Families seeking a unique and personal way to remember their loved ones now have the option to transform their ashes into durable, natural stones. These stones can be held, kept close, or placed in a garden or other meaningful space to create a lasting tribute honouring their memory.
“A lot of people don’t know what things can be done with their cremated remains, other than putting them into an urn and burying them or setting them on the mantle or in the closet,” said Dayna Chamberlain, the general manager of W.J. Jones & Son Funeral Home who offers the service.
“This is one of many options that are out there for families,” she added.
The founder of Parting Stone felt disconnected from his grandfather’s ashes, which were stored in a traditional urn. To foster a deeper connection, he collaborated with a university team who then developed an innovative method to produce stones from these ashes.
The process takes around 10 to 14 weeks to complete and begins with the family signing consent forms to acknowledge their awareness of the process. The ashes are then shipped with a tracking number to Parting Stone — the only company currently offering this option — in New Mexico, USA.
Once there, the ashes are combined with a natural bonding agent, formed into stones, and then set in a kiln. The stones are then polished and returned to the funeral home. When the remains are returned, the family can expect a collection of 40 to 60 polished stones. The company offers a 100 per cent money back guarantee and, if requested, the process can be reversed.
“They’re interesting, because everybody’s stones will be different, and every stone that you receive back will be different,” Chamberlain explained.
“Some of them might have little pock marks, or they’ll have a little crack in them… (making) them all unique as well,” she said. These differences are the result of a complex array of factors that vary individually.
If your loved one wished to have their remains scattered, regulatory concerns can complicate the process. Scattering ashes also requires permission from local municipalities or landowners. With this option, however, you can still honour their wishes by placing one of these stones in the area as they’re not subject to the same regulations.
The process was introduced to Moose Jaw around two weeks ago. “We’ve had a lot of inquiries into it,” Chamberlain noted, adding that she’s already given out numerous information brochures.
The option is also available for family pets, she said, but pet owners will have to speak with the Moose Jaw Humane Society to inquire about options.
Costs are comparable to the total cost to acquire a cemetery plot.
“It (the price) just depends on what you think is expensive, and (what value) you see in what you’re spending,” she said. Parting Stone is the only company who offers this service and it’s a new option, so over time the price can be expected to decrease with a growing economy of scale.
The funeral home offers a few sample stones to examine — without ashes of course.
“They said, ‘I feel calm; I feel connected.’ It’s a good way for (families) to feel that connection,” she said. “In my years of doing this… they’ll sit with the urn as a way to connect with their loved one, but the urn can be heavy. This gives them a way to connect, and they can actually hold (the stone); it’s tangible.”
Chamberlain said she’s heard of at least one individual with whom the stones enabled him to start a healing process after the passing of his mother. “I thought that was an amazing thing, and it wasn’t something that I had even though of when I first (partnered with) Parting Stone.”
To learn more about Parting Stone visit PartingStone.com.
W.J. Jones & Son Funeral Home is located at 474 Hochelaga Street West and can be reached at 306-693-4644. For more information visit WJJonesAndSon.com or email Dayna Chamberlain at Dayna@JonesParkView.com.
Aaron Walker
Reporter
Moose Jaw Express
