Episode 56: Permanent Placement of Cremated Remains with Honnalora Hughes

Today we're talking about something that sits in closets, on mantels, and even on kitchen counters across the country: urns holding the cremated remains of people we love, often with no plan for where they will finally rest. By one estimate, 25 million homes in the United States have an urn in them. My guest today calls that a crisis, and after our conversation, I think you'll see why.
My guest is Honnolora Hughes and we’ll be talking about National Cremation Placement Day. This year it falls on October 17, and it will always be held on the third Saturday in October. The idea is simple: give families who have chosen cremation the information and encouragement to think about a permanent home for their loved ones. In Honnolora's view, the core problem has been a lack of education. For decades, families were told to pick up the urn, and often that was all they were told. Many people who no longer have a relationship with a funeral home or cemetery won't get that information there. So the effort has to meet people where they are.
To be clear, this isn't about telling anyone what to do. As Honnolora puts it, cremation gives us the freedom to choose how we're remembered. What matters is having a plan, so our loved ones don't end up abandoned or forgotten.
In this episode, we discuss how 25 million households ended up in this situation. We also cover the difference between permanent placement and memorialization. Honnolora shares some of the the options that cemeteries offer and we talk about some of the options outside the cemetery.
So whether you work in death care, are planning a funeral, or simply have an urn at home and aren't sure what comes next, we hope you find something useful or interesting in this conversation.