What can I do with My Mother's Ashes?

Deciding what to do with your mother's ashes is a deeply personal choice, and there is no wrong answer. Whether you want to keep her close at home, return her to nature, or carry a small part of her with you, this guide gathers some gentle, meaningful options to help you find what feels right.

Quick answer: The most common choices are keeping your mother's ashes at home in a cremation urn, burying them in the ground or at sea in a biodegradable urn, or keeping a small portion in ashes jewellery. Many families combine more than one, for example keeping a little at home and scattering or burying the rest. There is no time limit on deciding, so take all the time you need.

Keep her at home in an urn

Keeping ashes at home is the most common choice. Modern urns are far from the plain traditional vase, with artisans creating sculptural, natural and decorative designs that sit beautifully in a room. A piece can reflect her personality, a color she loved, or simply suit your home. The Lotus Urn, for instance, opens into the petals of a lotus flower, a gentle symbol of renewal.

You can explore the full range of materials, from metal and ceramic to wood, in our adult cremation urns collection, and for ideas on where to display one, see our guide on where to place a cremation urn.

Bury her ashes

If keeping ashes at home is not for you, a burial gives a permanent resting place. There are two kinds, both using a biodegradable urn that returns the ashes gently to nature.

A land burial places the urn in the ground, usually around 2 to 3 feet deep, where the natural materials break down over weeks to months and the ashes become part of the earth. You might plant a tree above, or create a memorial garden around the spot. A water burial places a water urn on the sea, a lake or a river, where it floats briefly before dissolving and releasing the ashes into the water.

Our Journey Water Urn is made for water burial, crafted from biodegradable mulberry bark that dissipates in the water, and it comes with a water-soluble bag to transfer the ashes safely.

Keep a little with you in jewellery

Ashes jewellery lets you keep your mother close wherever you go, and take her on journeys she never had the chance to make. A pendant, ring or bracelet with a small sealed chamber holds a tiny portion of ashes. Our ashes jewellery includes simple self-fill designs you can fill at home, in styles to suit any taste.

You do not have to choose only one. Many families keep a portion at home and scatter, bury or wear the rest. For every option in one place, see our hub on what to do with ashes after cremation.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do with my mother's ashes?

You can keep them at home in a cremation urn, bury them in the ground or at sea in a biodegradable urn, scatter them somewhere meaningful, or keep a small portion in ashes jewellery. Many families combine more than one of these.

Is there a time limit on deciding what to do with ashes?

No. There is no legal time limit in the UK or US on keeping ashes at home, so you can take all the time you need before deciding. Many families keep ashes for years before choosing a permanent option.

Can I keep some of my mother's ashes and scatter the rest?

Yes, and many people do. You can keep a portion in a keepsake urn or ashes jewellery and scatter or bury the rest, so you always have a small part of her close.

What kind of urn is best for burying ashes?

A biodegradable urn made from natural materials, designed to break down in soil or dissolve in water and return the ashes gently to nature. Display urns in ceramic or metal are better suited to keeping ashes at home.