Burial Services

Burial Services

A traditional burial service usually includes a visitation followed by a funeral ceremony, with the casket often present at both. Whether the casket is open is entirely your choice. You’ll also have decisions to make regarding interment options, embalming, casket selection, choice of cemetery, and the inscription on the headstone.

Cemetery Types

Monumental Cemetery
 This traditional cemetery style features upright headstones or monuments, typically made from granite or marble. These vertical markers come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from simple designs to elaborate memorials.


Lawn Cemetery
 In a lawn cemetery, graves are marked with flat plaques positioned at ground level near the head of the grave. While the layout is uniform, families still have the opportunity to personalize the plaque with selected inscriptions and design elements, often within set guidelines.


Mausoleum
 A mausoleum is a freestanding structure built to house the remains of one or more individuals. Serving as an above-ground burial option, it functions as both a tomb and a memorial, offering a permanent and sheltered resting place.


Columbarium
 Columbariums are specifically designed for cremated remains. These structures feature niches that hold urns, providing loved ones a dedicated place for remembrance, especially for those who choose not to keep or scatter ashes privately.


Natural Cemetery
 Also called green or eco-cemeteries, these burial grounds focus on sustainability and minimal environmental impact. Typically set in natural landscapes like forests or meadows, they avoid traditional headstones, opting instead for natural markers such as stones, plants, or trees.

Burial FAQ

  • What is “opening and closing,” and why is there a charge?

    Opening and closing fees cover a wide range of tasks handled by the cemetery staff. These often include administrative duties like verifying grave ownership, obtaining necessary authorizations, and recording burial details. Physical services may involve locating and preparing the grave, setting up and removing lowering equipment, placing grass mats, backfilling, leveling, and re-sodding the area. This process can include dozens of separate steps.

  • Can I dig the grave myself to reduce costs?

    While it might seem like a way to save money, grave excavation is only one part of the opening and closing fee. For safety reasons and to protect nearby graves, only trained cemetery personnel are allowed to handle the digging and closing of graves.

  • Why is having a memorial site important?

    A permanent place of remembrance gives families and friends a place to honor and reflect. Across cultures, memorials provide emotional support and help bring closure. Psychologists note that such places aid in the healing process by allowing loved ones to maintain a connection while adjusting to loss.

  • What happens when a cemetery has no more space?

    Even when a cemetery is full, it continues to operate—maintaining grounds, serving families, and often offering cremation or memorial services. Some older cemeteries also host guided tours and historical programs.

  • Will this cemetery still exist 100 years from now?

    Cemeteries are generally considered permanent. Around the world, there are burial grounds that have been preserved and maintained for centuries.

  • How soon must a burial take place after death?

    There’s no fixed law requiring burial within a certain time, but factors like permit approvals, family scheduling, religious customs, and site preparation all influence timing. Local health regulations may set limits. Contact your funeral provider for area-specific guidance.

  • Is embalming required before burial?

    Not necessarily. Embalming is often a choice, influenced by whether there will be an open-casket viewing or a delay before burial. It may be required by law if the body is being transported over long distances by air or rail.

  • What burial alternatives are available?

    In addition to traditional ground burial, options may include interment in lawn crypts, above-ground entombment in a mausoleum, or placement of cremated remains in a columbarium niche or cremation plot.

  • What are burial vaults and grave liners?

    These are containers that encase the casket underground. Vaults offer protection and can be made from materials such as concrete, steel, or plastic. Grave liners are simpler versions that help maintain the ground’s surface and prevent sinking.



  • Am I required to use a burial vault or liner?

    Most modern cemeteries require at least a basic liner to support the grave and surrounding landscape. A full burial vault also meets this requirement. Smaller or rural cemeteries may not have this regulation, so it’s best to ask in advance.