How
soon
after or long after a death
must an individual be buried?
This
may vary by state so check with your local funeral director.
Considerations include the need to secure all permits
and authorizations, notification of family and friends,
preparation of cemetery site and religious considerations.
Some states have limitations on the maximum length of
time allowed to pass prior to final disposition. Consult
your local funeral provider for any applicable regulations.
 Go
To Top
Does
a body
have to be embalmed before it is buried?
No,
embalming is not required for
burial.
It is your choice. It may depend on such factors as
whether the family has selected a public viewing with
an open
casket;
or to enhance the deceased's appearance for a private
family viewing; if the body is going to be transported
by air or rail, or because of the length of time prior
to the burial.
Go
To Top
What
are
the principal types of cemeteries, and how do they differ?
Cemeteries
usually are divided into two broad categories: traditional
cemeteries and memorial parks or gardens. A traditional
cemetery, the type used for many generations, has upright
monuments,
usually made of stone. Many traditional cemeteries also
have private
mausoleums
for above-ground interment. Because many have functioned
in their communities for over 100 years, traditional
cemeteries typically contain a great deal of history,
such as architecture, statuary and other art, as well
as the personages interred there. They often feature
lush landscaping and impressive greenery.
Memorial
parks and gardens are a newer type of cemetery introduced
about 75 years ago. They are cemeteries without tombstones:
parks and gardens where bronze
memorials
are placed level with the ground to blend with the beauty
of the landscape. They often feature expansive lawns
with a variety of trees, flowering beds and gardens,
as well as fountains, sculpture or memorial architecture.
Some
cemeteries have both traditional upright
monument
sections and garden sections. Both types of cemeteries
may offer above-ground interment in community
mausoleums.
Both traditional cemeteries and memorial parks may be
operated on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis. They
may be owned by an individual or by a corporation. Some
are owned mutually, and many are the property of towns,
counties and religious or fraternal groups. Both may
have chapels, crematories, community mausoleums, mortuaries
or funeral homes and columbariums.
Go
To Top
What
are my
choices in ground burial?
Most
common are single graves and lots composed of two or
more graves. Not all types of graves are available at
all cemeteries. Please check with the cemetery of your
choice for availability of specific graves.
Go
To Top
How
do I
choose the right type of grave?
Because
it is an important question, many things must be considered.
What type of memorial do you prefer? A marker set flat
on the ground? An upright
monument?
How
many burials do you expect to take place? Are you arranging
for yourself or your family? How much do you want to
spend? Answers to these types of questions will assist
you to make the right purchase as graves vary by size,
location and by price.
Go
To Top
What
options
are available besides ground burial?
Besides
ground burial, many cemeteries offer interment in lawn
crypts
or entombment in mausoleums. In addition, some 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.
Many cemeteries now provide for scattering of the remains
in a garden set aside for that purpose, which can include
a plaque memorializing the deceased.
Go
To Top
If
I'm
going to be cremated, why would I want my remains to be
placed in a columbarium or interred or scattered at the
cemetery? Why shouldn't I just have them scattered in
the sea or in some other place of my choosing?
As
long as it is permitted by local regulations, your cremated
remains
can be scattered in a place that is meaningful to you.
This can, however, present difficulties for your survivors.
Some
people may find it hard to simply pour the mortal remains
of a loved one out onto the ground or into the sea.
If you wish to be scattered somewhere, it is therefore
important to discuss your wishes ahead of time with
the person or persons who will actually have to do the
scattering.
Another
difficulty with scattering can occur when the remains
are disposed of in an anonymous, unmarked or public
place. Access to the area may be restricted for some
reason in the future, undeveloped land may be developed
or any of a host of other conditions may arise that
could make it difficult for your survivors to visit
the site to remember you.
Even if your cremated remains are scattered in your
backyard, what happens if your survivors relocate sometime
in the future? Once scattered, cremated remains cannot
easily be collected back up. Having your remains placed,
interred or scattered on a cemetery's grounds ensures
that future generations will have a place to go to remember.
If
remains are scattered somewhere outside the cemetery,
many cemeteries will allow you to place a memorial of
some type on the cemetery grounds, so survivors have
a place to visit that will always be maintained and
preserved.
Go
To Top
Why
is having
a place to visit so important?
Because
it provides a focal point for memorializing the deceased.
To remember, and be remembered, are natural human needs.
Throughout human history, memorialization of the dead
has been a key component of almost every culture.
The
Washington Monument, Tomb of the Unknowns and Vietnam
"Wall" in Washington, D.C., are examples of
memorialization which demonstrate that, throughout our
history, we have always honored our dead. Psychologists
say that remembrance practices, from the funeral or
memorial service to permanent memorialization, serve
an important emotional function for survivors by helping
to 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.
Go
To Top
What
is opening
and closing and why is it so expensive?
Opening
and closing fees can include 50 or more separate services
provided by the cemetery. Typically, the opening and
closing fee includes administration and permanent record
keeping (determining ownership, obtaining permission
and the completion of other documentation which may
be required, entering the interment particulars in the
interment register, maintaining all legal files); opening
and closing the grave (locating the grave and laying
out the boundaries, excavating and filling the interment
space); installation and removal of the lowering device;
placement and removal of 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.
Go
To Top
Can
we dig
our own grave to avoid the charge for opening and closing?
The
actual opening of the grave and closing of the grave
is just one component of the opening and closing fee.
Because of safety issues which arise around the use
of machinery on cemetery property and the protection
of property of adjacent interment rights holders, the
actual opening and closing of the grave is conducted
by cemetery grounds personnel.
Go
To Top
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
Go
To Top
Must
I purchase
a burial vault?
In
most areas of the country, state or local law does not
require that you buy a container to surround the casket
in the grave. However, many cemeteries require that
you have such a container so that the ground will not
sink. Either a grave liner or a burial
vault
will satisfy these requirements.
Go
To Top
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. Since more and more individuals
and families are purchasing their graves in advance,
graves which have been sold will be opened when a death
occurs, markers will be placed and other services will
be provided.
Most
states have laws that require funds to be set aside
from each sale for the long-term care and maintenance
of the cemetery. The amount to be set aside varies from
state to state. Many states require 10 or 15 percent
of the lot purchase price to be placed into an endowment
care fund.
Go
To Top
What
is double depth?
Many
cemeteries either allow for the burial of two caskets
in a grave or have specific sections where this type
of grave is available. Double depth just means that
one casket is placed in the grave at an approximate
depth of seven feet.
When
a second interment is required, the second casket is
placed on top of the first casket at standard depth.
Go
To Top
How
much do graves cost, and why aren't they priced
the same all over?
Grave
prices can really vary. Grave prices are normally set
based on their location. Normally, graves in urban centers
are more expensive than in rural centers because of
the replacement value of land.
In
addition, within the cemetery, grave prices can vary
by the section in which the grave is located. For example,
graves in a "feature" section -- where there
is a central feature such as a sculpture for the benefit
of lot owners in that section -- may be more expensive
than in non-feature sections.
The
number of interments permitted in a grave may also affect
the price, as may the size of the grave. Graves which
allow for a monument are more expensive due to the space
required for the monument.
Go
To Top
What
is entombment?
Entombment
is the interment of human remains in a tomb or mausoleum.
It involves placing a casket
or cremation
urn in a crypt or niche (individual compartment
within a mausoleum or columbarium) which is then sealed.
Go
To Top
What
is a mausoleum?
Historically,
the word mausoleum comes from the large temple-like
structure which was erected by Queen Artemisia in the
ancient city of Harlicarnassua as the final resting
place for her late husband, King Mausolus. Mausolus,
from which the word mausoleum is derived, ruled over
Caria in Asia Minor and died in 353 B.C.
His mausoleum is now regarded as the fifth of the Seven
Wonders of the World. The pyramids of Egypt and the
Taj Mahal in India are other examples of ancient mausolea.
A community
mausoleum is simply a large building designed
to provide above-ground entombment for a number of people.
Sharing
the costs of the mausoleum with other individuals makes
it more affordable than a private
mausoleum. Crypts are designed to hold casketed
remains. Following a casket
entombment,
the crypt is sealed, and a granite or marble front is
attached.
Niches
will accommodate urns containing cremated
remains.
Following an urn entombment, a niche front of granite,
marble, bronze, wood or glass is attached.
Go
To Top
What
are the advantages of a mausoleum
burial?
Mausoleum
crypts are both clean and dry. They offer
a viable alternative for those who simply have an aversion
to being interred in the ground.
Furthermore, with the growing shortage of available
land for cemetery use, mausolea allow for a maximum
number of entombments in a minimum amount of space.
Go
To Top
Isn't
it only for rich people?
In
most cases, the cost of mausoleum
entombment is comparable to the costs of
interment in a lot with an upright
monument.
Go
To Top
Are
there different types of crypts?
Yes.
Single crypts are designed for one entombment only.
There are three different kinds of double crypts: tandem
crypts permit two entombments lengthwise in a crypt;
companion
crypts permit two entombments side-by-side;
westminster crypts permit two entombments, the first
below floor level, and the second above it.
Most
mausolea are built five, six and seven crypts high.
The price of the crypt will depend on its location and
the type of crypt. For example: upper level crypts are
usually less expensive than those located at eye level.
Go
To Top
What
is a columbarium?
A
columbarium, often located within a mausoleum or chapel,
is constructed of numerous small compartments (niches)
designed to hold urns containing cremated
remains.
Go
To Top
What
happens to a mausoleum if there is an earthquake?
Modern
mausoleums
are steel-reinforced concrete structures, covered with
granite or marble. They typically are built to meet
all local building specifications, including those regarding
earthquakes.
Go
To Top
How
does a mausoleum protect the body?
Because
the casket
is placed in a clean, dry, above-ground crypt, the remains
are protected from water and the elements of the earth.
Go
To Top
Can
you actually see the bodies in a mausoleum?
No.
When you visit a mausoleum,
you see the front of the crypt, which typically is made
of granite or marble. The name of the person who has
died, along with their years of birth and death, appear
on the crypt front.
The
casket
rests behind a solid, sealed panel which is placed behind
the granite or marble crypt front.
Go
To Top
How
many people will a crypt hold?
Crypts
come in several sizes. Although "singles"
and "doubles" are the most common, some crypts
can accommodate up to four caskets.
Go
To Top
What
is a tandem?
A
tandem is a mausoleum space designed to accommodate
two caskets
lengthwise.
Go
To Top
How
can a mausoleum help eliminate expenses?
When
you select a mausoleum, you eliminate the need for expensive
vaults and monuments or memorials which almost always
are purchased with ordinary earth burial.
Go
To Top
What
are lawn crypts?
Lawn
crypts are essentially underground tombs, constructed
of reinforced concrete, steel and waterproof materials.
Go
To Top
What
is the difference between lawn
crypts and double depth burial spaces?
Lawn
crypts are pre-set. Double depth burial lots are set
at the time of death.
Go
To Top
May
I make the necessary arrangements in advance?
Yes,
usually all arrangements may be made in advance. When
you plan ahead, you will be able to consider the many
options available. You will have the opportunity to
make an informed decision about your funeral and cemetery
arrangements and the form of memorial you prefer.
You
will be able to make choices that are meaningful to
both you and your family, and you will gain peace of
mind knowing your family and friends will be relieved
of the emotional and financial burden often associated
with making arrangements when a death occurs.
By prearranging
your funeral and cemetery services, you benefit
by purchasing at today's prices, free from inflationary
pressures in the future. Be sure to check whether the
contract of your local provider guarantees prices. Your
cemetery or funeral provider can help you preplan.
Go
To Top
What
happens if I buy cemetery
property here in advance and later move to
another area?
Many
cemeteries now belong to credit exchange programs which
allow for a dollar-for-dollar transfer of services and
merchandise between participating cemeteries. When prearranging,
be sure to ask your local provider about exchange privileges
offered.
Go
To Top
When
I buy a grave do I receive a deed just like
when I purchase other types of real estate?
When
you purchase a grave you are in fact purchasing the
right to designate who may be interred in the space,
rather than purchasing the grave itself, which remains
the property and responsibility of the cemetery. You
also have a right to place a memorial where permitted.
Go
To Top
What
is endowment
care?
A
portion of the purchase price of the grave is contributed
to an endowment care fund. Income from the endowment
care fund is used to provide regular care and maintenance
at the cemetery.
Regular
care and maintenance activities can include: cutting
grass, regrading of graves, planting and caring for
trees, maintenance of water supply systems, roads, drainage,
etc. The minimum amount to be contributed to the endowment
care fund is normally governed by law.
Go
To Top
What
guarantee do I have that Endowment Care will
take care of the cemetery?
While
not guaranteed, endowment care funds are very conservatively
managed. Income from the fund can only be spent on care
and maintenance of the cemetery -- the capital is not
touched. Endowment care funds are governed by laws in
most states for consumer protection.
Go
To Top
Can
I resell my grave?
It
really depends on the rules and regulations of the cemetery
and the laws of the state or province in which the cemetery
is located. While some cemeteries will repurchase graves,
others have laws restricting the resale to a third party.
Go
To Top
Is
cemetery property tax deductible?
No,
the purchase of a grave is not tax-deductible, although
the charitable donation of unwanted grave spaces may
be deductible as an "in kind" charitable contribution.
Check
with a knowledgeable tax advisor for details. Even still,
the grave is purchased in today's dollars, free from
inflationary pressures of the future.
Go
To Top
Will
a cemetery ever be used for something else?
Can the bodies be moved and buildings built?
Communities
afford respect to cemeteries and to the memorialization
which cemeteries provide. In order to protect interment
rights holders, strict rules govern the use of cemetery
lands.
Graves
are normally considered to be sold in perpetuity which
restricts possible re-development.
Go
To Top
In
a hundred years will this cemetery still be
here?
We
think of cemetery lands as being in perpetuity. There
are cemeteries throughout the world that have been in
existence well over a hundred years.
Go
To Top
What
is a disinterment?
What is the process, and why does it happen?
Disinterment
is the removal of the casket containing human remains
from a grave. Laws governing disinterment vary by state
or province. Disinterment may be ordered by certain
public officials without the consent of the grave owner
or the next of kin, for example, as part of a police
investigation.
Individuals or families may also request dis-interment,
if for example they would like to have the human remains
relocated to another grave in the cemetery, to a mausoleum
or possibly shipped to a country of birth.
Disinterment
requires the grave to be opened. The casket containing
the human remains is removed. Depending on the length
of time the casket has been buried, a new casket may
be required. The grave is then closed.
Go
To Top
What
does the government give a veteran in regards
to a marker?
The
United States government provides headstones and markers
for the graves of veterans and eligible dependents anywhere
in the world which are not already marked.
Flat
bronze, flat granite, flat marble and upright marble
types are available to mark the grave of a veteran or
dependent in the style consistent with exiting monuments
at the place of burial.
Bronze
niche markers are also available to mark columbaria
in national cemeteries used for internment of cremated
remains. For more information, see the Department of
Veterans Affairs web site for the National Cemetery
System at http://www.cem.va.gov.
Go
To Top
If
I am a veteran and plan to be buried in a national
cemetery, is my spouse eligible to be buried next to me?
Yes,
a space for your spouse or any other minor children
can be authorized at the time of your death.
Go
To Top
|
