Why a cemetery?
The idea of honoring
our loved ones at their permanent resting place is a time-honored tradition.
Whether it was the ancient Egyptians constructing the pyramids, the erection of
a grand private mausoleum, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington
Cemetery, or a simple burial space with a marker, the idea of a dignified
burial for our deceased loved ones is an important tradition. We
care for these places and visit them to remember and feel connected to this
special person in our lives. A cemetery provides a peaceful environment for our
loved ones to rest and for us to honor their memory.
Cemetery
Property Options
Like funeral homes,
cemeteries can provide many dignified options for a family, depending on their
personal taste and budget. You can select individual burial spaces for a casket
or urn (if selecting cremation) or a group of spaces for multiple family
members. The options are varied and will depend on the individual cemetery’s
offerings and available inventory.
When selecting a
cemetery, you may want to seek personal recommendations from friends, business
associates, your clergy or a funeral director. Be sure to inquire with the
cemetery representative as to their maintenance practices, whether it is a
“perpetual care” cemetery (a portion of the purchase price is placed into a
fund for the upkeep of the cemetery) and any other pertinent rules or
regulations regarding: flower placement, allowing upright monument and/or flat
markers, special seasonal decorations on graves, etc.
Depending on the
individual cemetery’s design and availability, some of your property options
may include:
- Single-Depth Burial Space – Utilized for one person. The cemetery
will have a policy regarding the type of grave marker (flat, or upright) that
can be placed to identify the grave.
- Double-Depth Burial Space – Utilized for two persons. The space
appears to be the same size as a single burial space, but the grave is deeper
than normal. The first person is placed at a deeper than normal depth and the
second person is buried at a normal depth on top of the first.
- Family Lot – An area designated for multiple family members. The
cemetery can provide options as to the number of burial spaces contained within
the family lot.
- Lawn Crypt – This is similar to a typical burial space and may be
single or double depth. There is a concrete grave liner (crypt) already placed
in the ground where the casket will rest.
- Mausoleum – A building designed for above-ground placement of the
casket. The casket is placed into a crypt that may be designed for one or two
persons. The mausoleum may be outdoors or inside a climate-controlled building.
- Private Estates – Available in a wide variety of
offerings, depending on the cemetery. This would typically be a private
mausoleum building or a private grouping of burial spaces contained within a
designated area. Some cemeteries offer custom-designed family estates built to
your specifications.