Memorial Options

Urns

If you have selected cremation for your loved one, an urn or temporary container will be necessary as a means to hold the cremated remains when they are returned to you. At the funeral home, you may select an urn. Some are elaborate containers worth thousands of dollars and others are quite simple. Urns come in a variety of materials from wood and brass to marble. You can also custom order an urn. If you already own a special container, you may want to use it to hold the cremated remains of your loved one. Take it with you to the arrangement conference to ask if the remains will fit. Consult your local funeral home or mortuary for more information about cremation, memorial urns and statuary, and service options.

Final disposition of cremated remains

There are many options for final disposition when cremation is selected. Many families find comfort in knowing that their loved one is in a permanent resting place. The specific location gives family and friends, as well as future generations, a place to go for reflection and remembrance. The cremated remains can be placed in an urn and kept in a niche at a columbarium. This is called internment. The cremated remains can also be placed in a container and buried in a grave in a cemetery. Another option is to keep the remains of your loved one with you for disposition at a later time. Some couples stipulate in their will that their remains are to be buried together. Newer cemeteries may have a garden area set aside for scattering cremated remains. A small plaque is then put in place to memorialize the deceased. Other families choose to have their loved one's remains scattered over water or in the mountains. The funeral director will know the local regulations on disposing of cremated remains on public land. Consult your local funeral home or mortuary for more information about cremation, memorial urns and statuary, and service options.

Cemetery selection

Selecting a cemetery is a decision that sometimes must be made within hours of a death. Though most plots are purchased from cemetery associations, you can ask for recommendations and suggestions, including pricing, from the funeral director. Plots and cemeteries are available to fit all budgets. In addition to the cost of the plot, you'll be charged a fee for the opening and closing of the grave. Most cemeteries require you to purchase an outer burial container. This not only helps to protect the casket, but more importantly it helps to maintain the appearance of the cemetery when heavy equipment is driven over graves. It is strongly recommended that before you purchase property, you should visit several cemeteries. Notice how the graves and the property are kept up. The ownership of the cemetery will also tell you a great deal about how it is managed and operated. You may find an area that has special meaning, for instance a plot near a flower garden or pond. Some people find it helpful during the grieving process to visit the grave of a loved one regularly. For this reason, it may be important to select a cemetery that is conveniently located and in a safe area of town. Your local funeral home or mortuary can answer most of your questions regarding area cemeteries.

Marker or headstone selection

A permanent memorial not only serves as a lasting tribute to an individual's life, but it also provides future generations with a link to their family's heritage. When you talk to the funeral director about the cemetery plot, you'll also want to discuss a permanent memorial for the grave site. Keep in mind that some cemeteries do not allow upright monuments. Memorials vary from large upright granite edifices to bronze markers placed level with the ground to blend with the beauty of the landscape. Some families prefer more elaborate memorials that feature a bench or a piece of statuary. Some memorials are engraved with the names of the children or a favorite saying or poem. A married couple might purchase a companion memorial if they are to be buried side by side. Keep in mind that elaborate carving or a long inscription will add to the cost of the memorial. If you are a U.S. armed services veteran, you may be entitled to a free marker. Consult your funeral director for more information regarding memorial markers, headstones and statuaries.

Tombs & mausoleums

Entombment is the interment of human remains in a tomb or a mausoleum. The casket or cremation urn is placed in a crypt or niche which is then sealed. Mausoleums have individual compartments called crypts where the caskets are held. Single crypts are designed for one entombment only. There are also double crypts which allow for two caskets to be placed either side by side, lengthwise in one crypt, or on top of each other. Urns are placed in a columbarium which is often located within a mausoleum or chapel. The columbarium is designed with small niches which hold the burial urns. Entombment in a mausoleum offers an alternative for those who have an aversion to in-ground burial. In most cases, mausoleum entombment is comparable to the cost of interment in a lot with a permanent memorial. Following a casket entombment, the crypt is sealed and a granite or marble front is attached. The niche, which accommodates the burial urn, is covered with a front piece made of granite, marble, bronze, wood, or glass. Consult your local funeral director for information about availability locally for these options.