It is not uncommon today for a person to choose to be cremated after death rather than buried. In fact, the Cremation Association of North America reports that cremation rates are climbing and expected to continue to grow. This brings questions about what families should do with the cremated remains of a loved one. Many people choose to bury the ashes, display them in an urn, or scatter them in a place that was special to the deceased, but there are other options to consider as well. Here are 8 great ways to use cremated remains to honor someone you love. 

Build a Bench

You can have your loved one's ashes mixed into concrete and poured into a bench. Place the bench in your own yard, or ask to have it placed in a park, botanical garden, or wildlife center your loved one enjoyed. Many places will allow you to add a plaque to the bench with a memorial to the person. 

Plant a Tree

If the deceased you are honoring was someone who appreciated nature, consider planting their remains as part of a tree. You can order special saplings with instructions giving you all the information you need to plant your tree. 

Plant your memorial tree in your yard or in a special park or nature preserve your loved one enjoyed. Be sure to get permission first. 

Commission a Painting

One way to memorialize a loved one is through artwork. You can have your loved one's ashes mixed with paint and then hire an artist to paint a portrait of the person or a scene reminding you of the person. Hang your painting in a special place in your home, and you will remember your loved one each time you see it. 

Encase Them in Glass

Another artistic approach to keeping ashes is to have them incorporated into a piece of blown-glass art. Choose a paperweight, an ornament, or even a light fixture as a unique expression of your loved for the person you lost. 

Tattoo a Memorial

You can literally have you loved one with you all the time when the person's ashes become part of your body. Talk to a tattoo artist about mixing the ashes in with tattoo ink and designing a tattoo that reminds you of the person who has died. 

Choose a special symbol of your relationship to the person, or have the person's name tattooed on your body. 

Send up Fireworks

If the person you lost had a big personality and enjoyed seeking thrills and excitement, send that person out with a bang. You can have your loved one's ashes become part of a fireworks display. Invite friends and family to a memorial for your loved one, and end the evening with a fireworks show that includes that person's remains. 

This is a true celebration of life that will be appreciated by everyone who knew and loved the deceased. 

Build a Stained Glass Window

A stained glass window is a gorgeous addition to a home, and you can have a memorial window made using ashes from the person you lost. Have a stained glass piece inserted into a front door, or install an entire window. 

Create a Diamond

Diamonds are a symbol of forever, and you can express your never-ending love for the person you lost by having the person's ashes made into a manufactured diamond. Use your diamond as a family heirloom or simply wear it on a chain each day. 

You have many options when it comes to using your loved one's ashes. From art to nature to a fireworks display, you can memorialize your loved one in a way that is most meaningful to you and your family. 

For more information on your options, contact a company like Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral And Cremation Services LTD.