Cremation jewelry: memories are made of this

(ARA) - “Mom was my rock, and I couldn’t imagine life without her. I had a hard time letting go.” A single tear glistens in Angela Carlson’s eye as she recalls the pain of losing her mother, Mary, to breast cancer last year.

“Although I’d heard of cremation jewelry, I didn’t know much about it until my friend, Dawn, suggested it to me,” Angela recalls. “I found the idea strange at first, until Dawn pointed out the necklace she was wearing. When she told me the delicate silver cross held a bit of her father’s ashes, I was amazed. I never imagined cremation jewelry would be so beautiful – and so discreet.”

Lightly touching the gold filigree heart that hangs around her neck, Angela says her necklace has been a source of comfort since Mary died. “My cremation jewelry is an emotional and spiritual touchstone. When I face important decisions or challenges in my life, I know that mom is always with me. And while many people have admired my necklace, no one knows it’s cremation jewelry unless I tell them.”

Ryan Graf hears stories like Angela’s every day. Graf is president of Perfect Memorials, online distributor of cremation jewelry and memorial products, where he has seen a growing interest in cremation jewelry and cremation urns. Graf says cremation jewelry’s popularity parallels a sharp increase in cremations – a trend that is sure to continue, according to forecasters, with 59 percent of all deaths culminating in cremation by 2025.

“Families choose cremation for various reasons, including cost savings, land conservation and convenience,” says Graf, “and for the multitude of options regarding the final disposition of cremation remains.”

Graf points out that demand for personalization in funeral goods and services is greater than ever: “Cremation jewelry responds to that demand. The physical keepsake of a deceased loved one provides comforting memories of that person and a permanent connection to the past.”

When modern-day cremation jewelry was introduced in the mid-1990s, the notion of wearing a loved one’s ashes in a pendant or bracelet became instant fodder for late-night television jokes, and many thought the concept of cremation jewelry was just too macabre to catch on. What the naysayers may not have realized, however, was that this “new” idea – cremation jewelry – is simply a modern twist on a centuries-old tradition.

In 16th- and 17th-century Europe, for example, rings and brooches set with black and white enameled heads or skulls admonished the wearer to “be mindful of death.” In 19th century England, Queen Victoria made somber mourning jewelry fashionable following the death of her husband, Prince Albert. At the same time, the Civil War was raging in the United States, and young women learned to make mourning jewelry from the hair of soldiers who died in battle.

Eventually, mourning jewelry fell out of fashion, and heirloom pieces became prized collectors’ items. While the mourning jewelry of the 19th century foreshadowed the cremation jewelry of today, the two have little else in common.

According to Graf, the growing interest in cremation jewelry continues to inspire the creation of countless unique designs. “Today’s cremation jewelry ranges in style from simple to ornate, from classic to exotic,” says Graf.

“From a cylinder crafted from 50,000 year-old ancient Kauri wood, to a colorful memory pendant made from a small amount of ash fused between layers of dichroic glass, today’s cremation jewelry comes in designs to appeal to any taste.”

To learn more, call (800) 979-8767, or visit the Perfect Memorials Web site at www.perfectmemorials.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent