“Extending The Life Of A Cemetery”
With many of the older cemeteries in our community reaching their capacity for ground burials and the rate of cremation continuing to rise, it is time for cemetery administrators to offer families new and meaningful memorialization options that will not only extend a cemetery’s life but generate much needed new revenue for its operations.
Current Options
The options currently available in local cemeteries for the final disposition of cremated remains include:
Interring an urn in a family plot: Even when there is no longer room for a casket interment, an existing plot can accommodate the interment of several urns. Depending on the size and location of existing or proposed monuments, a single grave should be able to accommodate a minimum of three urns.
Urn plots: For those who prefer traditional earth burial of cremated remains, but do not have or wish to use a family plot, some cemeteries have single or double urn plots set aside. Each plot is approximately 2ft square, is excavated to a depth of 2ft and usually accommodates the interment of one urn.
Regular plots: Rather than urn plots, some cemeteries only offer regular plots for the burial of urns. Again depending on various factors, a regular plot should be able to accommodate a minimum of three urns.
Columbarium niches: To date, only one local cemetery offers columbaria niches. A niche is a recessed compartment designed for the permanent placement of urns. A structure housing an arrangement of such niches is called a columbarium. The columbarium in St. John’s is located at the Anglican Cemetery, Forest Road. There are two free-standing structures each housing 48 niches measuring 12”X12”X12”. Each niche can accommodate one or two urns and has a closed granite front where an inscription is placed. With the exception of a few niches on the bottom row, all remaining niches in the first columbarium (east) which was dedicated in 2000, have been sold.
New Options
All cemeteries have a number of areas that are not suitable for ground burials but could be transformed into a beautiful garden or picturesque setting. These areas could be around a large tree, monument or other structure or a watercourse, such a small pond or stream. Various types of cremation memorialization suitable for these areas include:
Cremation Gardens: These can be large or small areas that are designed specifically to suit the property’s unique features and topography. They may include brick walkways, clusters of free-standing columbaria structures and/or walled units along its boundary. Seating areas with benches, trees, boulders, statuary, fountains and ponds may also be included as well as shrubs, plants and flowers indigenous to the area.
Scattering Gardens: These are areas within the boundary of the cemetery where cremated remains may be scattered. The cremated remains are usually spread under a sod about 1ft square which is folded back to accommodate the procedure.
Individuals whose cremated remains are scattered in this way may be identified on cast bronze plaques or granite walls that are erected in close proximity to the garden. Other structures such as sculptures or memorial benches are also donated by families in memory of their loved one. Scattering gardens can also be incorporated into cremation gardens.
Ironically scattering is not permitted in any of our local cemeteries as it conflicts with Christian teaching which specifies that burial of cremated remains in consecrated ground should be the first option.
As a compromise, some families choose to segregate the cremated remains into two or more containers with one being buried or placed in a niche and the contents of the other scattered.
Even when scattering all of the cremated remains in remote areas on land or in water, family members can still erect a permanent marker on a family plot or place the deceased’s name on an existing family monument. A living memorial, such as a tree, suitably identified with a plaque could also be placed in the cemetery.
Urn Cremorial®: A cremorial is a decorative cast bronze structure containing two permanent self-locking cannisters per opening that are used to hold cremated remains. Each cremorial unit is custom designed for either in-ground or above ground installation. They are manufactured exclusively by Matthews International Corporation located in the United States.
Mathew’s cremorial units are manufactured using a cast bronze decorative face which is framed with a cast bronze trim. Each unit opening is covered with a 10”X10” blank cast bronze scroll which is replaced with an inscription scroll at the time of need. The cannisters are plastic with a 213 cubic inch capacity. They are held in place by a stainless steel support attached firmly around the cannister.
After placing the cremated remains in the cannister, the cannister and support unit is slid through the opening in the cast bronze front of the cremorial. The top of the cannister is then covered with the inscription scroll.
The cremorial units are available in various standard sizes. For example, a 26 ½” X 26 ½” in-ground unit can hold 8 cannisters. This means that the cremated remains of 8 family members can be placed in this cremorial. A regular plot, which measures 30”X 84” can hold 42 cannisters.
For above-ground installations the cremorial units can be installed in a planter or raised bed. The unit is then bolted to a concrete foundation. As the cremorial is generally installed before need, blank cast bronze background scrolls are provided for each opening. At the time of need, an inscription scroll is then installed.
Although there is a space for two inurnments in a cremorial, it can be used as an individual memorial with one family name and dates or a companion with two different names and dates. The death dates are added at the time of need.
Family Estates: Above-ground vertical cremorials that are framed with granite and placed on a granite base are also available. They are quite similar to a traditional monument but contain two or three urn cremorials that can house the cremated remains of four to six family members. Referred to as family estates, they are free-standing and can be placed anywhere in the cemetery.
Memorial Benches: These are granite benches placed on a matching granite base that contain columbarium niches to accommodate up to four urns. The niche front which may be granite or bronze can be inscribed with a family name, epitaph or verse and an array of décor. For greater personalization emblems, vases and ornamentation can be added. A memorial bench can be placed anywhere in a cemetery and used not only as a final resting place but a place of solitude to sit and remember your loved one.
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