Keepsake urns hold a portion of ashes so families can share and cherish their loved one’s memory

Losing a loved one is never easy, and deciding what to do with their ashes can be a deeply personal choice. In many families, more than one person may wish to keep a part of the cremation remains (ashes) as a tangible memory. This is where keepsake urns come in. A keepsake urn is essentially a small cremation urn designed to hold just a portion of a person’s ashes. Unlike a standard urn that contains all of the cremated remains, a keepsake urn holds only a tiny portion of cremains (cremated ashes) – often just a few tablespoons worth. These miniature urns are sometimes called “sharing urns” or “mini urns” because they allow multiple family members to each keep a small share of the ashes.

Even though they are small, keepsake urns carry huge meaning. They provide a way for everyone who was close to the departed to feel connected by keeping a little piece of their memory close. Many people find comfort in this arrangement. As one experienced funeral professional noted, having a physical memorial can help in the grieving process by offering comfort and a sense of closeness. Each miniature urn becomes a personal memorial that family members can hold, display, or even carry with them, keeping the loved one’s presence in their daily lives.

In this article, we will explore the 10 key things you should know about keepsake urns – from what exactly they are and how they differ from standard urns, to why families choose them, the various types available, and important considerations before you decide if they are right for you. With decades of experience in the memorial industry and as a team at Dei Gratia Urns, we have seen firsthand how these small urns can make a big difference for families seeking meaningful remembrance. Let’s delve into the world of keepsake urns and how they help honor your loved one’s memory in a special way.

1. What Exactly Is a Keepsake Urn? (Definition and Purpose)

A keepsake urn is a miniature urn meant to hold a small portion of cremated ashes rather than the full amount. In practical terms, most keepsake urns are only a few inches tall (often around 3 inches or so). They are crafted just like regular funerary urns – using similar materials and artistry – but at a reduced scale. Typically, a standard adult cremation urn has a capacity of around 200 cubic inches of ashes (roughly equal to the ashes of a 200-pound individual). By contrast, a keepsake urn might hold anywhere from 1 to 50 cubic inches of ashes at most, depending on its design. Many common keepsakes actually hold only 2-10 cubic inches, or just a symbolic scoop of ashes, rather than a substantial amount. In fact, some ultra-tiny keepsake urns (such as jewelry pieces) may hold only a pinch of ashes (around 1 cubic inch or less).

The primary purpose of a keepsake urn is to share or retain a token amount of a loved one’s ashes when the rest of the ashes are handled in another way. For example, if a family plans to scatter most of the ashes at sea or in a meaningful place, they might use a keepsake urn to keep a small portion at home as a personal memorial. Or if the ashes will be buried or placed in a columbarium (a structure for storing cremation urns in niches) in a cemetery, a family member might keep some in a keepsake urn so they have a part of their loved one close by.

Keepsake urns are also commonly used when multiple family members or friends each want to have a share of the ashes. Instead of giving one person all the cremains, the ashes can be divided among several small urns so that each person gets to keep a portion. This is why they’re often called “sharing urns.” In essence, a keepsake urn allows for flexibility in memorializing a loved one – you can scatter or inter most of the ashes, yet still hold on to a small keepsake. It’s a beautiful solution that ensures no one is left without a tangible connection, fostering a shared experience of remembrance among those who were closest to the departed.

2. How Do Keepsake Urns Differ from Standard Urns?

The biggest difference between a keepsake urn and a traditional full-size urn is size. Standard cremation urns are designed to hold all of the ashes from one person’s cremation, which (as mentioned) is usually around 4-6 pounds of material (approximately 2.4 kg) – essentially the entire skeleton reduced to ash and bone fragments after the cremation process. These full-size urns tend to be larger vessels (often 8-12 inches tall or more, depending on shape) with capacities in the range of 180–250 cubic inches. They are intended as the primary container of remains, whether for display, burial, or placement in a niche.

Keepsake urns, on the other hand, have a much smaller capacity by design. Most keepsake urns can hold less than 50 cubic inches of ash, and many hold only a few cubic inches. For instance, it’s common to find keepsake urns that hold about 3, 5, or maybe 10 cubic inches of ashes – just enough for a small scoop of remains. Some mini urns are even tiny vials or capsules containing only a symbolic spoonful of ashes. Because of this, you would not use a single keepsake urn to store all the ashes of an adult; it simply wouldn’t be big enough. Instead, if you wanted to use only keepsake urns, you would need to divide the ashes among several of them or use a combination of a standard urn plus a few keepsakes.

In terms of appearance and construction, keepsake urns look very much like their larger counterparts. They might be miniature versions of a popular urn design – for example, a beautiful brass urn that comes in both a large size and a matching 3-inch tall keepsake size. Materials used are often the same (metal, wood, ceramic, etc.), so a keepsake urn is just as durable and well-crafted as a regular urn, only scaled down. The small size does mean certain design elements are simplified – for example, a tiny urn has a smaller lid or opening through which ashes must be carefully funneled. But overall, aside from capacity, a keepsake urn functions exactly like a normal urn. It has a secure lid or screw-top to keep ashes enclosed, can often be engraved or personalized, and is meant to honor the deceased’s memory just as a full-size urn would.

To illustrate the size difference: imagine you have the ashes of a loved one weighing about 180 lbs when alive. A full urn of ~180-200 cubic inches would be needed to hold all those ashes. If you instead fill a keepsake urn that holds 5 cubic inches, you’re placing roughly 2-3% of the total ashes in that keepsake. The rest of the ashes could be distributed elsewhere (other urns, scattered, buried, etc.). In summary, the keepsake urn is a mini memorial vessel, whereas the standard urn is the main vessel. The keepsake’s small size is what sets it apart, enabling the unique practice of sharing ashes among multiple urns or keeping just a token amount while the majority of ashes are handled differently.

3. Sharing Ashes Among Family Members – A Way for Everyone to Hold a Piece of Memory

One of the most common reasons families choose keepsake urns is the desire to share the ashes among several people. It’s not unusual that a spouse, children, siblings, or even close friends might all want to keep a part of the cremains. Keepsake urns make it possible for each person to have their own small urn, rather than all the ashes staying in one place. This can be incredibly comforting in a time of grief – each family member feels a personal connection by holding onto some ashes, which can help in the healing process. In fact, sharing ashes in this way can turn individual grief into a shared experience, reminding everyone that they are not alone in remembering the loved one.

Consider a scenario: a beloved parent passes away and is cremated. They have four adult children. Instead of one child keeping the only urn or scattering all the ashes, the family might split the ashes into four keepsake urns so that each child receives a portion of the ashes to honor and cherish. Each sibling can then choose how to memorialize that portion – one might keep their mini urn on a special shelf beside a photo, another might hold it during private moments of remembrance or prayer, and another might even eventually spread those small ashes in a personal ceremony. The important thing is, everyone gets to participate in keeping the memory alive in a physical way.

This approach can also be a peaceful solution for large families or families who have differing opinions on what to do with the ashes. For example, some relatives might feel strongly that the ashes should be scattered in nature, while others prefer to keep them at home in an urn. With keepsake urns, you can do both: scatter most of the ashes in that special location, but fill small urns for those who want to keep some at home. It avoids potential conflict because no single decision excludes anyone else’s wishes. As one funeral home guide noted, keepsake urns are “a great solution for large families or those families who may have different thoughts on where the ashes should be kept or how they should be displayed”. In essence, everyone’s preferences can be honored simultaneously.

From an emotional standpoint, having your own tiny urn can feel like having a piece of your loved one to hold onto forever. Many people talk about how seeing or touching that small urn brings them comfort, almost as if the person is still present in some way. Grief counselors often encourage tangible keepsakes – whether it’s a lock of hair, a personal belonging, or a bit of ashes – because physical reminders can help channel grief into fond remembrance. A keepsake urn serves exactly this purpose: it’s a tangible focal point for memories and love that each family member can have by their side.

4. Keeping Some Ashes While Scattering or Burying the Rest

Another popular use of keepsake urns is when you want to scatter or bury most of the ashes but retain a small portion for yourself (or others). Many people find comfort in scattering ashes in a place that was meaningful to the deceased – for example, releasing ashes into the ocean, in the mountains, or over a favorite garden. Others might arrange to bury the ashes in a family plot or place them in a columbarium niche at a cemetery. These acts can be beautiful and ceremonious, giving a sense of “setting the spirit free” or providing a final resting place. However, afterward, family members sometimes feel the absence of having any ashes close by. Keepsake urns solve this by allowing you to do those ceremonial farewells while still keeping a little bit of the ashes back as a personal memento.

For instance, say your loved one always wished to have their ashes scattered at sea. You fulfill that wish, perhaps even involving the whole family in a meaningful shoreline ceremony. Before scattering, though, you set aside a small scoop of the ashes. Later, you place those in a beautiful keepsake urn that you keep on your mantel at home. In this way, you’ve honored their request, but you also have something tangible to hold onto. Many find this compromise ideal – you let go of the majority of the ashes in a liberating tribute, yet you do not part with everything. The grieving process can thus be eased; whenever you miss them, you still have that small urn as a daily reminder on the bedside table or shelf.

Similarly, if the plan is to inter the ashes in a cemetery or church, it might bring peace of mind to keep a portion of ashes with you. Once ashes are buried or placed in a communal resting place, they are not easily accessible. A keepsake urn at home means you always have a part of your loved one with you, even if the main remains lie elsewhere. Some families divide ashes so that, for example, half the ashes go to a burial plot (for a formal grave marker and a place people can visit), and the other half is split into keepsakes for the immediate family. This can be especially useful if family members live far apart – the grave might be in one city, but someone who lives across the country can still have a bit of ashes in their home urn, maintaining that connection despite the distance.

There’s also an emerging trend of doing multiple forms of memorialization: a portion of ashes might be scattered, another portion used in creating memorial jewelry or art (like incorporating ashes into a painting or glass artwork), and yet another portion kept in a small urn. By dividing the ashes, you are not limited to one type of tribute. A keepsake urn is a convenient way to hold the part of the ashes reserved for keeping close. As one article described, some families divide the ashes evenly, while others use keepsake urns for just a portion of the remains, keeping the rest in a larger adult urn. It’s entirely up to your personal preference and what you feel your loved one would have wanted. The key is that keepsake urns give you options – you can scatter, bury, or enshrine most of the ashes yet still have a small personal memorial to treasure at home.

5. Ideal for Infant, Child, or Pet Remains (When the Full Ashes Are a Small Amount)

Tragically, sometimes the departed loved one is an infant or young child, or even a cherished pet, whose total cremated remains are relatively small in volume. In such cases, a full-size urn may feel too large or inappropriate for the amount of ashes you have. This is another scenario where keepsake urns shine. Keepsake urns are perfectly suited to hold the ashes of an infant or a small pet, since the quantity of ashes is small and can easily fit within a miniature urn. In fact, many bereaved parents who lose an infant find comfort in selecting a tiny, delicate keepsake urn that feels proportional to the small life that was lost – it can be less overwhelming than placing a tiny amount of ashes in a big, mostly empty urn.

For example, the ashes of a newborn baby might be only a few cubic inches in total. Rather than using a standard urn (which might hold 200 cubic inches, leaving it mostly empty), you could choose a keepsake-size urn that holds, say, 5 or 10 cubic inches. It will comfortably contain all the ashes, and the urn itself can be a special design befitting a child (there are infant urns with themes like teddy bears, angels, or pastel colors). The keepsake urn becomes the primary urn in this case, not just a sharing urn, because it is appropriately sized to hold all the cremains of the little one. The same logic applies to pet cremation – if you cremate a small pet like a cat, rabbit, or small dog, the ashes might fit entirely in a petite urn. Many pet owners actually prefer smaller urns that they can keep on a shelf or desk, sometimes even engraved with the pet’s name or adorned with a paw-print design to personalize it.

Even for larger pets or older children, you might still opt for multiple keepsake urns. Perhaps each family member wants a bit of the pet’s ashes as a keepsake – one child keeps some ashes of the family dog in a tiny paw-print urn necklace, another places some in a small wood urn by their bedside. Keepsake options exist specifically for pets (often called pet keepsake urns), including very small urns and even pieces of jewelry or keychains that hold a bit of ash. This overlaps with the idea of cremation jewelry, which we will touch on later. The point here is that when the total amount of ashes is not large, a keepsake urn can fully serve the purpose of holding all the remains while still looking appropriate. As one cremation expert noted, if you’ve lost an infant or a small animal companion, their ashes will be small and a regular urn will be too large, making a keepsake urn the perfect choice.

Using a keepsake urn for all of the ashes in these cases also means the urn itself can be smaller and more easily incorporated into your life. Some grieving parents choose to keep a tiny urn in a special memory box or next to a framed photograph, creating a gentle shrine for their baby that doesn’t dominate the room. Pet owners might keep a small urn on a mantel alongside the pet’s collar and photo, celebrating their pet’s memory without a large, imposing urn. The modest size feels more fitting and somehow comforting. It’s one of those instances where small urns carry enormous love.

6. Discreet Memorials: Perfect for Keeping at Home (Especially in Small or Shared Spaces)

Not everyone is comfortable with having a large urn on display at home. Some people feel that a big urn in the living room or on the mantle draws too much attention or can be a constant reminder that feels heavy. Others may have limited space, live in a small apartment, or share a home with roommates and thus want something subtle. Keepsake urns offer a very discreet way to keep a loved one’s ashes at home without it being obvious or taking up much room. Because they are petite, they can easily be placed in a modest spot – on a bookshelf, a bedside table, or in a corner of a display cabinet – and they blend in like any small decorative object. Visitors to your home might not even realize that the beautiful little wooden box or mini vase on your shelf is an urn, unless you choose to tell them.

If you prefer to maintain privacy about your memorial, a keepsake urn can be ideal. You might, for example, keep it in a bedroom or personal study rather than a public living area. Its small size means it’s not immediately eye-catching. One family shared that they didn’t want to “draw attention to a large urn in the home”, so they opted for a few small urns instead. Indeed, one of the bullet points from a cremation answers guide mentions a keepsake urn is right for you if you do not want to draw attention to a large urn in your home. A mini urn can be quite inconspicuous, looking perhaps like a trinket or a small statue. This allows you to feel your loved one’s presence quietly, without having to explain or have the urn become a conversation piece unless you want it to.

For those in small living spaces, like studio apartments or shared housing, space is at a premium. A big urn might feel out of proportion or be hard to accommodate. Mini urns take up very little space, making them suitable for even the tiniest of homes. You can dedicate a tiny corner of a shelf to an altar with a keepsake urn, a candle, and a photo, and it won’t crowd your living area. If you eventually move, transporting a small urn is much easier and safer than moving a heavy, large urn as well.

Keepsake urns also lend themselves to creative display options. Some are integrated into other objects (for example, a small urn that is part of a picture frame, or an urn that looks like a book on a shelf). There are even keepsake urns designed as candles or lamps, where you can light a candle on top as a tribute while the base holds a bit of ashes. These designs ensure that the memorial doesn’t scream “urn” to anyone else. If subtlety is what you’re looking for, you can likely find a keepsake urn style that fits your decor and personal comfort level. **In summary, a keepsake urn lets you honor your loved one in your home environment on your own terms – as visibly or discreetly as you wish. It gives you control over the memorial’s prominence. For many, that small urn on a bedside table becomes a private source of comfort, a companion for moments of reflection that doesn’t intrude on the rest of the household’s activities.

7. Portability – Keeping Your Loved One Close, Even When You Travel

One advantage of a smaller urn that people often overlook is portability. If you’re someone who travels frequently or lives part of the year in a different location, you might wonder how you can keep your loved one’s ashes close wherever you go. A big heavy urn is not very travel-friendly – it’s fragile, requires careful packing, and can be awkward to carry. In contrast, a mini keepsake urn can be relatively easy to take with you. Many keepsake urns are compact enough to fit in a purse or carry-on bag if needed. This means if you relocate or go on an extended trip, you can bring that small part of your loved one along, so to speak.

Some people actually have “travel urns” – a tiny vial or keepsake that they carry when going away from home, while the main urn stays safely at home. There are stories of widows or widowers who take a mini urn of their spouse’s ashes on vacations or even just in the car, so they feel that their partner is still experiencing life’s journeys with them in spirit. It may sound sentimental, but it’s a real source of solace for many. For example, if you’re going to attend a family event out of town and you really wish your late parent could be there, you might bring a small urn with some of their ashes as a symbolic representation of their presence. Because it’s so small, it’s not a hassle.

There are also practical travel considerations: airline regulations generally allow transport of cremated remains, especially in carry-on luggage, but carrying a huge urn can attract scrutiny at security checkpoints (the TSA requires that the container be scannable – metal urns sometimes pose issues). A tiny urn, especially made of wood or plastic or contained in jewelry, often passes through security more easily. Always check regulations, but many people have reported that cremation jewelry or mini urns are simple to travel with, as they can be discreetly kept on one’s person. In the event you’re moving houses or splitting time between two homes, having your loved one’s ashes divided into keepsakes means you could have one at each location, or take one with you, ensuring you never feel “far away” from that memory.

For the truly on-the-go remembrance, cremation jewelry is technically a type of keepsake urn too. Lockets, pendants, or bracelets that hold a pinch of ashes let you wear the memory wherever you go. A necklace with ashes inside can travel the world with you just as any piece of jewelry would. This can be profoundly comforting – for example, a soldier deployed overseas might carry a small keepsake vial of a lost comrade’s ashes, or a daughter might wear a pendant with her mother’s ashes when she moves abroad for studies. These are deeply personal choices. One cremation article noted that mini keepsake urns of about one cubic inch capacity make an ideal portable option for those who travel frequently. It ensures that “no matter where you are, a part of them is with you.”

Of course, one should travel with care – always secure the lids of small urns and maybe keep them padded or in a case to avoid spillage or damage. But beyond that, the small size makes keepsake urns very versatile for transport. Whether it’s a permanent relocation or just a weekend getaway, a keepsake urn allows your loved one’s memory to accompany you. Many find that reassuring, as though they are continuing to share life’s journey with the departed in spirit.

8. A Wide Variety of Designs, Materials, and Even Jewelry

Just because keepsake urns are small doesn’t mean they lack variety or beauty. In fact, keepsake urns come in a stunning array of designs and materials – often just as many options as full-size urns, if not more. This means you can choose a keepsake that truly reflects your loved one’s personality or your family’s tastes. Materials range widely: you’ll find metal keepsake urns (like brass, bronze, stainless steel), wooden keepsake urns (handcrafted from oak, cherry, walnut, etc.), ceramic and porcelain mini urns, glass and crystal urns, marble or stone urns, and even biodegradable keepsake urns made of eco-friendly materials if you plan to eventually bury the small urn. Essentially, any material used for a large urn is also used to make keepsake versions. For example, you might get a lovely wooden keepsake box urn if your loved one was a nature lover, or a delicate ceramic heart-shaped urn if they had an artistic soul.

The designs are equally diverse. Some keepsake urns are very traditional-looking mini vases – classic shapes with engraving or painted motifs. Others are modern and abstract, maybe a smooth pebble-like shape or a sleek cube. There are keepsake urns that are so subtle they **hardly even look like an urn at all. For instance, some could be little sculptures or figurines that hold ashes in a hidden compartment. We’ve seen butterfly-shaped keepsake urns, bird-shaped ones, heart-shaped urns (symbolizing eternal love), and teardrop-shaped urns (symbolizing tears of grief and love). Each shape often carries symbolism – a butterfly signifies renewal and the soul, a bird can signify freedom and peace, a heart obviously represents love. If your loved one loved a specific symbol or item, you can likely find a keepsake urn in that motif. There are even hobby or interest-themed mini urns – such as tiny urns decorated with sports emblems, religious symbols, or nature scenes.

One particularly touching style is the keepsake urn that incorporates a candle. These are sometimes called tealight urns – basically a small urn base that holds a bit of ash, with a spot on top for a candle or tea light. Lighting a candle in memory of your loved one can be a soothing ritual, and these urns allow you to do that while actually housing some ashes in the base. It’s a beautiful combination of memorial functions.

And let’s not forget cremation jewelry, which is a special subset of keepsake urns. Cremation jewelry refers to wearable pieces – necklaces, bracelets, rings, even keychains – that have a tiny chamber to hold a pinch of ashes. Many keepsake jewelry pieces can hold maybe half a teaspoon of ashes or less, sealed inside a locket or pendant. This way, you can wear your loved one’s memory daily, keeping them literally close to your heart if it’s a necklace, for example. There are lovely designs like heart lockets (some with inscriptions like “Always in my heart”), cylinder pendants, glass beads that mix a tiny bit of ash into the glass swirl, or even fingerprint jewelry that also holds ashes. The Nicole Day article on keepsake urns mentions that keepsakes can come in the form of jewelry, such as necklaces and keychains – allowing them to be kept near family members at all times. If you’ve seen those small cross pendants or bullet-shaped pendants sold as “memorial jewelry,” those are indeed little urns. They typically come with a tiny funnel for filling and a screw to secure the ashes inside.

Additionally, many full-size urn collections have matching keepsake urns. For example, if you fell in love with a particular urn design for the main urn, the manufacturer often makes a miniature version of it. So you could have a large urn for the majority of ashes and buy a few matching minis for family members. This way, all the urns coordinate in style, which some families appreciate for a sense of unity. A question often asked is if keepsakes match their adult urns – and indeed, many do as part of sets. On the other hand, you can intentionally choose different styles for different people. One family member might want a traditional look, another might prefer something unique that reminds them of their personal bond with the deceased. There’s no rule that all keepsake urns for one person have to match – it’s entirely up to preference. As an example, one person might choose a butterfly keepsake because it represents transformation and hope (perhaps their personal way of viewing the loved one’s passing), while another chooses a simple classic urn shape with a religious symbol. Every person’s grief journey is unique, and the design of the keepsake they choose can reflect that individual connection.

In short, when you opt for keepsake urns, you have the freedom to pick from countless styles and materials. Whether you want something timeless and elegant, bold and artistic, or soft and sentimental, there’s likely a keepsake urn out there that matches your vision. Part of the healing can even come from the process of selecting a design that “feels right.” Families sometimes involve everyone in picking their own keepsake urn style, which can be a therapeutic activity, sharing stories about why a certain design speaks to them. At Dei Gratia Urns, for instance, we offer a range of handcrafted keepsake urns in varied designs, because we know how personal this choice is. Our collection, like many others, includes everything from mini classic brass urns to unique shapes like hearts and butterflies, to ensure you find a keepsake that resonates with your loved one’s memory.

9. Personalization: Engraving, Custom Colors, and Special Touches

Just like larger urns, keepsake urns can be personalized to add that extra meaningful touch. Because they have smaller surface areas, the amount of text or imagery you can add might be limited, but many keepsake urns are designed to accommodate engraving of names, dates, or short messages. For example, a small metal keepsake urn might have space on the front for engraving the person’s initials or first name and perhaps their years of birth and death. Some families choose to engrave a short phrase that was meaningful – like “In Loving Memory” or “Forever in our Hearts” – if space allows. Laser engraving is commonly offered by urn retailers and funeral homes for metal, wood, or even marble keepsakes. Even on a tiny urn, engraving is possible with fine precision. Having the loved one’s name on the urn can provide a sense of identification and honor, making the keepsake feel truly theirs.

Aside from text, some keepsake urns allow custom imagery or symbols. You might be able to have a small motif or emblem engraved (such as a religious symbol like a cross or an angel, or a simple icon like a heart or rose). There are also photo keepsake urns – for instance, a little box urn where you can insert a photo of your loved one on the lid or side. This combines a picture frame and urn into one, making a lovely display. In other cases, you can get the urn hand-painted or choose a specific color scheme that was the loved one’s favorite. Some manufacturers offer custom color finishes on urns or can even print a miniature urn with a custom image (using modern printing or ceramic firing techniques). For example, if your mom loved red roses, you might find a mini urn with painted roses, or have one painted just for you. If your dad was in the Navy, perhaps a blue keepsake urn with an anchor engraving could be made. The possibilities have grown over the years as personalization has become a big part of the memorial industry.

Moreover, as we touched on earlier, you can choose shapes or designs that symbolize the individual – which is a form of personalization through design. One of the Trupoint Memorials tips was that you or your family might like a unique keepsake urn that can be customized by engraving, painting, etching, or even specific colors and shapes to resemble the deceased. For instance, some artists create custom-shaped urns (like maybe a miniature motorcycle for a biker, or a musical instrument shape for a musician) as one-off creations. While those are more rare and often costly, they do exist if you seek a very bespoke tribute.

Engraving isn’t limited to the urn body either – some keepsake urns come with a small base or a tag that can be engraved. For example, a heart-shaped keepsake might be displayed on a stand, and the stand has a plaque for engraving. Jewelry keepsakes often allow engraving on the back of a locket or pendant as well – you might engrave initials or a short message on a cremation pendant.

Another aspect of personalization is simply how you use or fill the urn. Some people combine a tiny bit of other memorabilia with the ashes in a keepsake urn, especially if it’s a little larger in capacity. For example, you could put some dried flower petals from the funeral in with the ashes, or a tiny folded note or poem before sealing it up (keeping in mind not to disturb the ashes too much). This isn’t standard, but it’s a personal choice some make to add meaning.

If you’re ordering keepsake urns, be sure to check with the provider about what personalization services they offer. Here at Dei Gratia Urns, we always encourage families to add personal touches – whether that’s a custom engraving of your loved one’s name or helping you find a particular color that reminds you of them. We’ve seen how an engraved name or a special symbol can make the urn feel truly theirs, which can be very comforting. The cost for engraving a keepsake urn is usually quite reasonable, especially since the text is short (sometimes even free or included when you purchase the urn).

In summary, don’t let the small size fool you – you can absolutely personalize a keepsake urn to make it one-of-a-kind. Whether through engraved names and dates, choosing a design that tells a story, or opting for a matching set that connects all family members’ urns together, these custom touches ensure the keepsake urn isn’t just any generic object, but a cherished heirloom in the making. Years down the line, that little urn with “Mom – 1955-2023” etched on it, or the tiny blue urn with Dad’s nickname, will carry forward the legacy in a very tangible way. It’s all about capturing the essence of your loved one in that small vessel.

10. Important Considerations Before Choosing Keepsake Urns

Before you decide to divide ashes and use keepsake urns, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind (beyond the emotional and practical aspects we’ve discussed):

• Respecting Wishes and Beliefs: First and foremost, consider what your loved one wanted (if they expressed any wishes) and what aligns with your family’s beliefs or religious guidelines. Some cultures and religions have specific viewpoints on handling ashes. For example, within certain faiths (like traditional Catholicism or Orthodox Judaism), it’s taught that ashes should remain intact and not be divided or scattered – they prefer the ashes to be kept together in one urn and interred in consecrated ground. Even if cremation is permitted, some religions feel strongly that the cremains should not be split up among relatives or kept at home. So, if applicable, check any religious guidelines or talk to a faith leader if you’re unsure. It’s perfectly okay if your family is comfortable with dividing ashes, but it’s wise to ensure everyone is on the same page about it to avoid any guilt or conflict later. Also consider the deceased’s own known wishes: if they explicitly said they wanted all their ashes scattered or all kept together, try to honor that. If they didn’t specify, then use your best judgment about what they would have been okay with.
• Consent and Communication: Dividing ashes is something that should ideally be done with the consent of the next of kin and close family. Make sure to discuss the plan with all primary family members. Most of the time, families mutually agree and even find relief in the idea of sharing ashes. But occasionally, there might be someone who feels uncomfortable with it. Talking it through and explaining the reasons (“We’d like to each have a piece of Mom’s ashes to keep her memory close”) can help. It’s an emotional topic, so handle it with sensitivity. If one person absolutely objects to dividing the ashes due to personal beliefs, the family might decide to adjust the plan (for instance, maybe keep the ashes whole but rotate who keeps the urn, or some other compromise). Open communication is key to ensure everyone feels respected in the memorial decision-making process.
• Practicality of Filling and Sealing: When you receive the ashes from the crematorium (usually in a temporary container), transferring them into multiple small urns can be a delicate task. Often, funeral homes or crematories will help divide ashes for you upon request, especially if you have the urns ready. They have tools like small scoops and funnels to do it neatly. If you choose to do it yourself, be prepared with a clean work surface, and perhaps do it over some newspaper or paper to catch any spills. Many keepsake urns, particularly jewelry, come with a tiny funnel and instructions for filling. Take your time and fill them one at a time. Once filled, ensure they are securely sealed – most keepsake urns have a threaded screw-on lid or a rubber gasket. You may apply a bit of adhesive if you want a permanent seal (a drop of superglue on a screw thread, for instance), though keep in mind if you seal it permanently, it would be difficult to reopen if you ever change your mind. Some people prefer not to permanently seal, in case they might scatter the ashes later. It’s your choice.
• Labeling and Identifying: If you are filling multiple keepsakes and giving them to different people, it might be wise to label them discreetly (maybe on the bottom) or keep track of whose is whose, especially if the urns look identical. This is more a logistical tip – for example, if you ordered four identical small urns for four siblings, once they are filled, you could put a tiny sticker or write an initial on the bottom felt pad to denote whose urn is whose, so there’s no mix-up during distribution. In most cases ashes look the same, but for emotional reasons, people want to know that one is truly theirs. If the urns are different designs, this is a non-issue.
• Cost: The cost of keepsake urns can vary, but generally they are more affordable than full-size urns because they use less material and are smaller. Simple keepsake urns might start as low as $20-$30 each, while more elaborate ones or jewelry pieces can cost more (some gold or silver cremation jewelry can be $100-$200+ depending on the craftsmanship). If you need to purchase multiple keepsake urns, consider your budget per piece. The good news is you can find very beautiful small urns even at modest prices, and many retailers offer set discounts if you buy multiples. Sometimes you can buy a set of, say, four matching keepsake urns together, which might be more cost-effective than buying different single ones. At Dei Gratia Urns, we aim to have options across various price ranges – from elegant yet affordable designs to more premium, handcrafted pieces – to suit every family’s needs.
• Where to Buy: Keepsake urns are widely available nowadays. You can get them through funeral homes, cremation providers, or numerous online retailers (like specialized urn companies, marketplaces, even artisan sites like Etsy for custom pieces). The advantage of buying through a funeral home is they can guide you and show you samples, and they might handle the filling for you. Online, however, you’ll find a larger variety of styles and often better prices. Make sure to buy from a reputable source that provides dimensions and capacity information for the urn, so you know it will suit your needs. Check reviews if possible, to ensure quality (you want something well-made that won’t accidentally open or deteriorate). Also consider the material if you have plans for it – for example, if you might bury the keepsake urn eventually, a biodegradable or natural material might be preferable to metal.
• Emotional Readiness: Finally, consider your own emotional readiness for handling and dividing the ashes. Some people find it comforting and part of the healing to transfer ashes into keepsakes, while others find the idea daunting or distressing. If it’s too hard for you, enlist help – either from another family member who feels up to it, or let the professionals do it. There’s no need to force yourself into a task that might retraumatize you soon after a loss. Take your time – there’s no rush. You can even hold on to the ashes for a while and divide them into keepsakes weeks or months later when you feel more settled. The process of filling those small urns can be emotional; some people even choose to do it in a kind of intimate family gathering, almost like a small ceremony, where each person fills their keepsake and says a few words. Do whatever feels right for you and your family.

By keeping these considerations in mind, you ensure that the choice to use keepsake urns is handled with care, respect, and thoughtfulness. When done right, dividing ashes and distributing keepsake urns can be a beautiful way to honor your loved one’s wishes and bring comfort to many hearts at once. Just make sure it’s done in a way that brings peace, not additional stress.

In conclusion, a keepsake urn answers the question “How can we all keep a part of our loved one’s memory close?” with a gentle, elegant solution. These small urns carry immense sentimental weight despite their size. They enable families to share ashes, cater to different memorial preferences (scatter, keep, bury, etc.), and allow even far-flung relatives to have a tangible connection. From our experience at Dei Gratia Urns, we have witnessed how keepsake urns turn grief into shared remembrance – each family member, each friend, holding a beautiful reminder that love remains even after loss. The human touch inherent in a keepsake urn – knowing that your sibling or child has the same small urn as you do, each containing part of your loved one – can foster a sense of unity and comfort. And for the individual, having that little urn by your side can make the darkest days a bit brighter, as it serves as a daily whisper of the one you miss: “I am still with you.”

We hope these insights have helped you understand what a keepsake urn is and why it might be a fitting tribute in your situation. If you feel that this is the right choice for you, there is a world of options available, from traditional to highly personalized. Take the time to choose one (or several) that speak to your heart. Whether you opt for a simple small urn with a name engraved or a uniquely shaped keepsake that captures their spirit, what matters most is the love and memory it represents. Ultimately, a keepsake urn is much more than a container – it’s a treasured keepsake indeed, one that keeps the story of your loved one alive and shared among those who hold it dear.

What is a Keepsake Urn? 10 Things to Know About Small Cremation Urns for Ashes