Manchester, UK – In a pioneering move within the funeral industry, a local funeral home now offers a groundbreaking method of memorialising the deceased. John F. Tierney Funeral Home, based in Manchester, has partnered with Parting Stones, a New Mexico-based company, to provide a service called “solidification.” This innovative process transforms cremated remains into stones, providing families with a tangible and lasting way to remember their loved ones.
Christopher Uriano, a resident of Bolton, recently lost his wife Angela to cancer and became the first client to opt for the solidification service. After learning about it from a television show, Uriano approached Tom Tierney, the director of John F. Tierney Funeral Home, and expressed his interest. Impressed by the concept, Tierney promptly introduced the option at his establishment.
The solidification service is expected to gain popularity as an alternative to traditional ashes. Tierney explains the appeal: “Having something tangible, a physical object that can be placed somewhere significant, holds a lot of meaning for people. The stones are not affected by weather conditions and can be discreetly kept on a shelf at work or at home, serving as a personal and private memento.”
Cremation has steadily surpassed burial as the preferred choice, accounting for 60% of Tierney’s business compared to 40% for burials. Experts predict the nationwide cremation rate will rise to 80% within two decades. As more people opt for cremation, many seek additional options to handle and preserve the remains, which is where the solidification service steps in.
Parting Stones, the company behind the solidification process, emphasises the ease of keeping and displaying stones compared to traditional ashes. Their website states that each set of cremated remains produces 40 to 80 stones of various sizes. The stones come in different colours, including white, blue, and green, and boast remarkable durability, with strength comparable to turquoise or tooth enamel.
Uriano, inspired by his experience of scattering ashes, sought a more practical and meaningful alternative for his wife’s remains. Angela, who battled colorectal cancer for three years, expressed her desire to be cremated and have portions of her ashes spread in various locations during Christopher’s travels with their daughter, Olivia. However, Uriano found handling loose ashes emotionally distressing and stressful.
His concerns were alleviated when he witnessed Parting Stone owner Justin Crowe present the concept on the popular television show “Shark Tank.” The positive reception and subsequent partnership with funeral homes across the country convinced Uriano that solidifying his wife’s ashes into stones was the perfect solution. He anticipates paying between $2,200 and $2,500 for the conversion process, with the stones expected to be delivered within six to eight weeks.
Uriano firmly believes that his wife would have embraced the idea of becoming a lasting part of the places they cherished together. He and his daughter intend to honour Angela’s wishes by leaving some stones in their travel destinations. Additionally, they plan to distribute stones to Angela’s close family members and friends, allowing them to share in the tangible connection to her memory.
Tom Tierney, a third-generation funeral home director and other Manchester funeral homes, commends the growing range of options available to celebrate the lives of departed loved ones. From composting and aquamation to unconventional methods like incorporating remains into fireworks or tattoo ink, Tierney observes that people increasingly seek unique ways to commemorate their loved ones and express their individuality.
As the Manchester funeral home pioneers the solidification service, it is expected to meet families’ evolving needs and desires in their grieving process. The combination of personalisation and durability offered by Parting Stones provides a novel way to honour the memory of loved ones, ensuring they will be remembered for generations to come.
