Beyond the Urn: How Opal Cremation and Parting Stone Turn Ashes into Touchable Memories
Parting Stones are a lovely way to remember a loved one and keep them close. Opal Cremation of Los Angeles can guide the transaction to ensure a seamless process.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Parting Stone’s Story
- What is Parting Stone
- The Benefits of Parting Stones
- How Families Actually Use Parting Stones (Scenarios & Suggestions)
- How Parting Stone Works with Opal Cremation
- Why Order Parting Stones Through Opal Cremation
- Order Parting Stone Through Opal Cremation
- FAQs
- Additional Resources
Key Takeaways
- Even though people miss their loved ones, many of them store their remains tucked away in a drawer or closet, because the ashes are ‘gross’ or difficult to deal with.
- Parting Stone offers a solution, turning ashes into smooth, attractive, and easy-to-hold stones.
- Opal Cremation partners with Parting Stone to support a smooth process from cremation to stone transition. Both are trusted providers in the funeral industry.
Introduction
Once, death was a somber affair. People were buried in the ground during a depressing ceremony. Families mourned, then tried to put the pieces together and move on with their lives.
Today, organizations like the Good Death and the Death Positive Movement are putting a brighter spin on things, choosing to celebrate life rather than mourn death. While possible with any type of burial, this perspective can be facilitated by cremation, as there are so many options regarding what to do with the ashes. You can make them into jewelry, scatter them at sea, or have a Parting Stone made.
The Parting Stone process involves turning ashes into lovely stones. We’ll tell you more about how it works and how Opal can make ordering easier than ever.
Parting Stone’s Story
Parting Stone was founded by Justin Crowe and was inspired by Crowe’s grandfather. As an entrepreneur, Justin was determined to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and launch a business, but what would he do? He realized his direction after his grandfather’s passing, which helped him learn how others experience death.
People talk about the loved ones they lost, but their ashes, the very things they should be remembered by, are often left in a closet or drawer and forgotten about. Why? Because many feel that cremated remains are creepy and gross, full of bone fragments, and messy to scatter.
Parting Stones offer better solutions; they are easy to carry and hold, attractive, and represent a full cycle of returning human life to nature.
“Our team is inspired by empathy, and we’re passionate about creating meaningful experiences.”
Justin Crowe, owner of Parting Stone, from the video Parting Stone: A New Form of Human Remains
Rags to Riches
Bringing Justin’s vision to life wasn’t easy. While he received a grant to work with scientists and the Los Alamos Laboratory on a unique project involving human remains, researchers initially thought it was impossible. But over time, they saw it as a transformative breakthrough and developed a solution.
During the early years, Justin experienced financial losses trying to find the technology to keep Parting Stones affordable while turning a profit. He turned to Shark Tank, where his idea caught the interest of Mr. Wonderful (Kevin O’Leary) and Lori Greiner of QVC fame. And the rest, as they say, is history.
What Is Parting Stone?
A Parting stone is a stone made from solidified cremated ashes. Here’s how the process works:
- Step 1: The company mails the family a kit to collect 100% of the cremated ashes.
- Step 2: Ashes are purified by removing contaminants like staples and implants.
- Step 3: The ash is turned into a clay-like material, and the stone is formed.
- Step 4: Solidified remains are polished and returned home.
With a 100 lb. person yielding about 20 stones, most cremations support a 40-80 stone output. Each batch has a unique look based on the individual’s remains and the approach. Stones may feature subtle marbling, speckles, and other variations.
Each stone is smooth and touchable, not sharp or irregular. The size and number of stones are guided by the volume of the remains. Once the process is complete, you can split the stones among relatives, display them, or store them in a special place.
The process typically takes 84 days to complete. The company recommends placing an order as soon as possible to reserve a spot.
Parting Stone is available for humans and pets, and pre-planning is available.
The Benefits of Parting Stones
Many people throughout Los Angeles and the world don’t know what to do with ashes. They have anxiety about spilling or damaging the urn, struggle to decide who keeps the remains, and find the ashes messy and hard to interact with. Families often store urns out of sight because they don’t have a better alternative.
Parting Stone offers the perfect solution, providing the following benefits:
- Tangible Connection: Stones can be held, carried, and incorporated into daily life. Touching and interacting with them can make you feel close to your loved one after they are gone.
- Easy Sharing: With an output of 40-80 stones, you can share them with friends and family members.
- Versatile Memorial Options: Once stones are received, they can be placed in a display bowl or bag, on a shelf, kept in a pocket, or incorporated into a memorial garden.
- Clean, Secure, and Durable: Unlike ashes, stones won’t spill or scatter accidentally. They are solid, long-lasting, and low-maintenance.
Some people have asked us if they can scatter Parting Stones as they would ashes. The answer? Yes. However, solidified and non-solidified remains are seen as the same in the eyes of the law. Therefore, scattering rules still apply.
Generally, it’s fine to scatter ashes or stones on your own property, but you need a permit to scatter them on public property, and not all properties will be approved. Sea scattering is generally allowed if it’s done at least three nautical miles from shore, and permits are required.
Read our article, The Definitive Guide to Scattering Ashes in California 2026, for more information.
How Families Actually Use Parting Stones (Scenarios and Suggestions)
| Family Situation | How Parting Stone Can Help | Practical Ideas |
| Multiple siblings or family members | 40-80 stones make it easy to share remains fairly | Divide stones into bowls or pouches so each household can make their own memorial |
| Someone wants a private, portable way to grieve | Small stones are easy to carry and touch without drawing attention | Keep a single stone in a purse or pocket so you can always hold it for connection |
| Families can’t agree on a final resting place | Stones can be scattered or placed in multiple, meaningful locations so everyone’s wishes are granted | Consider everyone’s input when choosing scattering places or provide stones so they can scatter themselves, keep local scattering laws in mind |
| Children or teens want a keepsake | Stones are sturdy so kids can interact with them freely, they fit in with stone and crystal culture which appeals to youth | Let each child choose their stone and a safe place to keep it |
| Family is anxious about spills and ‘gross; ashes | Solidified remains remove the fear of spills and visible ash eliminating mess-related stress | If families are still hesitant about remains, suggest keeping stones in a small, contained display as a first step |
| Family is planning a travel scattering or a memorial trip | Stones can travel easily and be left in meaningful places, subject to local laws | Bring a small pouch with stones on your trip. Leave them in locations that meant something to your loved ones. Keep a few at home as an anchor. |
How Parting Stone Works with Opal Cremation
Opal Cremation of Southern California makes working with Parting Stone easy. Here’s how the process works:
- Select Parting Stone as an add-on to our cremation package. You can also order Parting Stones through Opal if you ordered cremation through another provider.
- Opal will coordinate logistics and guide you through the process.
- We will handle all communication with Parting Stone and ensure your order is completed to your specifications.
Why Order Parting Stones Through Opal Cremation
- One Trusted Team from Start to Finish: Opal is your single point of contact, coordinating all details with Parting Stone so you don’t have to juggle multiple companies while grieving.
- Expert Guidance with a Simplified Process: As a licensed cremation provider that’s worked with Parting Stone for years, Opal helps you navigate your design choices, paperwork, shipping, and tracking to create stones that fit your budget, timeline, and your loved one’s story.
- Secure Care and Ethical Standards: Your loved one’s ashes will be handled with the highest standard of care and chain of custody. Both Opal and Parting Stone use vetted partners and audited supply chains to ensure quality ethics every step of the way.
- Deeply Personal, Transparent Parting Stone Creation: Parting Stone offers a wide range of shapes, textures, and colors, which are guided by the decedent’s unique characteristics. Step-by-step tracking guides optimal transparency.
Chain of custody is the step-by-step process cremation providers like Opal use to track remains from the moment they are transferred into our care until ashes are delivered to the family. They confirm the decedent’s identity, keep a person’s remains separate from others, and log every transfer for optimal transparency.
When you work with Parting Stone through Opal, you get a reliable chain of custody from the morgue or hospital to our crematory, to the Parting Stone facility, ensuring the ashes truly belong to your loved one and only your loved one. We use that same oversight with all of our Parting Stone customers, whether they use our crematory or not.
What People Are Saying About Parting Stone
Opal Cremation partners with Parting Stone because, like us, they are known for their transparency and dedication to customer service. Here’s what their customers are saying about them.
“Thank you for taking such good care of my husband. When his stones arrived, I felt a calm throughout my body that I haven’t felt since I lost him. Knowing I can have him with me puts me at peace whenever I leave the house.”
-Catherine
Thank you for taking care of my FIL’s ashes. The stones will allow my MIL and their grandkids to spread them at all their favorite locations, including on our family vacations to WDW. They all get to keep a piece with them.
-Anonymous
“Like many before me have said, it’s comforting to carry a piece of my son with me wherever I go. I also found it nice when I visit a place or spot that we both enjoyed, and I leave a small stone in a place that blends in with the surroundings, so a piece of him will be there forever. Lastly, it has been a joy to share them with family, and his nieces and nephews have taken their stones and painted and decorated them appropriately.”
-Todd
Order Parting Stone Through Opal Cremation
Opal Cremation is one of the top providers of direct cremation in Southern California, prioritizing transparency with no hidden fees. Our celebration-of-life services are the icing on the cake. We help families explore options such as Parting Stones, cremation jewelry, sea scatterings, cremation fireworks, and much more.
Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive direct cremation services.
FAQs
Can I work directly with Parting Stone instead of through Opal?
Yes, but when you work with Opal, you get a dedicated team to handle secure ash transfer, shipping, coordination, and any questions that arise.
Do I have to use Opal for the cremation to order parting stones through you?
No, you can order your Parting Stones as a standalone service, even if your cremation was done elsewhere. Give us a call, and we’ll get the process started.
How much of my loved one’s ashes are needed to create parting stones?
Parting Stone asks for 100% of a loved one’s ashes to ensure consistency in the number, size, and quality of the stone. However, if you have unique needs and cannot send the full amount, they will accept a ¼ cup.
How long does the process take?
The process typically takes 8-10 weeks from the day the cremated remains arrive at the lab. We will notify you of a more exact wait time once the order is placed.
What happens if something goes wrong, or I have a problem with my order?
You don’t have to chase different companies. Opal will handle everything for you to ensure a smooth process.
I’m not sure a stone is right for me. Can we talk through other options?
Yes, we can help explore options like other types of ash jewelry, cremation diamonds, sea scatterings, and cremation fireworks. As with parting stones, we will guide you through the process to ensure a stress-free experience.
