What Can You Do With a Person’s Remains After Cremation Services?

June 28, 2021

Once a person’s cremation services are complete, there are a number of things you can do with their cremated remains. Find out what your options will be so that you can choose the right one.

At the conclusion of a person’s cremation services in Tupelo, MS, their family will be given their cremated remains. From there, the family will be able to decide what they want to do with the remains. There are a bunch of different options that they’ll have. In a perfect world, you should decide what you want to do with a loved one’s remains before they’re handed back to you. But even if you wait until the last minute to decide, you can still make an informed decision by knowing what your options are. Check out a few of the things you can do with a person’s remains following their cremation services below.

Put them into an urn and take them home.

If you and your family like the idea of taking your loved one back home with you following their Tupelo, MS cremation, you have the right to do it. You can put their remains into an urn and take the urn home with you so that you can put it out on display. Many families choose to place a loved one’s urn onto a mantel or in a hutch for safekeeping. They’ll often surround it with photos of their loved one as well as any mementos that remind them of their loved one.

Bury them in a cremation vault at a cemetery.

If you don’t want to take a loved one’s remains home with you and would prefer to put them somewhere where they’ll be safer, you have the option of burying them at a cemetery. You can purchase a small burial plot and have your loved one’s remains placed into a cremation vault before being buried. This will give you and your family a central location to visit your loved one’s remains whenever you want. It’ll also ensure they remain safe and sound for many years to come.

Place them into a columbarium at a cemetery.

If you want to keep your loved one’s remains somewhere safe but don’t want to bury them, there is another area in a cemetery where you can choose to keep them. There is usually a columbarium in most cemeteries these days that are designed to hold people’s urns in niches. A columbarium is a great place to put a person’s remains if you want to keep them secure without having them in your home.

Scatter them in a special place.

Many families don’t love the idea of parting ways with their loved one’s remains. But if you don’t mind doing it, scattering your loved one’s remains might be an excellent option for you. You can scatter their remains in any number of places, including out at sea, on a nature trail, or even high up on a mountain. Some people will specifically request that their remains be scattered in a place that was special to them. If your loved one does this, you should set out to honor their final wishes.

Do you need help deciding what to do with a loved one’s remains following their cremation? W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors is a Tupelo, MS funeral home that can walk you through your options and assist you in making the best choice. Give us a call today to begin planning a loved one’s cremation services.

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Planning Services That Cherish Memories and Stories

December 22, 2025

Create meaningful tributes with funeral services Saltillo, MS. Plan heartfelt, personalized services that honor memories, stories, and lasting connections.

Creating Lasting Memories With Cremation Memorials

December 15, 2025

For families seeking meaningful tribute options, choosing cremation services Saltillo, MS opens the door to personalized, heartfelt memorials that honor a loved one’s life in ways that feel genuine and enduring. At the heart of such gatherings is the opportunity to create a memory-rich environment where tribute becomes as much about legacy as it is about closure. We at Pegues Funeral Directors believe every memorial should be as individual as the person being remembered. With decades of experience guiding families through planning and service, our aim is to help you craft a tribute that resonates, offers comfort, and brings people together to celebrate a life lived. Designing the Memorial with Intention When preparing a memorial tied to cremation services, it’s important to focus on design that speaks to identity. Use photographs, keepsakes, favorite quotes or music, and decor that reflects the person’s personality. By thoughtfully arranging these elements, perhaps in a slideshow, memory table, or guest book, you empower loved ones to share stories, laughter, and reflection. This kind of personalization transforms space into something comforting rather than merely conventional. Further, selecting meaningful ceremony structure helps. Whether you choose to gather with a speaker, live music, or an open mic time for friends and family, the key is allowing participation. When attendees feel engaged rather than passive, the memorial becomes a collective act of remembrance, one that invites healing instead of simply closure. Choosing Memorial Options That Resonate One of the special aspects of memorials associated with cremation services is the flexibility of how and where memories are honored. Consider a display wall showcasing milestones. Or host a reception following the service where guests can add written notes or place mementos in a “memory box.” Even pre-service moments, such as casual family viewing or a video tribute before the formal ceremony, allow for comfort, shared reflection, and quieter connection. Beyond the service itself, offering guests an opportunity to participate in something lasting, like planting a tree in memory or creating a digital tribute page, gives the memory of a home that lives on. These choices help families move from grief toward remembrance, anchoring the memorial in positive action rather than absence. Creating a Warm Environment for Reflection The emotional tone is shaped by the environment you provide. Choose lighting that is soft, seats that invite comfortable gathering, and signage or décor that gently guides people through the space. Often, beginning the service with a welcome period, where friends and family arrive, mingle, and share memories, makes the formal portion more peaceful and meaningful. In addition, consider incorporating interactive moments: perhaps candle lighting, a shared moment of silence, or a commemorative gesture such as releasing lanterns or placing pebbles on a memory table. By giving guests small ways to participate, the service becomes more personal and reflective, helping to bring comfort to all present. Bringing It All Together When thoughtfully planned, memorials affiliated with cremation services offer an opportunity to create a warm, connected, meaningful experience that honors life, legacy, and love. By combining personalization, environment, participation, and ongoing remembrance, you provide more than a service; you create a lasting memory, a place where family and friends gather, reflect, and find comfort together. If you’re exploring options for cremation services Saltillo, MS, we invite you to reach out to Pegues Funeral Directors so that we may help you craft a tribute that not only honors your loved one but supports your family each step of the way, and we’re here when you’re ready to begin that meaningful process.