Placing a loved one’s cremated remains into an urn is something most families have never had to do before. It is understandable to have practical questions: How does the urn open? Do I need to pour the ashes inside? What tools do I need?
With a StillWood Memorial urn, the process is intentionally simple. You do not need any special equipment, and in most cases, you will never need to handle the cremated remains directly.
Every StillWood Memorial urn includes the items needed to complete the process: a heavy-duty zip-seal bag, soft velvet bag, flat-head screwdriver, and the solid hardwood urn itself.
Step 1: Open the Bottom of the Urn
Place the urn upside down on a clean, soft surface to protect the wood finish.
The bottom panel is secured with four solid brass slotted screws. Using the flat-head screwdriver included with your urn, carefully remove the four screws and lift away the bottom panel.
There is an important detail hidden beneath those screws.
The screws do not thread directly into the wood. Each one fastens into a threaded brass insert embedded in the solid hardwood. This provides a secure closure while preventing repeated opening and closing from wearing away the wood around the screw holes.
It is a small construction detail, but an important one in a piece intended to last.
Step 2: Prepare the Cremated Remains
Cremated remains are commonly returned by the funeral home or crematory inside a securely closed plastic bag.
If the remains are already contained in a suitable sealed bag, do not open it. There is no need to transfer the ashes.
Simply take the sealed cremation bag and place it inside the velvet bag included with your StillWood urn.
What if the ashes aren’t in a suitable bag?
We have planned for that as well.
Every StillWood Memorial urn includes a new heavy-duty zip-seal bag. If the cremated remains were not provided in a suitable sealed bag, the included bag can be used to securely contain them before they are placed inside the velvet bag.
Make sure the bag is completely sealed before proceeding.
Step 3: Place the Sealed Bag Inside the Velvet Bag
Once the cremated remains are securely contained, place the entire sealed plastic bag inside the provided velvet bag.
Gently fold any excess material at the top so that everything fits neatly.
The velvet bag serves as a soft additional layer between the sealed cremation bag and the interior of the wooden urn.
Most importantly, there is no need to pour loose cremated remains directly into the wooden urn.
Step 4: Carefully Place Everything Inside the Urn
With the sealed cremation bag safely inside the velvet bag, carefully place the entire package through the opening in the bottom of the urn.
Take your time and allow the bag to settle naturally inside.
Once everything is comfortably positioned, place the solid wood bottom panel back into its original position.
Step 5: Secure the Bottom
Reinsert the four brass screws and tighten them using the flat-head screwdriver provided with your urn.
The screws should be snug enough to securely hold the bottom panel in place. There is no need to overtighten them.
Because the screws fasten into metal brass inserts rather than directly into the hardwood, the closure is secure without relying on threads cut into the wood itself.
Once the four screws are secured, the process is complete.
Why We Finish the Inside With Beeswax
There is another detail inside every StillWood urn that may never be seen once the urn is closed.
The interior is finished with beeswax.
We intentionally chose a simple, natural interior finish because this is the space that will hold your loved one’s cremated remains. We wanted the inside to remain as close to the character of natural wood as possible.
For us, it is a small sign of respect.
Even though the interior will eventually be closed and unseen, we believe it deserves the same attention as the exterior.
A Premium Finish on the Outside
For the exterior, we use Rubio Monocoat, a premium European wood finish used in fine woodworking.
Instead of hiding the hardwood beneath a thick, plastic-like surface, the finish allows the natural grain, texture, and character of the wood to remain an important part of the finished piece.
That distinction matters to us because every StillWood urn is made from solid hardwood—not MDF, particleboard, or wood veneer.
When you run your hand across the finished surface, we want it to still look and feel like what it truly is: real wood.
Everything You Need Is Included
We do not want a family to receive an urn and then discover that they need to find a tool, purchase another bag, or figure out how everything is supposed to fit together.
That is why every StillWood Memorial urn comes with:
- Heavy-duty zip-seal bag — available if the cremated remains are not already securely bagged
- Soft velvet bag — holds the sealed cremation bag before it is placed inside the urn
- Flat-head screwdriver — the correct tool for opening and securing the bottom panel
- Solid hardwood memorial urn — with four brass screws, threaded brass inserts, and a beeswax-finished interior
The Process Is Simpler Than It May Seem
If the crematory has already provided the cremated remains in a secure plastic bag, there is usually nothing to transfer.
The entire process is simply:
Open the bottom → Place the sealed cremation bag inside the velvet bag → Fold the excess material → Carefully place it inside the urn → Replace the bottom → Secure the four brass screws.
No special tools are required. There is no need to pour the ashes directly into the urn, and everything you need is included with your StillWood Memorial urn.
We designed it this way because during a difficult time, this part should be simple.