For many families, bringing cremated remains home feels like the most personal and respectful way to honor a loved one. It offers closeness, familiarity, and time to grieve on your own terms. But as time passes, many begin to wonder — what now?
Whether you’ve kept ashes on a shelf, in a closet, or in a special urn for years, you’re not alone. Across the Lower Mainland, thousands of families are quietly living with the same question: how do we move forward with honor and meaning?
Here are your main options — and why more families are choosing to move from holding ashes at home to finding a permanent resting place.
- Why Families Keep Ashes at Home
Families often keep cremated remains at home because they aren’t ready to let go, or they plan to make a decision later. In some cases, the ashes were meant to be scattered, but the timing or location never felt quite right. In others, life simply got busy, and the remains remained tucked away.
The intention was temporary — but over time, temporary becomes permanent.
- Think Long-Term — Especially for Future Generations
What happens to ashes kept at home after 10, 20, or 30 years? Who takes responsibility when parents pass and urns are passed to their children?
More and more, grandchildren are inheriting multiple urns and feeling overwhelmed. They may not know the stories behind them, or feel equipped to care for them. And as living space becomes more limited, especially in the Lower Mainland, storing multiple urns may not be possible or desired.
Eventually, what began as a meaningful gesture can turn into a source of uncertainty or guilt. Moving ashes to a permanent, respectful resting place prevents that burden from falling on future generations.
- Options for a Permanent Resting Place
When you’re ready, cremated remains can be placed either in-ground or in a columbarium niche.
- In-Ground Burial: A small plot, often with a flat marker or plaque. This gives the remains a natural, peaceful space and provides families a place to visit.
- Columbarium: An above-ground structure with niches for urns, often set in a landscaped section of the cemetery with benches and greenery.
Both options allow for names, inscriptions, and the dignity of a true final resting place — something that simply isn’t possible in a closet or on a mantel.
- Cost Will Only Rise
Land availability across the Lower Mainland is shrinking, and with it, prices for burial space are rising every year. The longer a family waits to secure a final resting place, the more they’ll likely pay. What’s accessible now may become prohibitively expensive later — especially for families holding multiple urns who may eventually want a shared memorial space.
Choosing a permanent resting place today isn’t just an emotional decision — it’s a financial one. Planning now ensures availability, locks in pricing, and avoids uncertainty down the road.
- Shared Spaces, Shared Stories
A dedicated resting place makes it easier to honor and remember together. Whether your family visits on anniversaries, religious holidays, or quiet afternoons, a physical space creates continuity. It allows grief to evolve into legacy.
Cemeteries also provide structure for cultural and faith-based mourning practices, helping families stay connected to their traditions.
Why Families Choose Bakerview Memorial Cemetery
At Bakerview, we help families take the next step — whether it’s been weeks or decades since a loved one passed. We offer permanent, affordable cremation burial options that reflect each family’s wishes, including in-ground and columbarium options designed for beauty, privacy, and peace.
As one of the newest cemeteries in the Lower Mainland, we offer space, flexibility, and the chance to plan ahead before prices rise further. Our affordable financing options make the transition easier — and ensure your loved one has the respectful place they deserve.
If you’re ready to explore the next step, we’re here to guide you — no pressure, just answers.
Published: August 4, 2025
