Memorial Options When Choosing Cremation Services

McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation • April 27, 2020

When choosing cremation as an alternative to burial, you have more options than a standard urn. At McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, we can help facilitate unique memorials for your loved one.

cremation services in Charleston, SC

When you choose cremation services in Charleston, SC, you’re getting professional and compassionate service and a quality urn to ensure your loved one’s remains are safe. But this is only the beginning, and you have many options to memorialize your loved one. At McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, we offer a wide range of products that can help you customize the perfect memorial to remember the departed. 


Ceremonial Urns 


If you like the idea of keeping your loved one’s remains close at hand, we offer large and sturdy artisan urns that work beautifully as the centerpiece of a living room. Durably constructed and equipped with lids that make it harder to accidentally spill the ashes, these urns come in hundreds of stylish designs. They can also be personalized with inscriptions when ordered, for a special family tribute. 


Scattering Urns 


One of the most popular choices for a memorial is to scatter the ashes at a meaningful location like a public park or a beloved lake. Scattering urns are designed to make that easier, with a lid that opens partially to allow for controlled distribution. These are smaller, reasonably-priced urns designed for a single use. Cremation ashes are sterile and there are no laws regulating distribution in public places, so it’s safe and legal to pay tribute to your loved one in this way. 


Divided Urns and Vials 


A popular choice for large families with many people who loved the departed, we offer small urns so that the ashes can be divided among multiple family members. Each of these mini-urns offers a simple and attractive design and fits neatly on a mantle. For clients who want to carry a piece of their loved one with them, we offer small vials that double as jewelry, holding a smaller amount of ashes and fitting neatly around the neck or in the pocket. 


Memorial Jewelry 


For clients who want a distinctive and permanent memorial, our partners offer a selection of jewelry that holds a small amount of ashes in a locket or pendant. These can include a small picture of your loved one as well. Third party companies that turn a portion of ashes into a diamond are also available, and this is one of the most permanent and durable options for a unique memorial. 


Personalized Memorials 


The ashes are your property, and many of our clients choose memorials that celebrate their loved one’s personality and interests. Unique options for celebrating the departed can include mixing the ashes in with ink or paint to create artwork, working them into fireworks for a dazzling memorial display, or using a biodegradable urn to create a tree or memorial garden as a living celebration of their love for nature. 


If you’re choosing cremation services in Charleston, SC and want guidance in developing the perfect memorial, we can help. Contact McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation at our offices at 2501 Bees Ferry Rd, Charleston, SC, 29414, or contact us on our website or by phone at (843) 722-8371. We can also be found at our Goose Creek, Mount Pleasant, or James Island locations.


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