Heavenly Stars Fireworks offers two different types of firework displays:

• Self-Fire Fireworks: Fireworks you set off yourself.

• Professional Displays: Professionals from Heavenly Stars Fireworks will travel to you and put on a fireworks display. The display is personalized to the individual, for example they can choreograph the fireworks to your loved one's favorite song or match the color scheme to your loved one's favorite sports team.

How it works

• When you purchase a package, the company will send you a pre-paid shipping label with a secure container to place in the correct amount of ashes needed. You or the funeral home will then mail this container to the Heavenly Stars Fireworks facility where their technicians will incorporate the ashes into the fireworks you selected. 

How much does it cost?

• Self-Fire Fireworks range from £299 ($350) to £3,495 ($4,000).

• Professional Displays range from £1,250 ($1,450) to £3,995 ($4,600).

How much ash is needed?

• For Self-Fire Fireworks, this depends on the fireworks package you choose and ranges from using 200 grams (~1 cup) to the full amount of your loved one's ashes.

• For Professional Displays, they will use all of your loved one's ashes. 

Note - if you want to retain some of your ashes for other purposes, you do not need to provide the full amount of ashes. Ultimately, you can hold onto as much as you'd like.

Two notable companies that offer space experiences for your loved one's ashes are Celestis and Aura Flights. However they each offer unique space experiences:

• Method of launching ashes into space:

  • Celestis ashes are launched as “secondary” payload on commercial and scientific spacecraft. These spacecraft are propelled by rockets to reach space. 

  • Aura Flights uses a weather balloon filled with lighter-than-air gas to reach Near Space, at about 100,000 feet above the Earth's surface.

• Amount of ashes brought into space:

  • Celestis lets you launch between 1 to 3 grams of ashes into space.

  • For Aura Flights, you may launch as much of your loved one's ashes into space as you want. 

• Watching the launch:

  • Celestis offers the ability to watch the launch in person or by webcast, but this varies by the launch location and may require an additional purchase of a launch ticket. 

  • Aura Flights does not let you attend the launch nor do they offer any live-streaming of it.

• Space options for non-cremation funerals:

  • If your loved one was not cremated, Celestis offers you the ability to send a sample of their DNA into space by extracting it from a non-invasive mouth swab.

  • Aura Flights only offers the ability to send ashes into space.

How it works and pricing

Aura Flights offers 2 packages for sending your loved one's ashes into space. In both packages, your loved one's ashes will be brought to about 100,000 feet above the Earth's surface.

1. The Memorial Launch package includes a scattering of your loved one's ashes in Near Space. As Aura Flights describes it, "...[your loved one's ashes] are carried around the world on stratospheric winds encircling the globe. Over the following weeks and months, they join the natural cycles of the Earth's atmosphere before finally returning to Earth in raindrops and snowflakes.". This package also includes a personalized memorial video of the flight and the scattering.

2. The Voyager package includes sending a ceremonial portion of your loved one's ashes into Near Space, after which they will be returned to you to keep. As Aura Flights describes it, "[this package is a] perfect space funeral service to help your loved one become the astronaut they always dreamed of being.". 

Celestis offers several packages, including the ability to go to the moon or deep space. These packages include a memorial service, a launch experience (where available), a video memorial video of the launch and a launch certificate. The launch experience includes the ability do a launchpad tour, a hosted dinner/reception and launch viewing, though the launch experience is an additional cost not included in the package price. 

1. The Earth Rise package includes sending ashes into space and bringing them back for you to keep.

2. The Earth Orbit package includes launching the ashes into earth orbit where they will remain for months or years until re-entering the atmosphere, harmlessly vaporizing like a shooting star in final tribute. 

3. The Luna package includes launching the ashes to the surface of the moon, creating a permanent memorial on a distant, but constantly viewable world.

4. The Voyager package includes launching the ashes on a Celestis spacecraft destined for a permanent celestial journey through space, well beyond the Moon.

How much does it cost?

Aura Flights:

• Memorial Launch package starts at £2,950 ($3,450)

• Voyager package starts at £495 ($580)

Celestis:

• Earth Rise package starts at $2,495

• Earth Orbit package starts at $4,995

• Luna package starts at $12,500

• Voyager package starts at $12,500

For detailed pricing about the Celestis packages, please see this link.

How much ash is needed?

• All Celestis packages include 1 gram of ashes

• Aura Flights

  • With the Memorial Launch package, you can provide as much of your loved one's ashes as you like.

  • With the Voyager package, about 1 tablespoon of ashes are used.

Eternal Reefs is a charitable organization that was created by two scuba divers who are working to protect and restore fragile reef ecosystems by use of their "reef balls". These balls are made of a special concrete mixture that creates a perfect medium for underwater micro-organisms to grow and help rebuild dying reefs. The ashes are mixed into a separate concrete mixture and are placed into the center of the reef ball like a pearl. A bronze plaque is mounted onto each reef ball with the name of your loved one and an inscription. 

How it works

Eternal Reefs offers families the ability to be a part of the reef ball creation and to hold funeral services, if desired. If you are interested, below are the services that are included when you purchase a reef ball:

• Day 1 - Family and friends are invited to the creation of the reef ball and can place the ashes (the "pearl") into it. They can also personalize the top of the reef ball by putting hand prints, written messages and other environmentally safe mementos into the damp concrete. 

• Day 3 - Family and friends are invited to have a visitation service with the reef ball. You'll have the opportunity to take photos and leave tributes on the reef ball as well as give speeches or say prayers about your loved one. If your loved one is a military veteran, you may arrange military service honors to be performed, which include a flag folding and the playing of Taps.

• Day 4 - Family and friends are invited to take a boat ride out to see the reef ball reach its final location.

You will also receive two Eternal Reefs Memorial Certificates displaying the GPS location of your reef. For more details on these services, see this link or visit their homepage to see a video of the experience.

How much does it cost?

The cost of a reef ball varies by size and whether you choose to include the services mentioned above. If you do not want to have the above mentioned services, the price is reflected below as "unattended":

• Aquarius Eternal Reef (2' high by 3' wide and 550 to 700 lbs) $4,500 or $3,500 unattended.

  • Ideal to attract the smaller varieties of sea life. The Aquarius is designed for the remains of one person and a family pet.

• Nautilus Eternal Reef (3' high by 3' wide and 1500 to 1800 lbs) $5,500 or $4,500 unattended.

  • These reefs provide excellent habitats for all types of sea life. The Nautilus can accommodate up to two sets of ashes and is also frequently used for individuals and their pets.

• Mariner Eternal Reef (4' high by 5'6" wide and 3800 to 4000 lbs) $8,500 or $7,500 unattended.

  • The Mariner stands out as a pinnacle of the reef and attracts the larger species of sea life. The Mariner can accommodate up to four sets of remains and is frequently used for spouses or family members to be together. (Please Note: the Mariner is only available at the Sarasota locations.)

Additional Notes

• The cost of the boat charter to watch the reef ball be placed is not included in the price and is an extra $75 per person.

• You may also purchase a Tribute Reef Ball which are small reef balls made of the same concrete formula used for your loved one and are crafted by a local artist.

How much ash is needed?

Any amount that you desire. You can even choose to to have an Eternal Reef without adding your ashes to the reef ball.

And Vinyly will press your loved one's ashes into a vinyl record and create album art that's as unique as your loved one. You can create your own soundtrack, a recording of a personal message your last will and testament or even just the sound of silence to hear your "pops and crackles". You can choose to add audio onto each side of the vinyl and depending on the size you choose (7" or 12"), you can have up to 22 minutes of audio per side. 

How it works

You can choose the following customization options for your record:

• 1 or 2 sides of audio

• Size: 7" or 12" 

• Vinyl Color: Clear, transluscent or black vinyl

• Sleeve Type: Printed, clear or plain

• Label: Printed or Blank

How much does it cost?

And Vinyly takes a very personalized and customized approach when it comes to creating your record. Therefore, the exact pricing depends on how much customization you want and you will need to contact them to figure this out. However, they do note that the total price of their orders tends to range between £1000 to £3000 ($1,170 to $3,500).

And Vinyly notes that since the vast majority of the cost involved in making a vinyl record is in the preparation and fabrication of the components, there is little difference in price to make 1 or 10 records. A few other ways you can save money include:

• Having only 1 side of audio

• Choosing a plain black, white or clear plastic sleeve

• Choosing white labels instead of printed

Additional Notes

You can provide your own artwork that And Vinyly will incorporate onto the record. Their standard design process is to design and create the artwork for you with your direction, however they will work with you to the extent that you prefer. 

How much ash is needed?

1 teaspoon per record.

Parting Stone will take your loved one's ashes and solidify them into a smooth stones that you can display around your house or garden. The color and texture of the stones varies by the ashes of each individual, making each set uniquely beautiful. The size of these stones varies from the size of your thumbnail to the size of your palm. These stones are described as being about as hard as a ceramic coffee mug.

How it works

Parting Stone will send you a collection kit where you or your funeral director can place the ashes into and ship out to their facility. They will then purify and create a clay-like material that will be heated to form the stones. The stones are cleaned, polished and returned to you to share with your friends or family. The amount of stones you will receive depends on the amount of ashes you send, however the full amount of ashes for an adult will yield between 40 to 60 stones on average. 

Parting Stone's service includes 100% individual batch processing, meaning your loved one's ashes are not mixed with any other ashes in the stone making process. They also offer you the ability to return the stones to ash if you are not satisfied with your order. 

How much does it cost?

Parting Stone offers different pricing for people and pets.

• For a person, the cost is $995.

• Pricing for pets varies by the type of pet, however generally prices are between $445 for smaller pets and $595 for larger pets.

How much ash is needed?

At least 1/4 cup of ashes are needed to complete the process, however you can send as much of the ashes as you want to be solidified.

For many people, getting a tattoo is already a practice of memorializing something in an artistic and meaningful way. Now, companies like Everance and Cremation Ink are taking it a step further, by mixing your loved one's ashes into tattoo ink for you to get a tattoo with. 

It's important to note that this process is not as simple as just mixing one's ashes with tattoo ink. Per Cremation Ink, cremated ashes are not sterile and if they are not handled properly they can cause infections, skin issues and even destruction of the tattoo itself. Not to mention, your tattoo artist likely won't be willing to tattoo you unless the ink comes from a reputable company.

How does it work

Both Everance and Cremation Ink claim medically sterile processes for creating quality tattoo ink on their websites. However, these two companies differ in that Cremation Ink will send you a bottle of ink, whereas Everance actually sends a vial of the ashes in a form that can be mixed into any tattoo ink at the shop. This is an important detail because with Cremation Ink, you will need to select the colors you want for your tattoo ahead of time, while Everance's vial can be mixed with any color you want. You can read more about the mixing process in Everance's FAQs.

How much does it cost?

Everance charges $195 for the first vial and $125 for each thereafter. They also charge a $30 fee for the collection kit + taxes and shipping, so if you do not already have a collection kit, the price for a vial of ashes is $225 + taxes and shipping. Since they don't send you tattoo ink, you will also need to pay for ink at the tattoo shop for your Everance to be mixed into.

Cremation Ink charges £99 or $114 for one bottle of ink. 

How much ash is needed?

1 tablespoon per bottle of ink. Cremation Ink will return any unused ashes.

There are many companies that offer the ability to turn your loved one's ashes or DNA into a diamond. Diamonds are made up of carbon atoms that, when exposed to high pressure and high heat environments for long enough, will bond and create crystal formations. Since ashes are mostly made up of carbon, these diamond companies can extract that carbon and replicate the natural process of high heat and pressure to create a diamond from the ashes.

How it works

For each company listed below, you will send in a portion of your loved one's ashes to the company through a collection kit. From there, these companies will extract the carbon from the ashes and create the diamond to your specifications. The pricing of each diamond or gem depends on the carat, cut and color requested.

How much does it cost?

All costs below are ranges for the cheapest priced, Brilliant cut diamond at 0.1 to 0.19 carats, unless otherwise noted. Prices are for the diamond price only and does not include the cost of jewelry settings. Note that most of these companies offer discounts for orders of multiple diamonds. 

• Everdear - $1,000

• Heart in Diamond - $1,395. However they also offer a smaller 0.03 to 0.09 carat diamond for $750.

• Saint Diamonds - $1,449 for a 0.25 carat diamond, the smallest size they offer.

• LifeGem - $2,490

• Eterneva - $2,999 

• Lonite - $1,400 for a 0.25 carat diamond, the smallest size they offer. This is also for an Emerald cut diamond, whereas other prices listed are for Brilliant cut diamonds, which Lonite does not list prices for on their website.

How much ash is needed?

• Everdear - 100 grams (~1/2 cup)

• Heart in Diamond - 2/3 cup

• Saint Diamonds - 1/2 cup

• LifeGem - 200 grams (~1 cup)

• Eterneva - 1/2 cup

• Lonite - 200 grams (~1 cup)

Holy Smoke will load your loved ones ashes into live ammunition that can be used for hunting, target practice or even a unique form of scattering. If your loved one was a hunter, you can tell Holy Smoke what type of hunting they practiced and they can recommend the type of ammunition and any specialty loads that will suit you best. They also offer a "Patriotic Salute", which leaves a smoke colored in red, white or blue, and non-firing ammunition that can be kept or worn as a necklace.

How it works

Once you contact Holy Smoke, they will work with you or your funeral director to have your loved one's ashes sent to their facility. You can discuss with them the types of ammunition you're interested in, which include rounds for rifles, pistols or shot gun shells. They offer the ability to do specialty loads for migratory birds, slugs and buckshot, as well as various gauges for shot guns.

How much does it cost?

Holy Smoke does not offer online pricing and instead insist that you call. The latest pricing online is from 2011 and quotes $850 for a case. However, they do mention on their website that they offer discounts for active or retired military and law enforcement personnel.

How much ash is used?

1 lb of ashes will produce a case of 250 shotgun shells, 100 rounds of rifle cartridges or 120 pistol cartridges. Any remaining ashes not used will be returned to you.

There are many companies that offer glass art keepsakes online and they come in all different shapes, sizes and types. Common art pieces include ornaments, paper weights and candle holders, however you can be as creative as you like with your options. You can search on google for companies with a wide selection of glass art that they can make for you, or you can try to find a local artisan on Etsy.

How it works

The company or glass maker will work with you to receive your loved one's cremated remains. If you are working with a local artisan, you may be able to customize the piece to make it unique and personalized to your loved one. Generally, when purchasing cremation glass art, the artisan will include your loved ones ashes into the glass when making it, though you should confirm this is the case as there are many different types of glass art products.

How much does it cost?

This really depends on the type of art you purchase, but the lower priced items on Etsy come in around $50.

How much ash is used?

Again, this really depends on the type of art you select, however generally you should only need about 1 tablespoon of ashes per piece.

Bios® and The Living Urn® are two different companies who offer biodegradable urns that allow you to plant your loved one's ashes with a tree. While a lot of the marketing you might see around these companies implies that your loved one becomes a tree, we feel its important to share that human ashes are actually harmful to the development of plants as they contain a high amount of sodium and a high PH. However, both of these companies have created solutions that are planted with the ashes to counteract this imbalance and lead to the development of a healthy tree. 

Planting your loved one under a tree is a beautiful and environmentally friendly memorialization, especially when compared the traditional granite headstone memorials used in traditional cemeteries. While you can plant these trees at home or another place of significance, both Bios® and The Living Urn® are working on a new concept of cemetery, which is more like a forest of these trees planted as memorials to loved one's. For Bios®, these are called Bios Park® and for The Living Urn®, these are called Memory Forests™. 

How it works

When you purchase a Bios Urn®, you will receive a Bios Urn® and a soil expansion disc. The Bios Urn® is biodegradable and has two separate capsules, with one for your ashes and another for the soil, soil expansion disc and seedling. Note they do not provide a seedling and you are responsible for purchasing your own.

When you purchase a Living Urn®, you will receive a natural bamboo outer storage container which you can keep as a keepsake, a BioUrn®, RootProtect® and wood chips. You also have the option of selecting a 1 to 4 foot living tree to be shipped with your Living Urn®, or purchasing one from a local nursery. If you choose to have a tree shipped, The Living Urn® will recommend trees that will grow best in your zip code.

How much does it cost?

• The Bios Urn® costs $140

• The Living Urn® costs $129 when purchased without a tree. Tree costs vary but on average seem to be ~$30.

How much ash is used?

You can use as much or as little of your loved one's ashes as you'd like in either urn, however the Bios Urn® claims a capacity of up to 5.8 lbs (2.5 liters).

1. Cremation Rates -  CANA

2. 32% prefer to bury cremated remains - NFDA 2022 Consumer Awareness and Preferences Report

3. Amount of ashes received after cremation - legendurn.no

4. Photos:

   • Cover by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash 

   • Fireworks Photo by MIO ITO on Unsplash 

   • Space Photo by NASA on Unsplash 

   • Coral Reef Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash 

   • Vinyl Photo by Joe Vasquez on Unsplash 

   • Parting Stone Photo by partingstone.com

   • Tattoo Photo by Maria Oswalt on Unsplash 

   • Diamond Photo by Edgar Soto on Unsplash 

   • Ashes to ammunition Photo by Tom Nemec on Unsplash 

   • Glass Art Photo by Clément Philippe on Unsplash 

   • Biodegradable Urns Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash