When planning a funeral for a loved one, there are many decisions to make about how to honour that person’s memory. If your loved one chose cremation, you may be unsure whether to choose an urn or a reliquary to hold their ashes. Since there is a wide range of urns and reliquaries available, here is Crématorium Montréal’s overview of the options available to you so that you can make an informed choice in accordance with your own values and the wishes of the deceased.

Difference between a reliquary and a funeral urn

Similar to a closed vase, a funeral urn is a container used to hold all the ashes of the deceased. Some models are specially designed for burial, while others are more suitable for display (at home or in a columbarium).

While the reliquary was once a box designed to hold a relic, i.e. a part of the body, a garment or an object that belonged to a saint, it has since become a smaller and more ornamental version of the urn. It can take the form of a miniature urn, a piece of jewelry or a keepsake. It can hold a portion of the deceased’s ashes, a lock of hair or a piece of clothing. Crématorium Montréal offers a number of models of reliquaries in a variety of styles and materials: an urn, a candlestick holder, a pebble or a pyramid.

The volume of the ashes

If you choose a reliquary, take note that you will not be able to place all the ashes in it. In fact, the volume of an adult’s ashes totals approximately 3 litres, or about 33 cm³/kg, which is much greater than the capacity of a reliquary.

The weight of the deceased will therefore determine the size of the urn. Common urns have a minimum volume of 2.5 litres and most can hold 3 litres, which is sufficient for most deceased.

Resting place for ashes

In addition to your budget, the resting place of the ashes is a determining factor in choosing between an urn and a reliquary.

If you wish to store the ashes in a columbarium, the material of the urn will be less important than its appearance. If you want to incorporate the urn in a funerary monument, choose an urn made of sturdy, weather-resistant materials. If you want to bury the ashes in a cemetery or scatter them, then choose a simple model. And lastly, if the ashes will be put in the ocean, you need to opt for a biodegradable urn. There are also ecological urns that can be placed in the ground to grow a tree.

If you prefer to keep part of the ashes in a reliquary and then entrust the rest to a cemetery or columbarium, check with the funeral director, as some cemeteries are reluctant to separate the ashes and duplicate the deceased’s burial site.

A tribute to the person and their beliefs

Whether you choose an urn, a reliquary or both, the main consideration is to respect the last wishes and beliefs of the deceased, while enabling loved ones to find peace and comfort. The urn represents the deceased’s final resting place, so take the time to carefully think through your decision.

To get a clearer picture of the range of urns and reliquaries available, don’t hesitate to ask the advisors at Crématorium Montréal.