Artist in Ardmore crafts ceramic memorials from cremated human remains
Cremation Gains Popularity in Philadelphia Suburbs as Affordable and Personalized Memorial Options Emerge
In the suburbs of Philadelphia, a growing trend towards cremation as a form of final disposition is becoming more prevalent. Funeral homes in the area offer a range of cremation packages, catering to family preferences and budgets.
The Cremation Society of Philadelphia, with its broad geographic reach, serves many suburban counties around the city, indicating a rising demand for cremation services in these areas. The society provides flexible packages, including direct cremation, visitation before cremation, memorial services, and keepsakes, reflecting the growing acceptance and demand for cremation in the suburban Philadelphia area.
One unique business in Ardmore, run by Daniel Hoffman, transforms cremated remains into ceramic memorials through a technique he first used more than a decade ago with his aunt's ashes. Hoffman's goal is to make fine art more accessible and heal others in the process. Instead of mixing the ashes into the earthenware, Hoffman fuses the ashes with the glaze, resulting in a marbling and shifting of hues unique to the individual or pet.
Hoffman's first customer was family friend Bronwyn Morris, who memorialized her dog Olive. Morris now plans to have her and her husband's ashes mixed with their pets' ashes when they pass away. Morris has a "Christmas ball" piece with a paw print on it, which makes her smile.
An old adage in the ceramics community states that clay has a memory, which Hoffman found fitting for his business. The business offers a variety of items, from ornaments as small as a few inches to vases as large as a couple of feet. A short film featuring Hoffman's process was recently shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Bill Sucharski, a cremationist and funeral director, entered the business in 1991. He owns Philadelphia Crematories and the Delaware Valley Cremation Center, which also offers a range of cremation services. Sucharski believes that their job is to help families through the death of a loved one and make things easier for them.
Cremation dates back across countless cultures spanning many millennia. The first official crematorium opened in Washington, Pennsylvania in 1876, marking the beginning of the modern cremation industry. The cremation rate in the United States has significantly increased since 1991, reaching over 61% of all deaths in 2024.
This trend aligns with a nationwide shift toward cremation due to factors such as cost-effectiveness, flexibility in memorialization, and evolving social attitudes. Options such as memorial jewelry or personalized keepsakes show that families seek meaningful ways to memorialize loved ones beyond burial, supporting cremation’s cultural acceptance.
Cremation offers various personalization options for memorials compared to earth burial. For instance, Morris plans to have her and her husband's ashes mixed with their pets' ashes when they pass away, creating a unique and personal memorial. The trend towards cremation in the suburbs of Philadelphia is expected to continue, providing families with more affordable and personalized options for memorializing their loved ones.
[1] "Cremation Services in Philadelphia, PA - Find a Cremation Provider Near You," Find a Grave, www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1600807/cremation-society-of-philadelphia [5] "Cremation Services in Philadelphia, PA - Find a Cremation Provider Near You," Yelp, www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Cremation+Services&find_loc=Philadelphia%2C+PA
- As unique memorial options emerge, the fashion-and-beauty industry might start to incorporate cremated remains into jewelry or keepsakes, offering a new avenue for personal growth and self-expression.
- With the demand for cremation services growing in the suburbs of Philadelphia, shopping for funeral packages now becomes part of lifestyle planning, along with decisions regarding home-and-garden upgrades, food-and-drink preferences, and travel schedules.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, individuals may consider courses on end-of-life planning, funeral customs, and cremation processes, fostering personal growth and preparedness for the future.
- While traveling to New York, visitors can stop by the Museum of Modern Art to watch a short film featuring Daniel Hoffman's unique ceramic memorial process, showcasing the intersection of art, travel, and relationships.
- As pet owners increasingly view their pets as family, they might choose to cremate their beloved companions and invest in custom pet-themed urns or home decor, integrating them seamlessly into their daily lifestyle.
