If I’m going to be cremated, why would I want my remains to be placed in a columbarium, [...]]]> In the National Funeral Directors Association’s FAQ on Cremation, I found an interesting answer to a couple questions that should be considered by those who want their ashes sprinkled in a favorite place after their death and cremation.

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, the 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.

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.

Read the entire cremation FAQ at www.nfda.org

What types of Federal burial benefits are available to veterans, their dependents and survivors of veterans?

The United State Department of Veterans Affairs 2009 Booklet on Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors reads:

Burial in a VA national cemetery is available for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependents at no cost [...]]]>

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What types of Federal burial benefits are available to veterans, their dependents and survivors of veterans?

The United State Department of Veterans Affairs 2009 Booklet on Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors reads:

Burial in a VA national cemetery is available for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependents at no cost to the family and includes the gravesite, grave-liner, opening and closing of the grave, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care as part of a national shrine. For veterans, benefits also include a burial flag (with case for active duty) and military funeral honors. Family members and other loved ones of deceased veterans may request Presidential Memorial Certificates.

VA operates 125 national cemeteries, of which 65 are open for new casketed interments and 21 are open to accept only cremated remains. Burial options are limited to those available at a specific cemetery but may include in-ground casket, or interment of cremated remains in a columbarium, in ground or in a scatter garden. Contact the nearest national cemetery to determine if it is open for new burials and which options are available.

New national cemeteries in Birmingham, Ala., and Sarasota, Fla., are scheduled to open in 2009.

Read the entire section on Federal Burial Benefits at www.va.gov…

When you are purchasing a cemetery plot, consider the location of the cemetery and whether it meets the requirements of your family’s religion. Other considerations include [...]]]> The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has put together a guide to help consumers make smart decisions when making funeral arrangements. Here is an excerpt from their section on Cemetery Sites:

When you are purchasing a cemetery plot, consider the location of the cemetery and whether it meets the requirements of your family’s religion. Other considerations include what, if any, restrictions the cemetery places on burial vaults purchased elsewhere, the type of monuments or memorials it allows, and whether flowers or other remembrances may be placed on graves.

Cost is another consideration. Cemetery plots can be expensive, especially in metropolitan areas. Most, but not all, cemeteries require you to purchase a grave liner, which will cost several hundred dollars. Note that there are charges – usually hundreds of dollars – to open a grave for interment and additional charges to fill it in. Perpetual care on a cemetery plot sometimes is included in the purchase price, but it’s important to clarify that point before you buy the site or service. If it’s not included, look for a separate endowment care fee for maintenance and groundskeeping.

If you plan to bury your loved one’s cremated remains in a mausoleum or columbarium, you can expect to purchase a crypt and pay opening and closing fees, as well as charges for endowment care and other services. The FTC’s Funeral Rule does not cover cemeteries and mausoleums unless they sell both funeral goods and funeral services, so be cautious in making your purchase to ensure that you receive all pertinent price and other information, and that you’re being dealt with fairly.

Read the whole guide at www.ftc.gov…

The forum post comes from Lauralee Smith who asks:

Trying to sell four adjacent cemetery plots. Funeral home suggested Craigslist ads, which I am currently [...]]]> After running across an interesting thread on Ask MetaFilter regarding tips about selling or marketing cemetery plots, I thought some of the advice might be of value to the readers of Cemetery-Plot.com.

The forum post comes from Lauralee Smith who asks:

Trying to sell four adjacent cemetery plots. Funeral home suggested Craigslist ads, which I am currently running with pictures and *very* competitive pricing. No nibbles. Unconvinced that people in the market for such things actually read Craigslist. Need brilliant ideas on how and where to reach potential customers for cemetery plots in greater Seattle area. (Skywriting is out.)

Fellow forum users share some good tips in some of the reply threads that follow her question. Here are a just a few:

• List in Local Want-ads: “My guess it that people looking for cemetery plots in this day and age probably aren’t scouring the internet, but rather, would look in the same place they’d look to find local garage sales. Where i grew up, that was the PennySaver – a nearly free weekly paper full of classifieds and a smattering of local news. Looks like in Seattle it’s the Little Nickel?”
• Donate it for the tax deduction: “If you can’t find a buyer you might consider donating them to a local hospice. You would get a nice tax deduction (if the hospice is a non profit) and the hospice patient with no means to buy a plot would have one less thing to worry about.”
• Go local: “Other funeral homes? Church bulletins? If it is a city or town owned cemetery you could try the town offices. Most certainly the target group reads the local Irish Sports page (The obits page), a small classified placed on that page should do it.”
• Be aware of the local cremation rate: “…As for selling them, the odds are not in your favor. There’s next to no aftermarket for graves in the US, especially for areas with a high cremation rate, and Seattle’s cremation rate is well over 50%.”
• Use an online listing service: “… We are considering using the site [another forum member] linked to, GraveSolutions. (a name which I find quite funny).”

Read the whole forum thread at ask.metafilter.com…

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Questions answered in this video:

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 [...]]]> Source: ICFFA Consumer Resource Guide on Cemetery and Burial

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.

For answers to similar questions, visit the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association’s Consumer Resource Guide.

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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.

What happens if [...]]]> Source: ICFFA Consumer Resource Guide on Cemetery and Burial

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.

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.

For answers to similar questions, visit the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association’s Consumer Resource Guide.

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Questions answered in this video: