Winnipeg tattoo artist incorporates cremated ashes into custom body art

Cremation Tattoos incorporates ashes into tattoo ink, creating a young sort of souvenir for people grieving the red of a loved i.

Kerri Parnell, the founder of Cremation Tattoos in Winnipeg's Osborne Village, was researching the history of tattooing and learned that early tattoos were done using wood ash. During that research, her grandmother passed away, and it gave her the idea to mix cremated ashes into the ink.

"The first cremation tattoo I did was on myself with my grandmother's ashes," said Parnell.

"It was great 'cause my family allowed me to use her ashes to learn and to bring to places and to experiment."

Parnell said there are other companies outside Canada that make cremation ink, but you have to send the ashes through the mail, and wait weeks for the ink to get back. Parnell said the thought of sending ashes through the mail felt impersonal, so she set out to make her own cremation ink. 

She spoke with scientists, visited crematoriums and funeral homes, and figured out a process to mix the ashes herself.  She said the tattoos have been therapeutic for her clients.

"One of the women who lost her husband, she said she physically carried around his ashes, like, to coffee, to the beach," said Parnell about a previous customer.

"She [tattooed his] motorcycle…and she said 'I'm so grateful I don't have to physically carry him around anymore'."

Sherilyn Lenton she got an Egyptian scarab beetle tattoo on her forearm to memorialize her mother. Coincidentally, she got inked at Cremation on the seven-year anniversary of her mother's death. 

Lenton said she's gotten regular tattoos to honour her mom before, but the cremation tattoo feels different.

"A part of her is now a part of me, and that's permanent, and it makes me feel like she's always there," said Lenton.

Lenton said losing a parent is a difficult time in life, and the cremation tattoo has been therapeutic for her.

"Getting her ashes mixed in with the ink, it makes me feel as close to her as I have been since she passed."

Parnell's cremation tattoos have caught the attention of the palliative care sector in Manitoba. Dr. Bruce Martin is a palliative care provider who wants to offer cremation tattoos to some of his patients who are dealing with loss.

"My clinical practice is influenced by patients I've cared for, but also medical literature," explained Martin.

"There are now references in what we call peer-reviewed medical literature about the importance of memorialization through tattoos."

Martin said adding ashes to regular tattoos can make them even more meaningful for patients.

"A call I had just a couple of days ago was met with a very emotional, tearful response saying 'had I only known'," said Martin about one of his patients. 

"This whole concept of a lifelong link to their loved one is an important consideration."

Parnell is going to a Palliative Care Conference in Manitoba this September, where she'll have a booth set up so she can share information with the sector about the benefits of getting a cremation tattoo.

Cremation tattooing "combines my three favourite things that I love, which is art, spirit and people. So it's just like the perfect recipe for exactly what I want to do."

Cremation tattoos an indelible reminder of lost loved ones

---

---