God after death.
18. ‘May you touch dragonflies and stars, dance with fairies, and talk to the moon.’
If you lost a child, you might consider using this phrase on his or her urn plaque.
19. ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’
If your loved one was looking forward to heaven, this would be an appropriate thing to include on his or her urn plaque.
20. ‘At Peace’
Did your loved one struggle with an extended illness before he or she died? Even though you miss your family member every day, you may feel solace knowing that they are at peace.
» MORE: Many places charge for online memorials and obits. At Cake, we help you create one for free.
For pets
Many people are choosing to keep the cremated remains of their pets. Of course, you can use many of the previous examples. Here are some more ideas for the plaque of your pet’s urn.
21. ‘A Loyal Friend’
Was your pet always by your side, no matter what? Celebrate your pet’s loyalty by engraving this on the urn’s plaque.
22. ‘Best Friend and Loving Companion’
Although most people say that dogs are man’s best friend, you can choose this phrase for any pet.
23. ‘Your Paw Prints Will Forever Be On Our Hearts’
We never get over the loss of a fantastic pet.
24. ‘Run Free’
If your pet died of old age, you might feel better knowing that they’re able to run free in pet heaven. It’s hard seeing our pets age and not be able to do things they were able to do when they were young.
25. ‘You Left a Trail of Beautiful Memories’
What special memories do you have of your pet?
26. ‘Our Lives Were Better With You In It’
This clear, concise statement says it all. Our furry loved ones enhance our lives.
27. ‘Crossed the Rainbow Bridge on July X, XXXX’
It is common to refer to a pet’s death as crossing a rainbow bridge.
28. ‘You Brought Happiness, Joy, and Comfort to Our Lives’
You could also use this phrase on the urn of a human loved one.
29. ‘My Gorgeous Boy/Girl’
You may choose to have an urn that includes a photo if you add this phrase.
30. ‘My Buddy’
Did you always refer to your pet as your buddy? Even if that wasn’t his name? Consider using your “pet name” for your pet on the urn’s plaque.
Finding the Right Words is Hard
It’s hard to find the right words for a cremation plaque. Facing grief and choosing what to do with cremation ashes, let alone what words should accompany them, can be a daunting task.
Maybe an urn is only a temporary place for your loved one’s ashes. Many people choose to scatter them at sea, create a fireworks display, or create memorial diamonds from the cremains. Others choose to order a custom order an urn from an onlinestore like Foreverence. You submit a design idea or sketch, then the company designs and 3D prints your urn, so you get a 100% unique container.
All end-of-life decisions are difficult. Should you have a visitation, even if your loved one is cremated, or should you just schedule a memorial service? What charities should you choose for your loved one’s memorial fund?
Those who face these difficult decisions often wish that their loved ones would have pre-planned their funerals. In fact, pre-planning your funeral is one of the best gifts you can give to your loved ones. Instead of shopping around for funeral homes, columbarium niches, and flowers, your loved ones can gather together to swap stories and share memories.
FAQs
How do you write a tribute plaque? ›
- Opening phrases such as "In memory of" or "Dedicated to the memory of";
- The name or names of those being remembered, and any nicknames they may have in quotes in the middle of their name. ...
- The dates of that person's life span; and.
- A meaningful and significant quote that relates to the person.
- In Memory of.
- In Loving Memory.
- Dedicated to the Memory of.
- In Honor of.
- Forever in Our Hearts.
- A Life Well Lived.
- In Treasured Memory of.
- In Fondest Memory of.
- Create a work of art. Ashes can be used to create a painting. ...
- Slowly release cremated remains into the ocean. ...
- Launch ashes into space. ...
- Take to the skies. ...
- Use cremated ashes in a memorial tattoo. ...
- Wear ashes in one-of-a-kind jewelry. ...
- Create a candle urn.
Cremation urns personalized
This can be accomplished through several ways; engraving on the urn itself or attaching an engraved plaque to the urn. The type of engraving available depends on the material and design of the urn. Several fonts and decorative borders are available.
Some options for cremation memorials include: Keeping the ashes in a memorial urn, which can be stored in a home, mausoleum, or special location. Scattering the ashes in a location that was meaningful to the deceased.
What do you say at a cremation ceremony? ›- I Love You. If you are very close to the survivors, it's a good idea to say “I love you.” These words are almost always soothing. ...
- I'm Here. Your presence means a lot to people during hard times. ...
- A Shared Memory. ...
- I'm Listening. ...
- A Eulogy.
- Gone, but not forgotten.
- In loving memory.
- To live in the hearts of those we love is never to die.
- Entered into rest.
- Until we meet again.
- I shall but love thee better after death.
- Forever in our hearts.
- Always in our hearts.
- Always in our hearts.
- Always on my mind, forever in my heart.
- You'll be with me forever.
- Gone yet not forgotten.
- May the winds of heaven blow softly and whisper in your ear. ...
- You may be gone from my sight but you are never gone from my heart.
- Notable achievements.
- Their personality.
- Their hobbies and passions.
- Their careers.
- Positive qualities.
- Their relationships with family and friends.
- Memorable stories.
- Their lasting legacy.
In a tribute, write about the person's best qualities and successes in life. Share how they changed your life or made you a better version of yourself. Summon admiration for their life's work and what it meant to them.
What is a tribute example? ›
The concert was a tribute to the musician. Yellow ribbons were tied on trees as a tribute to the soldiers at war. an event at which artists and musicians paid tribute to the famous composer The country was forced to pay tribute. The ruler paid a tribute every year.
What is the best font for a plaque? ›Font Type – the fonts that most people use for plaques and signs are Cheltenham, Helvetica, Century Schoolbook and Times New Roman (see examples below).
What is plaque of appreciation? ›Appreciation plaques give a constant reminder of the gratitude you have for the recipient's commitment and hard work. Some standard appreciation plaques include esteeming employees' retirement and presenting a thoughtful gesture to others you want to express your gratitude.
How do you know the ashes are your loved ones? ›So long as you use a licensed and reputable crematory or Cremation Service, you can assume that the ashes or cremains placed in your urn are indeed your loved one.
How long do cremated ashes last? ›A common question that we find in the cremation diamond industry is do ashes have an expiration date? The short answer is they don't; at least not in our lifetime. It would take around one million years for ashes to dissolve since they are made solely of inorganic material.
How do you know its your loved ones ashes? ›IDENTIFICATION DISK
Before the body goes into the oven, a stainless steel disk around the size of a quarter with a unique number is placed with it. That number is then recorded on the paperwork of the deceased. Since the disk doesn't melt, it will remain in tact with the ashes that you receive.
- When filling urns, be sure to place jewellery on a soft cloth to avoid scratching the surface.
- Use a small amount of cremated remains and take care to prevent ashes from gathering in the threads.
- Please DO NOT use crazy glue to seal any piece of jewellery. ...
- Jewellery MUST be sealed with Loctite Threadlocker.
Keep the original sealed container intact and transfer the ashes yourself. Simply take the plastic bag containing the ashes out of the cardboard box and place the entire bag inside a cremation urn, box or memorial chest of suitable size.
Do cremation urns need to be sealed? ›Do I need to seal the cremation urn? Sealing the cremation urn is a personal decision and there are no rules that say that you have to seal the urn or that you don't have to seal the cremation urn for ashes.
Can cremated people enter heaven? ›No matter what a person's preference is, from the Christian perspective, cremation does not prevent one from going to Heaven. So there's no need to worry, if God can create life from dust, surely he can restore life from ashes.
What is left of a person after cremation? ›
After the cremation process is complete, you receive three to seven pounds of remains that look white and feel soft like ashes. What's returned to you is the person's skeleton. Once you burn off all the water, soft tissues, and cremation container/casket, etc., all that's left is bone.
Where should a urn be placed at home? ›Some families choose to place their loved one's urn in a foyer or living room, while others will put it in a bedroom or even the kitchen. You should try to locate an out-of-the-way spot where the urn is unlikely to be disturbed by kids, pets, or other people.
How do you write a cremation message? ›My condolences.” “I offer you my thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes during this dark time in your life.” “May the love which comes from the memories of the dearly departed comfort you now and in the days ahead.” “As you grieve know that we are remembering you and honoring the memory of [Name].
What do you say in someone's memory? ›You can: Share a memory that you have of the deceased person. Express gratitude for how the person who has passed away touched your life. Show your condolences and let the person grieving know you are thinking of them.
What is the prayer for cremation? ›Be not severe in Thy judgment but let some drops of Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames, and do Thou O Merciful Saviour, send Thy Angels to conduct Thy Departed servant to a place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
What are 3 words you want on your gravestone? ›- In loving memory.
- Rest in peace.
- Peace, perfect peace.
- Reunited at last.
- Forever with the Lord.
- Our loss is God's gain.
- Of your charity, pray for the soul of…
An epitaph tells the world how you felt about your loved one, often in a few simple words such as “so loved”. Try to focus on celebrating your love for them, rather than your grief.
What are some sayings for celebration of life? ›Inspiring celebration of life quotes touch on how to live life to the fullest and remind us to love each day. People living deeply have no fear of death. To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. No one is actually dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away.
What are the best words at a funeral? ›- I'm sorry for your loss.
- He will be missed by everyone that knew him.
- She was a lovely woman and will be greatly missed.
- You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
- When you're ready, I'm here for you.
Adieu. While it may sound pretty benign, the French adieu literally translates as “to god” in Latin. This means it has a sense of finality, like “I won't see you again until after we're both dead. Goodbye forever.” Not so charmingly continental now, is it?
How do you say I will always remember you? ›
- “Lives forever in the memories we keep.” ...
- “You touched my heart. ...
- “My memory loves you. ...
- “Until I take my final breath, you will live in my heart.” ...
- “There are no goodbyes for us. ...
- “Too well loved to ever be forgotten.” ...
- “Always loving, always loved.”
eternal. adjectivewithout pause; endless. abiding.
What are three words that describe tribute? ›Some common synonyms of tribute are citation, encomium, eulogy, and panegyric. While all these words mean "a formal expression of praise," tribute implies deeply felt praise conveyed either through words or through a significant act.
How do you write a tribute in heartfelt? ›Start by giving a brief introduction of who you are and what your relationship was to the deceased. Share personal stories and anecdotes about your loved one, along with anything that will help celebrate and honor their life, such as: Reading their favorite poem or song lyrics.
How do you write a meaningful tribute? ›- Admiration and respect.
- Highlights of positive features (humility, kindness, determination, trustworthiness, devotion, sacrifice, loyalty and so on).
- Paying attention to a person's achievements, successes and all difficulties he/she overcame to achieve them.
Tribute speeches are commemorative speeches that pay honor, admiration, and homage to an occasion, person, event, thing, or idea. In many cases, speakers delivering tribute speeches use emotional appeals to acknowledge the qualities and influence of the subject of the speech.
What are some short quotes for memorial cards? ›“In the hearts of those who loved you, you will always be there.” “As you were you will always be, treasured forever in our memory.” “I keep in my heart the love of the past, for there it was planted forever to last.” “Your presence I miss, your memory I treasure, loving you always, forgetting you never.”
How many words should a funeral tribute be? ›The written word count of a eulogy should fall somewhere between 500 to 3000 words. It generally takes a person five minutes to say 1500 words speaking at an average rate.
How do you write a funeral memory? ›- Interview family and friends. Don't feel that the complete weight of remembering your loved one is on your shoulders. ...
- Tell a story (or stories) ...
- Don't think about it as public speaking. ...
- Keep it brief. ...
- Read it out loud. ...
- Humor heals. ...
- Take a deep breath.
Tribute items included live animals, animal products, plants and plant products, as well as manufactured goods. Many of these things were valuable commodities such as tea, pearls, and ginseng.
How do you tribute someone after death? ›
- Keep something of theirs with you. ...
- Support a cause close to their heart, and yours. ...
- Make a tribute donation to a nonprofit. ...
- Create a living reminder. ...
- Dedicate an event to their memory. ...
- Start a new tradition. ...
- Share their stories and photos. ...
- Live your best life.
Standard materials used to make engravable cremation urns include metal or brass cremation urns, along with wood urns, and marble or stone urns. Texts can be directly engraved on these urns.
What should be engraved on a gravestone? ›- Treasured Memories of.
- In Loving Memory of.
- Cherished Memories of.
- Sacred to the Memory of.
- In Remembrance of.
- In Ever Loving Memory of.
- Beloved Memories of.
- Always In Our Thoughts.
A cremation grave marker is a headstone that is placed on the grave of someone who has been cremated. The headstone usually has the person's name, dates of birth and death, and sometimes a short message. Cremation grave markers can be made from different materials, like stone, marble, granite, or bronze.
What should I engrave on remembrance jewelry? ›- “Forever in my heart.” ...
- “Love is immortality.” ...
- “Love you forever.” ...
- “The melody lingers on.” ...
- “Until we meet again.” ...
- “All we are is dust in the wind.” ...
- “While I breathe, I hope.” ...
- “I am with you always.”
Most people opt for Times Roman, but Clarendon is another popular choice. Some fonts look more charming on some urns than others -- for instance, our engraving staff prefers the look of Times Roman on cultured marble urns, while they prefer Clarendon on metal and brass urns.
Do urns need to be sealed? ›Do I need to seal the cremation urn? Sealing the cremation urn is a personal decision and there are no rules that say that you have to seal the urn or that you don't have to seal the cremation urn for ashes.
What should I put on my engraving? ›- Today I have loved you for xxx days.
- I've been looking for you since I heard my first fairytale.
- I have found the one whom my soul loves.
- The world is better when shared with you.
- When we have each other, we have everything.
- Life with you is beautiful.
- This is our happily ever after.
- My strength.
Interment of ashes refers to cremated remains being buried in the ground or placed in a columbarium. A columbarium is a building specially designed to hold ashes. Interment is ideal for people who do not wish for their ashes to be scattered or displayed in the home. There are also religious reasons for ashes to.
Do people who are cremated have a headstone? ›Monument or Headstone
Monuments and headstones are most commonly associated with traditional burials. However, this memorialization option is not solely reserved for this type of final arrangement. In fact, most cemeteries permit cremated remains to be buried with any of the headstones we are accustomed to seeing.
What is a death marker? ›
A burial marker, like the name denotes, is what marks a burial site. However, they mean usually mean much more than that as burial markers are also what will symbolize the deceased for the rest of time.
What do you engrave with silver? ›Mechanical jewellery engraving tools
Ideal for bulk designs and expert jewellery makers, steel burrs can be utilised in a rotary drill, pendant motor or micro-motor to achieve fine detail on flat surfaces. They're particularly good for glass engraving and softer metals such as gold and silver.
The three numbers represent the percentage purity. For example, the marking '417' means 41.7% gold, which is 10 karats. Using this same format, 14 karat pieces are marked '583' (sometimes '585') and 18 karat pieces are marked '750,' and so on.
What is a remembrance pendant? ›The Sterling Silver Remembrance pendant resembles a cremation urn and holds a portion of cremated remains or a lock of hair. The 1-inch pendant includes a 20-inch sterling silver chain.