FAQ: Burial Services

First is the purchase price of the "right to use" the burial plot (unlike a real estate purchase, where you buy the land and all the structures on it; here, you are only purchasing what is called the "interment rights" to the land). In addition, there are fees for the "opening" and "closing" of the gravesite; and any fees required to obtain the necessary permits and to maintain cemetery files and records. In addition, there's the fee for using any special equipment (such as a casket-lowering device) and the costs for any other services or items purchased. There's also the headstone or grave marker installation fee and a one-time "perpetual care" (sometimes called "endowment care") fee paid to ensure your loved one's burial site is well-maintained.

This is a question we hear a lot. Many funeral homes suggest (and may even go so far as to require) embalming if you're planning a viewing or visitation. That's because they want the experience to be as good as it can be for those in attendance, and proper embalming can ensure the deceased look their best. But as a general rule, embalming is not necessary or legally required if the body is cared for in a relatively short amount of time. Please contact us for specific state or local requirements.

The Federal Trade Commission states that the average casket costs around $2,000. If you are concerned about casket costs, speak with your funeral director, who can advise you on the most appropriate casket for your situation and your budget.

Today, modern cemetery grounds are well-groomed, with vast expanses of green grass. A burial vault protects this pristine view, ensuring there is no sign of burial plots "settling". Certainly, the vault also protects the casket; but the primary role of a burial vault is to protect the beauty of the cemetery environment.

Suppose your loved one has not made previous arrangements for their burial, leaving you to pick the location of their interment. In that case, the first thing you'll need to do involves the selection of the cemetery and burial location within the grounds. You'll also choose the most suitable casket and burial vault, and provide us with the clothing you'd like your loved one to wear (and any 'special items' you'd like us to place in the casket). Once payment is made, the date and time of interment is agreed upon. At that time, the cemetery groundskeepers will take care of the "opening" and "closing" of the grave and the proper placement of the casket in the burial vault.

In a traditional burial, the deceased is placed in a casket and laid to rest in a plot of land, usually within a cemetery. This option allows for a more natural return to the earth and is often chosen for its sense of tradition and the ability to visit and maintain a gravesite.

Entombment, on the other hand, involves placing the casket in a mausoleum or an above-ground structure, such as a crypt or niche. This option provides a more protected environment for the deceased, sheltering them from the elements. Entombment can be a suitable choice for those who prefer an indoor setting.

The cemetery will put a temporary identification marker on your loved one's grave. Still, it is only intended as a placeholder until a permanent headstone or grave marker is set in place. Without one, your loved one's burial site will, when this temporary marker becomes illegible or is somehow removed, appear "unmarked."

We, and the cemetery where your loved one will be interred, have strong working relationships with trusted monument companies. When you are ready to order a headstone or grave marker, we will come together to orchestrate its selection, manufacture, and placement. Speak with your funeral director to get the details.

When we make arrangements for the direct burial of an individual, we are expediting their interment. There will be no funeral, memorial service, or celebration-of-life; instead, we provide the physical care of the deceased (perhaps embalming their body, but certainly dressing and casketing) and then escort the casket to the cemetery for immediate burial.

It's very hard to know without having the opportunity to speak with you. Direct burial works well when there are few mourners or if your loved one's wishes were for a simple interment. It's done quickly and professionally, without a ceremony of any kind. With that said, what do you think? Does direct burial feel like the right course of action for you? Speak with a funeral professional to further explore the idea.

Your funeral director will complete and file the death certificate, obtain signatures on any required permits or authorizations, and helps you select a cemetery in which to inter your loved one, as well as a casket and burial vault. They will oversee the physical care of the deceased: they will be dressed in clothes you've provided (or purchased from us), casketed, and then escorted to the cemetery for immediate burial. This same individual will witness the burial and provide you with copies of all pertinent papers for safekeeping.

Rather than having a service in a church or funeral home chapel, and then adjourning to the cemetery for the burial; some families choose to gather solely at the cemetery. There, they are led through a ceremony prepared by a clergyperson or celebrant and witness the in-ground committal of their loved one's casket. If the idea of a graveside service appeals to you, speak with your funeral director about your options.

Some of the things you'll discuss with your funeral director involve purchases made from outside vendors, and you will be asked to pay for those items at the time of the arrangement conference. One of the most common is the fee charged by a newspaper to print your loved one's obituary. Another cash advance charge could be for clergy or musician's fees, floral arrangements, and reception necessities, such as food/beverage, or facility rental. Your funeral director will provide you with a detailed invoice for all cash advance items.

The exact answer to this question largely depends upon the services, products, and cemetery you've selected; but a good rule of thumb is to expect to pay at the time the service contract is signed (at the time of the arrangement conference, or soon afterward). Speak with your funeral director to learn more.

Yes, pre-planning proves to be a beneficial approach in guaranteeing that your desires are respected and in reducing the strain on your family members. You can establish your preferences by conversing with a funeral director and organizing the required arrangements ahead of time.

We're tempted to answer this with another question: who would you like to write it? Perhaps you'd like to ask a friend or family member to do so; maybe you're thinking it's something you would like to do. Or perhaps you'd rather turn the duty over to your funeral director. They are experienced in obituary writing and would be delighted to relieve you of the task; so don't hesitate to ask them to craft a suitable obituary.