Choosing The Right Funeral Home

Tips For Helping You Transport Your Loved One's Cremains

22 September 2016

Derek Murphy

Many people wish to be cremated after they pass away, and this cremation process can leave family members with the unique problem of transporting their loved one's remains to their final resting place. The transportation of cremains is something that few people take the time to plan for prior to discovering that such transportation is necessary.

Here are three simple tips you can use to help you successfully transport a loved one's cremains in the future.

1. Transporting Cremains In A Personal Vehicle 

If you plan to drive a personal vehicle home from your loved one's memorial service, and you intend to take his or her cremains with you, the only special consideration you need to make is in the selection of an urn. There are no rules or regulations prohibiting the transport of cremains across state lines, but decorative urns can often be too delicate to withstand the jostling associated with a long drive.

Investing in a heavy-duty urn (and then transferring your loved one's cremains to a decorative urn upon arrival) will help you avoid disaster as you travel in a personal vehicle with your loved one's cremains.

2. Transporting Cremains On An Airplane

Traveling to and from a memorial service on an airplane can significant reduce the amount of time spent in transit. If you are planning to rely on the convenience of an airplane to transport you and your loved one's cremains back to your home, you need to understand the unique problems that will need to be addressed in order to successfully fly with these cremains.

Check with your airline to determine if you can carry cremains on the airplane with you. If cremains must be checked in your luggage, invest in an urn that can be sealed to prevent leakage. Be sure that the urn you purchase for your loved one's cremains contains no lead, since the urn will need to pass through the x-ray machines at airport security checkpoints.

3. Transporting Cremains Through The Mail

You may be surprised to learn that you can ship cremains through the United States Postal Service (USPS)- provided that the cremains are packaged appropriately. If you plan to ship your loved one's remains to their final destination, ensure that you carefully follow USPS guidelines for packaging.

These guidelines include using both an inner and outer container to prevent leakage. The inner container must be completely sealed by a funeral home professional to prevent sifting, and your package must be clearly marked as containing cremains so that postal workers can handle your loved one's cremains appropriately.

Understanding how to safely transport your loved one's cremains via car, plane, or mail will help you more successfully lay your cremated loved one to rest in the future.

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