When a loved one has passed, you are presented with several important decisions regarding their burial. From open or closed caskets to traditional earth-burial or entombment in a mausoleum above ground - there is much to consider. Religious traditions and family customs may help guide your choices; yet it can be overwhelming for those left behind when deciding how best to honor the memory of the deceased: what kind of coffin will be used? What cemetery should hold them? And ultimately, which words on any gravestone might most accurately reflect an individual's life story?

Cemetery Types

Monumental cemetery: A monumental cemetery is the traditional style of cemetery where headstones or other monuments made of marble or granite rise vertically above the ground.  Designs for these headstones can range from very simple to large and complex. There is a wide variety to choose from.

Lawn cemetery: A lawn cemetery is where each grave is marked with a small commemorative plaque that is placed horizontally at the head of the grave at ground level.  Families can still be involved in the design and the information contained on the plaque, however, in most cases, the plaques are a standard design.

Mausoleum: A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people.  A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the mausoleum. The Taj Mahal in India is the most famous mausoleum.

Columbarium: Columbarium walls are generally reserved for cremated remains.  While cremated remains can be kept at home by families or scattered somewhere significant to the deceased, a columbarium provides friends and family a place to come to mourn and visit.  Columbarium walls do not take up a lot of space and it is a cheaper alternative to a burial plot.

Natural cemeteries: Natural cemeteries (which can also be called eco-cemeteries or green cemeteries) are a new cemetery style that is set aside for natural burials. These types of burials are motivated by the desire to be environmentally conscience. Natural burials can be performed at any type of cemetery even though they are usually done in a natural woodland area.  Conventional markings such as headstones are generally replaced with a tree or a bush or a placement of a natural rock.

Burial FAQ

What is opening and closing and why is it so expensive?

Generally, the opening and closing fee include a wide array of items done. These include but are not limited to: administration and permanent record keeping which includes, determining ownership, getting permission and any other documentation which may be required, entering the interment particulars in the interment register, maintaining all legal files, the opening and closing the grave which would be locating the grave and laying out the boundaries, excavating and filling, installation and removal of the lowering device, dealing with the artificial grass dressing and coco-matting at the grave site, leveling, tamping, re-grading and sodding the grave site and leveling and re-sodding the grave if the earth settles. Opening and closing fees can include up to and beyond 50 separate services provided by the cemetery.

Can we dig our own grave to avoid the charge for opening and closing?

For safety reasons and the protection of other gravesites, the cemetery grounds personnel are the only ones that are able to perform the actual opening and closing of the grave.

Why is having a place to visit so important?

To remember and to be remembered are natural human needs.  A permanent memorial in a cemetery provides a focal point for remembrance and memorializing the deceased.  Throughout human history, memorialization of the dead has been a key component of almost every culture.  Psychologists say that remembrance practices, from the funeral or memorial service to permanent memorialization, serve an important emotional function for survivors by helping them bring closure and allowing the healing process to begin.  Providing a permanent resting place for the deceased is a dignified treatment for a loved one’s mortal remains, which fulfills the natural human desire for memorialization.

What happens when a cemetery runs out of land?

When a cemetery runs out of land, it will continue to operate and serve the community.  Most cemeteries have crematoriums, and some historic cemeteries even offer guided tours.

In a hundred years will this cemetery still be there?

We think of cemetery lands as being in perpetuity.  There are cemeteries throughout the world that have been in existence for hundreds of years.

How soon after or how long after a death must an individual be buried?

There is no law that states a specific time from for burial.  Considerations that will affect timeline include the need to secure all permits and authorizations, notification of family and friends, preparation of cemetery site and religious considerations.  Public heath laws may have limitations on the maximum length of time allowed to pass prior to final disposition.  Contact your local funeral provider for more details.

Does a body have to be embalmed before it is buried?

No.  Embalming is a choice which depends on factors like if there is to be an open casket viewing of the body or if there is to be an extended time between death and internment.  Public health laws may require embalming if the body is going to be transported by air or rail.

What options are available besides ground burial?

Besides ground burial, some cemeteries offer interment in lawn crypts or entombment in mausoleums.  In addition, most cemeteries provide choices for those who have selected cremation.  These often include placement of cremated remains in a niche of a columbarium or interment in an urn space.

What are burial vaults and grave liners?

These are the outside containers into which the casket is placed.  Burial vaults are designed to protect the casket and may be made of a variety or combination of materials including concrete, stainless steel, galvanized steel, copper, bronze, plastic or fiberglass.  A grave liner is a lightweight version of a vault that simply keeps the grave surface from sinking in.

Must I purchase a burial vault?

Most large, active cemeteries have regulations that require the use of a basic grave liner for maintenance and safety purposes.  Either a grave liner or a burial vault will satisfy these requirements.  Some smaller rural or churchyard cemeteries do not require use of a container to surround the casket in the grave.