BURIAL SERVICES

Traditionally, a burial service involves a visitation, followed by a funeral service in a church, or other place of worship.  The casket is typically present at both these events, and it is your decision on whether to have the casket open or not.  You have the option of having the remains interred (earth burial), or it may be entombed in a crypt inside a mausoleum (above ground burial).  Family or religious traditions are often a factor for choosing burial.  Decisions need to be made on whether the body needs to be embalmed, what kind of casket to use, what cemetery to use, and selecting a monument or headstone.

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.  There are countless different types of designs for headstones, ranging from very simple to large and complex. We can help guide and assist you through the monument process. Click Here to learn more about why it is essential for everyone to have a permanent memorial.

   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 most famous mausoleum is the Taj Mahal in India.

   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. 

Burial FAQ

   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. A permanent memorial is also a place for future generations to visit and remember their heritage, and the loved ones that have come before them.

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

   Final disposition must occur within 24 hours of death, although this time frame can be extended if the remains are embalmed, refrigerated, cremated, or placed in a sealed container (as is specified by law).  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 us 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. Some funeral homes may not allow for a public visitation to take place at their facility unless embalming has taken place.  This would be a funeral home policy--not a law. 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 burial space. 

   What are burial vaults and grave liners?

   These are the outside containers into which the casket or urn is placed.  Burial vaults are designed to protect the casket or urn 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 which simply protects the casket or urn from crushing under the earth's weight and keeps the grave surface from sinking in, which may cause a headstone to shift, however, does not protect the casket or urn from the elements.

   Must I purchase a burial vault?

   Most 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.  Most cemeteries require that an outer container be used, but that is a cemetery bylaw situation--and is not a state law.