The Parting Stone process produces 40-80 stones per cremated remains of a person. The service is available for pets too. Photo via Parting Stone

The stones fit comfortably in the palm of your hand — smooth, tangible, each one unique.

They’re also your loved one.

As many Central Valley families place flowers and photos on their Dia de Los Muertos altars, one startup company is offering an unconventional way to remember our dearly departed.

Santa Fe, New Mexico-based Parting Stone launched in 2019, transforming cremated remains into solid stones that families can hold, share and display. The company appeared on the television show “Shark Tank” in 2023, securing an investment from Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary. It has served more than 12,000 families across the United States and Canada — including right here in the Central Valley.

It was on a Friday when officials with Sterling & Smith Funeral Directors met with representatives from Parting Stone, which offers its service through funeral homes as well as direct to consumers.

That next Monday, a family that had recently lost their college-age son noticed some of the sample stones left in the conference room. They were intrigued by the idea and started asking questions, said Tina Marquez, arrangement counselor at Sterling & Smith.

That’s how Sterling & Smith began to offer Parting Stone’s services at the beginning of 2025, joining more than 1,000 funeral homes nationwide that provide the cremation alternative. 

The service is also available for pets.

Parting Stone worked with Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop the process that produces 40-80 stones per person. The process takes two to three months and costs upwards of $1,500 — making it a premium option compared to traditional cremation, Marquez said.

“It is a little on the pricier side, an additional cost to the funeral,” Marquez said. “People are intrigued, but families in a struggling time who haven’t preplanned for extra expenses” may find the cost prohibitive.

A handful of families have used the service at Sterling & Smith, Marquez said. Yost & Webb Funeral Home is the only other place in Fresno offering Parting Stone.

For families who choose the service, the appeal is clear.

“The fact that they can share their loved ones, and something tangible to hold in their hand versus an urn — it’s more of a touchable product,” Marquez said. “I think they feel closer to their loved one.”

Each stone is unique, varying in shape, size and color based on the deceased person’s body chemistry. The stones arrive in airtight packaging and can be packaged by the funeral home in a velvet bag for storage.

Marquez said the family shared the stones with their son’s college friends.

Parting Stone recently announced a new pre-need planning option, allowing individuals to arrange and pay for the service in advance.

With U.S. cremation rates now exceeding 60% according to the National Funeral Directors Association, funeral homes like Sterling & Smith are responding to families seeking personalized memorial options.

“It is different. It’s not for everyone,” Marquez acknowledged. But for the families who choose it, the stones provide a tangible connection during grief.