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Our Burial Services

Our Burial Services

There are historical records of human burial being a common practice going back over 1,000 years. You might find some of the links in the Resources area below to be of interest in this regard. 

Understanding Burial Services

A traditional funeral, including burial, is a time honoured practice that is valued by many. Families often have reserved plots or other properties in cemeteries where they are thinking ahead for the final resting place of their loved ones. 

Our staff is always available to assist families with the selection of a suitable casket, possibly a burial vault (depending on the cemetery requirements) and a monument or marker. 

An Open Invitation

We offer a number of affordable burial service options. They range from: simple burials where only a member of our staff oversees the interment; simple graveside services led by a minister or celebrant; and a traditional funeral service followed by burial. Each can be tailored to meet the needs and expectations of today's price-conscious families.

How to Plan a Burial Service

Having a formal or informal burial service is a meaningful way to allow the passing of a loved one to be memorialized. The burial service will help family and friends to respectfully remember with dignity for years to come. In planning for the burial, we will reach out to Cemeteries as well as contacting a celebrant, if needed. 

Reasons to Hold a Burial Service

When it comes time for you to make final care arrangements on behalf of a deceased family member you may be surprised to learn of the benefits of well-crafted burial services. During the arrangement meeting with a funeral director you will have the opportunity to discuss the features and benefits of graveside services and look at the reasons why families often choose a graveside service:

Simplicity: Many people today  want "something simple". For example, Roman Catholic and Christian beliefs/religious orders continue to strive for a simple, sincere approach to life. A graveside services does just that.

The Natural Setting: What better place to celebrate the life of a loved one than under the open sky, beneath trees, or beside flowers? There is often an  emotional and spiritual comfort in a natural surrounding that will be keenly felt.

Religious Requirements: There are profound religious reasons families choose burial services over any other final care option. For example, the Christian concept of resurrection of the body is deeply held by many and makes burial an act of religious ceremony. Jewish families and those practicing Islamic traditions also have strong religious and social commitments to burial.

The Importance of Witnessing:  A burial service is an act of respect, made most meaningful when witnessed and remembered.

What's Involved in Planning a Burial Service?

Let us look at what is involved in planning a burial service. There are three areas to consider: the selection of cemetery and burial property, choosing a casket and burial vault and planning the details of the graveside service.

Selection of Cemetery and Burial Property

Before we get too far into the subject, we should mention that a family member may have already chosen and purchased a burial plot or mausoleum crypt. It's also very possible a distant relative purchased a large section in a local cemetery intended for the future burial of family members. In either of those situations, you will need to obtain the documents necessary to prove ownership of burial rights and then bring them to the initial meeting with the funeral director.

What if there is no such pre-plan in place? Then you will need to locate a cemetery and select the burial property on your own. And while we know today's consumers are smart and have access to more information about products and services than ever before, we also know that the purchase of cemetery property is not a commonly-made transaction. For that reason, we offer the following information:
  • Unlike when you purchase a house (where the structure and the land are yours to do with as you like), when you buy a cemetery property, such as a burial plot, mausoleum crypt or columbarium niche, you are merely buying the right to inter (or bury) an individual (or individuals) in that location. The property you now have the rights over remains the property (and the responsibility) of the cemetery administration.
  • A stated portion of the money you pay for these interment rights will be contributed to an irrevocable fund used in the on-going care of the cemetery grounds.
  • The burial, as well as any future commemorative visits you make to the location will be subject to the specific by-laws as written by the cemetery administration.
  • Just like when you buy a house, the cost of burial property rights range widely in price, depending on the exact location of the plot, crypt or niche. If you have time, you can certainly find resale "deals" on cemetery property; but if you are not shopping far in advance of need, this may not be of help to you.
There are other costs involved with the burial of a loved one, such as the fees charged by the cemetery for the "opening and closing" of the site, the headstone or grave marker and its installation and the purchase of a casket and burial vault.
Because we have strong working relationships with local cemetery administrators, we want to help you with this part of the process. Simply call us to get started.

Choosing a Casket and Vault

You will typically read that the casket is the single most expensive purchase you need to make during this time. And while we cannot really disagree with that statement, we will tell you that the purchase does not have to cost you more than you can afford. We have a wide selection of affordable caskets and burial vaults to choose from, and will work closely with you to keep the cost of your loved one's graveside service within your family's budget.

The cost of a casket aside, the type of casket you select will be based largely on personal preference. Would you prefer a casket of fine hardwood or metal? There are caskets of walnut, cherry, maple, oak, pine and other species of wood. Metal caskets come in varying thicknesses and a wide array of finishes. We don't want you to guess what is best for your situation; instead we would like you to turn to us for assistance. We have the experience to guide you in the selection of the most appropriate casket and vault for your needs. Call us, or stop by our office.

Planning the Details of the Graveside Service

The details really depend on your motives and emotional needs. If simplicity is your primary focus, then the burial service we design could look very different from one which is guided by religious doctrine.

And while you could think of your loved one's graveside service as a modified version of a typical funeral, with a member of the clergy leading attendees in standard hymns or prayers; we would rather you let go of your expectations. That way, we can come to the planning process with no limitations to our creativity. Together we will determine the best date and time for the burial service, and select the most meaningful readings, songs and activities to be featured in their service.

We will discuss who you would like to lead the event; it could be your funeral director, a member of the clergy, a celebrant, family member, or close friend. Certainly, the selection of the cemetery and burial plot are practical decisions; but planning the service format is where the heart can take over. Your funeral director will sit with you for as long as it takes to bring love and memories into the event. He or she will explore your loved one's life with you to find the essence of who they were, all in the effort to craft a fitting graveside service.

Are You Ready to Talk About Burial Services?

We're ready to listen. In fact, that's what we do best: we not only hear the words, we understand the feelings and the familial dynamics behind them. When you call us at for assistance in making the necessary arrangements for a graveside service, you'll discover the value of having an experienced ally committed to serving your family as you would wish to be served.
Sources:
  1. Wikipedia, "Burial", modified 2014, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burial
  2. National Parks Service, "Burial Customs and Cemeteries in American History", accessed 2014
  3. Funerals & Flowers, "Death and Funeral Customs", 2013
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