There are three questions that people often have when buying an urn for a loved one who is dying soon, but hasn't passed away yet.
- Can I get this made and delivered ASAP?
- Can you get the urn ready, then engrave and ship once the person dies?
- How should I handle the dates on the inscription if the person is still living?
This article is actually the third in a series on how to get the dates engraved on an urn when the intended person is still living.
In Part 1, the topic is how to engrave dates on an urn when the person is still living. That article has lots of ideas for the inscription, and you should read it if you're debating how you should deal with the dates.
In Part 2, we discuss how to engrave dates on a companion urn when one or both of the people are still alive. If you're considering a companion urn (an urn that holds the remains of two people), you'll definitely want to read that one.
Here, in Part 3, we'll talk about the inscription but we'll also cover the whole process of buying the urn ahead of time.
Urn Inscriptions for Someone Who Is Still Living (Part 3 of 3)
For more detailed ideas on what to engrave or inscribe on the urn when the person is still alive, be sure to read Part 1.
Buying an Urn When a Loved One Is Dying Soon
Getting the urn ahead of time is a very wise decision. It will save you time, money, and stress in the long run.
(It saves on your costs because you won't need to pay expedited shipping costs on urns purchased online, and you won't be stuck buying an overpriced urn at a local funeral home or crematorium.)
So start by browsing through our extensive selection of premium cremation urns. (We'll wait.)
Then, once you've chosen the urn that's just right, consider these factors:
- Many of our urns are made to order. Each product page will display how long it typically takes to produce. Some are in stock; others are made to order within a few days; still others may take several weeks.
- Factor in shipping/delivery time. We offer free ground delivery within the continental USA. Most destinations take between 2-5 business days for delivery (after production).
- The funeral home/crematorium will wait for the urn to arrive. If your loved one gets cremated while you're waiting for the urn to be delivered, they will hold on to the ashes for a few days (or even weeks) until you bring in the urn. Just talk to them about it, most places try to be easy to work with. If it is going to be a very long time, you can pick up the ashes in a "temporary urn" and then either put the ashes into the urn yourself, or bring it back in to the funeral director and she can transfer the remains for you.
- You can contact us. If you have any questions about production or delivery times, just contact us. We answer the phone (or return voicemail quickly) during business hours, and will respond promptly to emails. Arranging delivery is a large part of what we do, and we're happy to help.
Inscription Ideas for the Urn
Again, many of the same ideas apply from Part 1, so be sure to read that article.
Here are a few additional options:
Engrave Just the Years
Tim Smith
1948-2020
Beloved Husband, Father, and Grandfather
If you're certain the time for death is near, and it's not late December, you can simply engrave the years.
Have the Urn Ready to Engrave & Ship
We've done this a few times. The family orders the urn, we make it, and then hold onto it until the individual passes. Once that happens, the family contacts us with the engraving information (including the now-known death date) and we engrave then ship.
This arrangement may or may not be feasible, depending on the product. Sometimes the family expects the death to be very soon and the person hangs on for several more weeks or even longer. We'll work with you to help you in the best way possible, but this usually isn't the best option because you don't necessarily want the urn hanging around a busy production shop for weeks or months.
Order the Urn Now & Personalize It Locally
This is a good option because you will have the urn in hand. The rest of it will depend on your arrangement with the local engraver.
If you are just getting a name plate, this can be done very quickly and easily. Most cities have several trophy shops where you can get engraving done.
Personalization on the urn itself may be a little more difficult to arrange - not every engraving shop is willing to take on a project like this. Urns are typically pricey, plus there's the emotional aspect. But you can contact local funeral homes and see who they get to do their engraving.
Planning Ahead to Save Time, Stress, and Money
Whatever you ultimately decide to do with the engraved inscription, purchasing the urn ahead of time is a great way to save time, stress, and money.
In fact, we think it's one of the best ways to easily save about $100 on your funeral arrangement expenses. Read more here.