What are ash stones or solidified remains? | Parting Stone for Canada

Are they solidified cremation ashes turn in stones? 

After cremation, many things can be done with ashes, and new options seem to hit the market each year. One of these is ash stones or cremation ash memorial stones.. However, this is not a stone carved or etched to memorialize a loved one. An ash stone is the byproduct of solidifying cremation ashes and is a service provided by a company called Parting Stone. Learn more about the company and how Canadians can order ash stones through us at Eirene.

What is the Parting Stone?

The Parting Stone is a U.S. company that solidifies cremation ashes into smooth, unique pebbles. The company uses scientific processes to turn powdery ashes into a solid form, resembling a collection of stones.

Note that Eirene Cremations is a Canadian reseller of Parting Stone's offering, handling Canadian orders including shipping the stones from Parting Stone in the U.S. to you.

Parting Stone was founded in 2019 by Justin Crowe in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratories. The development of the idea for the company began in 2014 after the death of Crowe's grandfather. He became interested in how people experience loss and handle the cremated remains of their loved ones. He wanted to create a more meaningful way to keep ashes in your home, especially for those who were storing them.

Crowe received a grant to work with scientists at Alamos National Laboratory, and together they launched the product in beta in October 2019. Since then, the process has gained popularity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Parting Stone has received the Fast Company's World Changing Ideas Award in 2020 and the KIP Award for death care innovation.

How does the solidified remains process work?

The Parting Stone technology is similar to the process of making ceramics. Except it is done with a more scientific approach.

You ship the cremation ashes to the nearest Canadian office, and we work with the Parting Stone lab in Santa Fe, New Mexico on your behalf.

After Parting Stone receives the ashes, they undergo a purification process. Contaminants like staples, screws, and implants are removed from the remains during this step if they haven't been removed already by the crematorium (in most cases, they will have in Canada).

After purification, a binder is added to convert the ashes into a clay-like material. The solids are formed and crafted into stones. Next, the stones are solidified in a kiln. Finally, the stones are cleaned, polished, and returned to the customer. The entire process typically takes 10 weeks after the lab receives the ashes.

The number of stones returned depends on the initial volume of ashes received. However, there is typically a 1:1 ratio with solidified remains – if 6 cups of ash are received, roughly 6 cups of stones are created. The stones vary in size and quantity, but the average cremated human will yield 40 to 60 stones.

What do the memorial ash stones look like?

The stones vary in size, shape, and colour. The size of a stone can vary from the size of a thumbnail to the size of your palm. The colour is usually close to white can come in various hues and textures.

They have a hardness similar to regular stones, so they will not disintegrate or dissolve on their own or break down in water. The stones are also not likely to break if dropped; however, they may break if there is a lot of force when dropped.

The company does not fully understand the cause of the colour or texture variation, but it is gathering data to gain further insight. However, since the process does not allow for much personalization, customers cannot pick the solidified remains' size, colour, or shape.

Where is this process available?

The process is currently only available within the United States and Canada. 

The Parting Stone in Canada

The shipping process for Canadians differs slightly from that in the U.S. In Canada, we handle the shipping for you at Eirene. You ship the ashes to us at your nearest Eirene office (contact us at support@eirene.ca for information) and we work with The Parting Stone to have your order processed and ship your stones back to you at your Canadian address.

What kinds of ashes can be used?

The Parting Stone offers this process for both human and pet cremated remains.

The process is the same for both human and pet remains, but the cost and the number of stones created varies. The number of stones produced depends on the quantity of ashes received. 

How many memorial stones are created from human ashes?

From an adult's full cremated remains, 40-60 cremation stones are produced. Fewer stones will be produced if you only have some of the ashes or if the ashes are the cremated remains of a smaller person or a child. The process for infant ashes results in a return of 1-2 stones.

How many memorial stones are created from pet ashes?

Pet memorial stones can be created from ashes for dogs, cats, rodents, birds, rabbits, reptiles, horses, and fish. 

The quantity of stones from pets ashes varies based on the quantity of remains provided and the original weight of the deceased pet. Here is a rough guide:

For dogs, you can receive 5-35 stones. 
For cats, 6-10 stones.
For large birds, 2-6 stones.
For fish, 1-2 stones.
For rabbits, 3-8 stones.
For rodents, 1-2 stones.
For horses, 200-400 stones. 

How much do solidified remains cost?

The process costs $2350 CAD for human cremated remains, including shipping from the U.S. lab to you in Canada.

The cost of animal ashes depends on the type of animal. Please see below:

Dog: $1,395 CAD
Cat: $1,095 CAD
Small animals: $945 CAD
Horse: $13,395 CAD

Questions?

Contact us at support@eirene.ca to have your questions answered or to start an order.