Popular Above-Ground Burial Methods

Are you attempting to make the critical decision of where to bury your deceased loved one? Perhaps you object to the idea of burying a loved one underground. Perhaps you believe that traditional burials are harmful to the environment and would prefer a green burial option. As you consider your or a loved one’s final resting place, you may be relieved to know that you have several above-ground burial options. Use this information when requesting funeral quotes from the funeral homes in Eatonville, WA. It’s also worth noting that in the industry, above-ground burial is often referred to as entombment.

Columbarium

A columbarium is a type of mausoleum. Instead of full-sized caskets, a columbarium houses urns containing your loved one’s cremated remains. Some columbarium niches are built inside mausoleums. Others are constructed on the inside of a religious building’s wall. The spaces are denoted by engraved labels.

Sarcophagus

In the United States, a sarcophagus is more likely to be found in a museum than in most cemeteries. A sarcophagus is a stone-carved casket designed to house a body. They were popular in Egypt, Greece, and Rome. They were typically ornately decorated and are now regarded as works of art.

Family-Owned Mausoleum

There are definite advantages to having a family-owned mausoleum. It’s reassuring to know that your final resting place will be close to other members of your family.

The advantage is that once the initial cost is covered, subsequent family members only need to pay a nominal fee to reopen the crypt when other family members die.

Cemetery-Owned Mausoleum

Most families cannot afford to build a mausoleum that costs as much as a small house. Instead, you can choose to be buried in a public mausoleum.

There are two main types of public mausoleums.

• Indoor mausoleums

Indoor mausoleums are buildings that allow mourners to see a wall of sealed crypts. Each crypt has a small plaque with the deceased’s name, as well as their birth and death dates. Indoor mausoleums are usually peaceful and quiet places to visit. Many have benches where visitors can sit. In the background, some have soft music playing.

• Garden mausoleums

Garden mausoleums are a less expensive option for entombment. Survivors cannot visit garden mausoleums because there is no indoor space. The vaults are open to the public, and mourners can visit the crypt as they would a cemetery headstone.

Garden Walls

There are outdoor columbarium niches, just as there are indoor mausoleums and garden mausoleums. These are known as garden walls. Visitors to garden wall niches, like those who visit a cemetery, are exposed to the elements.

Scattering Garden

Scattering gardens are now available in some cemeteries. Survivors can use these gardens to scatter the ashes of their loved ones. Some people choose to scatter their loved one’s ashes in a scattering garden because it provides a place for family members to visit in the future to reflect on their loved one’s life.

There are numerous advantages to above-ground entombment over burial or cremation. Examine the paperwork that your deceased loved one left behind. You might be surprised to learn that your loved one has already purchased a cemetery plot or a mausoleum crypt. Consider looking into the funeral homes in Eatonville, WA for more information on this subject. Visit us right away or call to make an appointment.