The Process

1.  Order on our Website.

2.  We send you shipping materials.  Ashes need to be shipped with specific care and we send you the official shipping materials from USPS so you can mail us the ashes of your Loved One safely and legally.

3.  You Ship us the Ashes

4.  We lovingly and carefully recieve and label the ashes of your Loved One

5.  We clean the ashes and then combine them with a small amount of natural binding material before forming them into the shape of real stones.  They are then coated with a natural sealant to keep them safe and clean.

6.  Engraving (if ordered) happens after the stones are formed and cured.

7.  We lovingly and safely pack the stones for shipment back to you.  They will be shipped once we confirm that you will be available to receive them at home.

8.  You can cherish, hold, and remember your Loved One through their transformation into Sacred Stones.  

How do we ship the ashes to you?

  • Currently the only legal method of shipment for cremated remains is via USPS Priority Express with appropriate labeling:

How to Package and Ship Cremated Remains

  • We will mail a package of shipping materials and instructions to your home once your order is received through our website. These should arrive within 5-10 business days from USPS.
  • *The buyer is responsible for the shipping cost of sending cremated remains to Sacred Stones*
  • For shipping ashes to us - our mailing address is:

Sacred Stones

P.O. Box 39332 Greensboro, NC 27438

  • We do offer home pick up and delivery in Rockingham and Guilford Counties in North Carolina by appointment. Please give us a call or text at (336) 344-9608 to check availability for this service.

Why stones?

The Story:

Stones speak to us.

We spend a lot of our free time outdoors, particularly around water - trout fishing, kayaking, camping, hiking. Often, we collect rocks and stones as reminders of these adventures.

Believing in the power of these stones as a part of nature, we began crafting ashes into their shapes. Starting in 2023, we developed a process that we believe gives people a beautiful alternative to the traditional ways of storing or scattering ashes. When developing the process, it became apparent that some people may want their ashes crafted into the shapes of crosses or hearts in addition to natural stone forms.

How long do our stones last? Can they be placed outside?

  • Our stones will last indefinitely indoors - outdoors they will break down over time due to normal wear and tear due to weather conditions. Over time meaning months to years (not days or hours).
  • Our stones are water-resistant but not waterproof, we use shellac as an environmentally friendly exterior coating (versus epoxy/plastics which would be waterproof but result in plastics being released into the environment). 

How are these environmentally friendly?

  • Our process involves the careful removal of excess salts and highly alkaline components of cremated remains prior to formation of stones, crosses, and hearts.
  • After the removal of these components, our stones and the encapsulated ashes within may be placed in nature without the concern of damage to the soil, water, and ecosystem.
  • Our stones include a protective shellac coating for increased longevity when exposed to the elements, without any risk of plastic or chemical contamination.

Why not scatter ashes or keep them in an urn?

  • While scattering ashes is a very common way to say our final goodbyes to a departed loved one, there are negative environmental impacts from this practice. Cremated human ashes contain very high levels of salts and highly alkaline components - these can cause damage to plants, soil microbes, soil nutrient balance, and leaching of salts into groundwater. Salt Stress in Plants and Mitigation Approaches

  • Everyone handles grief, loss, and death in their own way, and that is why we are here. Personally, we feel that transforming ashes into a form which can be touched and held close or returned to nature feels less confining than an urn or columbarium.

Can I "pre-plan" or pay in advance for my funeral arrangments?

We do not currently offer pre-planning services but you are always welcome to reach out with questions about how our process works.

Are all of the stones the same size, shape, and color?

  • No, our collections of River Stones use a variety of shapes and sizes so that each stone is unique.
  • Our stones are imperfect, just like those found in nature. They are in the shape of natural stones, each of which has been formed by eons of time. We create molds from natural stones so these natural processes are reflected in each of your loved one's stones.
  • The color of the stones will be unique due to the natural variations in pigments contained within the cremated ashes of your loved one, reflecting their own unique characteristics and life to be remembered.

Do I have to order online?

  • No, you are welcome to pay over the phone and we will confirm order detail with an itemized invoice.
  • We try to be as flexible as possible during such a difficult time of loss - we can process your payment through QuickBooks and send a receipt via email.

When do I pay?

We do require for orders to be paid for in full prior to processing of cremated ashes. This payment may be received through our website or we can send an invoice via QuickBooks with your order details.

How long does the process take?

Our current order time is 4-5 weeks from when we receive your loved one's package in our workshop.