Most people are familiar with the concept of burial, or “interment,” but may not be aware of the variety of options that are often available. Many cemeteries offer one or more of the following:
- Ground Burial: burial of the casket or urn below ground. An “outer burial container” – a vault or graveliner – is required at many cemeteries for the interment of caskets.
- Mausoleum, or Community Mausoleum: a large building that provides above-ground entombments which may be indoor or outdoor in nature.
- Private Family Mausoleum: a small structure that provides above-ground entombment of, on average, two to 12 decedents.
- Companion Crypt: permits two interments or entombments side-by-side.
- Private Family Estate: a small section within a cemetery, usually bordered by gates, shrubbery, or other dividers, that allows for ground burial of several members of the same family – sometimes utilized for members of religious orders or faiths or special memberships such as lodges or service orders.