8 Unique Cremation Urns for Your Dad
Published April 25, 2022.
With so many different urn options, choosing the right one to honor your dad’s memory can be hard. When looking for an urn for your father, there are many different factors like size, material, design, and if you’d like a custom urn. We’ve put together a list of unique urns to give you a better idea of ways to honor your dearest dad.
What Size Urn Do You Need?
Not only are there various types of urns, but there are also various sizes. Three of the standard size urns include:
- Individual Urns An individual urn is made to hold the cremains of one person. There are also extra-large individual urns available should there be a need for one. The general rule when it comes to size is that you will need one cubic inch of space for every one pound of the total body weight. For example, if your dad was 180 pounds, you will need an urn that is 180 cubic inches or larger.
- Companion Urns A companion urn holds the cremated ashes of more than one person. These urns are generally designed for couples, and each person has their own compartment in the urn. Most companion urns hold roughly 400 cubic inches of cremains.
- Keepsake Urns Keepsake urns are a lot smaller than traditional urns. They also come with a lot more variety regarding appearance and function. Keepsake urns are specifically designed to hold just a small portion of the ashes. Keepsake urns generally hold approximately 1 to 6 cubic inches of cremains.
Different Types of Urns for Fathers
1. Alcohol-Related Urns
Whisky Flask or Whisky Barrel If your dad was a whisky lover, you could honor his memory through a unique whisky flask or whisky barrel urn. These novelty urns can be engraved with your father’s name, and you can keep them in your home bar.
Beer or Wine Urn If your father was more of a beer or wine man, a memorial beer or wine bottle could be just as special. These bottles can also be engraved and serve as beautiful keepsakes to remember your dad.
2. Hobby-Related Urns
Gone Fishing Memorial Plaque Urn A gone fishing memorial plaque is a wonderful way to honor any beloved fisherman. The plaque hangs on your wall and has a compartment for the ashes. These plaques can also be engraved with a custom message or artwork.
Fairway to Heaven If your father was a golf enthusiast, a small hollow golf ball keepsake urn is a wonderful way to remember him. This ball can be engraved and displayed on your shelf. If you are looking for something a little bigger, you can get a custom golf urn that holds all of the ashes, like this 19th Hole Urn
3. Jewelry Urns
Heart or Teardrop Locket Necklace This endearing, tiny keepsake urn is the perfect way to keep some of your dad’s ashes close to your heart.
Urn Keychain A basic keepsake urn keychain is an excellent option if a simple design is more to your taste. You can add the keychain to a necklace or hook it onto your handbag.
Urn Bracelet A memorial urn bracelet is a wonderful way to keep a small amount of your dad’s ashes with you. You can also have his name or a message engraved on the bracelet.
4. Biodegradable Urns
Biodegradable urns are a great way to honor your dad if he had a favorite place. If your dad enjoyed visiting a certain park, you could get permission from the park authorities to plant the urn there. If your dad loved the ocean, you could have his ashes placed in an urn that can be used to build an artificial reef.
5. Memorial Cremation Plaque Urn
Like the gone fishing plaque, these memorial plaque urns have a compartment for ashes and can be engraved with any meaningful message or artwork you desire. They make a wonderful décor piece for a wall. If you prefer a box, there are wooden box urns with a plaque on the front that can be engraved.
6. Book Urn
If your dad was a bookworm, you could honor his memory through a book urn. These keepsake urns are shaped like old books, with a compartment for the ashes.
7. Watering Can
If your dad had a green thumb and loved being out in the garden, a watering can urn is perfect for him. Not only is this an easy and affordable choice, but you can also keep his cremains close to the plants.
8. Military Urn
This one is for the father that served not only his family but also his country. These meaningful urns are customized with the appropriate medallion to be displayed on the front.
How Do You Transfer Ashes to an Urn?
The ashes generally come from the crematorium in a thick polyethylene bag inside a sturdy box. Cremains are not toxic and do not present any health hazards, so there is no need for concern. However, the ashes are made of fine particles and should be handled with care.
If you want to transfer the ashes to an urn of your choice, you can follow these guidelines:
- Gather your materials Your chosen urn, a towel or piece of newspaper, scissors, a large funnel, sealant if your container requires a permanent seal, gloves, and a level working surface.
- Prepare the area Lay the towel or newspaper down on the working surface. Place the empty urn on the towel and remove the seal or lid. Place the funnel inside the opening of the urn.
- Do the transfer Ensure the plastic bag with the ashes is closed or sealed on both ends with a tie. Using the scissors, cut a hole in one of the corners to create a small spout that you can use to pour the ashes in a controlled manner. Pour the cremains slowly through the funnel. Gently tap the urn to settle the ashes, place the lid back on, and seal it permanently if necessary.
If the urn is large enough, you can also place the entire sealed bag of ashes inside.
In Summary: Honoring Your Dad With an Urn
There are many ways to honor your dad’s life, and we know that it can be difficult to sum up his legacy into one urn. Fortunately, so many unique options are available, so by doing something deeply personal with his cremains, you will be able to keep his memory alive.
