Burial Services

The earliest human burial dates back 100,000 years making it one of the longest-lived and most widespread of traditions. We made this page to help you better understand graveside services, as well as how to plan a burial service. If you have any questions or would like to speak to one of our experienced staff, please do not hesitate to contact us today.

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Immediate Burial Service

  • Includes the services of funeral director and staff
  • Transfer of remains to funeral home
  • Dressing
  • Casketing
  • A hearse
  • A graveside service
  • Automotive equipment included is for use within a twenty-five mile local service radius

Traditional Burial Package Service

  • Includes a casket
  • Services of funeral director and staff
  • Transfer of remains to funeral home
  • Embalming
  • Cosmetics
  • Hairdressing
  • Dressing
  • Casketing
  • Use of facilities and or staff services for up to one day of visitation
  • Funeral service and graveside service
  • One register book
  • One hundred memorial folders or prayer cards
  • Twenty-five acknowledgement cards
  • A hearse and a flower car
  • Automotive equipment included is for use within a twenty-five mile local service radius

Immediate Burial Service

This is the simplest type of burial service we offer. Essentially, the fees cover the services of the funeral director and staff, transfer of the body to our funeral home, dressing and casketing of the body, a hearse and graveside service at the cemetery, which can be supervised by our funeral directors if you would like.   

Traditional Burial Package Service

This burial service package involves the most components. It includes a wake/visitation, a traditional funeral that usually takes place at a church, and a procession to the cemetery where the deceased is given a final goodbye. Also, sometimes families choose to hold a reception as a final stage of the funeral service. Click here for a more detailed breakdown of traditional funeral services.

Why Choose a Burial Service?

One of the most common questions we get asked is “why choose burial over cremation?”. If you are undecided we have provided a list of benefits of choosing burial to help simplify your decision. There is a wide variety of reasons why someone would choose burial, however the reasons listed below are what we have found to be the most common. 
Permanent Gravesite to Visit 
One of the main benefits of choosing burial is that it provides a permanent gravesite or mausoleum for families to visit. For many people, having an allotted space at a cemetery where they can physically go to visit their loved one helps with their grieving process. Visiting the grave at the cemetery is considered by some to be a sacred event and allows them to feel a connection to their loved one. For some families, this is a major advantage of burial over cremation.
Traditional
Burial services tend to be the more traditional choice, and if you or your loved one are more conventional, then this would likely be the choice for you. It is very common for people to consider burial the default method of saying goodbye, and honoring their loved one. For most people, when they think of a funeral they generally envision a casketed burial service following the ceremony. 
Follows Religious Requirements 
Another strong reason why people choose burial over cremation is due to the religious beliefs of their loved one. For example, the Christian concept of resurrection of the body is deeply held by many and makes burial a religious act. Jewish families and those practicing Islamic traditions also have strong religious and social commitments to burial.

Natural & Peaceful Setting
Many people find cemeteries peaceful, beautiful, and are just a natural fit as a final resting place. What better place to celebrate the life of a loved one than under the open sky, beneath trees, or beside flowers? No matter the cemetery that your loved one's burial service is held at, the emotional and spiritual comforts of the natural surroundings will be keenly felt.
Body is More Respected
Some people get uncomfortable when thinking about cremation. There is a common misconception that the body is put to fire that makes them feel uneasy. Many do not feel the body gets the respect it deserves through cremation. On the other hand, with burial the body is placed in a beautiful casket, the loved one can be dressed in their nicest attire, and family members can add in special mementos into the casket.
Allows for a Proper Goodbye
For many, a full funeral with a burial service provides the most effective way to mourn the loss of a loved one, get closure, and deal with their grief. Witnessing the coffin being lowered into the ground often gives people the closure they need during that time and is seen by many as a proper goodbye.
Being Alongside Your Loved Ones
Another benefit of burial is that it offers the ability to lay to rest alongside your spouse, family members, or other significant loved ones. For example, if a husband passes away and is buried, his wife will likely be buried beside him so they can be alongside each other for eternity.  

Quite often families choose to prepay for a set of plots so they can all be laid to rest beside each other. When purchasing a burial plot in advance, you can usually purchase a single plot, companion plots, which are typically meant for a married couple, or family plots, which is when a small area of the cemetery is dedicated to one family. This sense of being alongside your loved ones is a strong benefit of choosing burial for some. 

How to Plan a Burial Service?

All reasons aside, let's look at what's involved in planning a burial service. We've broken down the discussion into three areas-of-concern: the selection of cemetery and burial property, choosing a casket and burial vault; and planning the details of the graveside service.
parkville MD cremation services

Selection of Cemetery & Burial Property

Before we get too far into the subject, we should mention that a family member may have already chosen and purchased a burial plot or mausoleum crypt. It's also very possible a distant relative purchased a large section in a local cemetery intended for the future burial of family members. In either of those situations, you'll need to obtain the documents necessary to prove ownership of burial rights and then bring them to the initial meeting with the funeral director.

What if there is no such pre-plan in place? Then you will need to locate a cemetery and select the burial property on your own. And while we know today's consumers are smart and have access to more information about products and services than ever before, we also know that the purchase of cemetery property isn't a commonly-made transaction. For that reason, we offer the following information:
  • Unlike when you purchase a house (where the structure and the land are yours to do with as you like); when you buy a cemetery property, such as a burial plot, mausoleum crypt or columbarium niche; you are merely buying the right to inter (or bury) an individual (or individuals) in that location. The property you now have the rights over remains the property (and the responsibility) of the cemetery administration.
  • A stated portion of the money you pay for these interment rights will be contributed to an irrevocable fund used in the on-going care of the cemetery grounds.
  • The burial, as well as any future commemorative visits you make to the location will be subject to the specific by-laws as written by the cemetery administration.
  • Just like when you buy a house, the cost of burial property rights range widely in price, depending on the exact location of the plot, crypt or niche. If you have time, you can certainly find resale "deals" on cemetery property; but if you're not shopping far in advance of need, this may not be of help to you.
There are other costs involved with the burial of a loved one, such as the fees charged by the cemetery for the "opening and closing" of the site, the headstone or grave marker and its installation, and the purchase of a casket and burial vault.
Because we have strong working relationships with local cemetery administrators, we want to help you with this part of the process. Simply call us to get started.

Choosing a Casket & Vault

You'll typically read that the casket is the single most expensive purchase you'll need to make during this time. And while we can't really disagree with that statement, we will tell you that the purchase doesn't have to cost you more than you can afford. We have a wide selection of affordable caskets and burial vaults to choose from, and will work closely with you to keep the cost of your loved one's graveside service within your family's budget.

The cost of a casket aside, the type of casket you select will be based largely on personal preference. Would you prefer a casket of fine hardwood or metal? There are caskets of walnut, cherry, maple, oak, pine and other species of wood. Metal caskets come in varying thicknesses and a wide array of finishes. We don't want you to guess what's best for your situation; instead we'd like you to turn to us for assistance. We've got the experience to guide you in the selection of the most appropriate casket and vault for your needs. Call us, or make an appointment to stop by.

Planning the Details of the Graveside Service

The details really depend on your motives and emotional needs. If simplicity is your primary focus, then the burial service we design could look very different from one which is guided by religious doctrine.

And while you could think of your loved one's graveside service as a modified version of a typical funeral, with a member of the clergy leading attendees in standard hymns or prayers; we'd rather you let go of your expectations. That way, we can come to the planning process with no limitations to our creativity. Together we'll determine the best date and time for the burial service, and select the most meaningful readings, songs and activities to be featured in their service.

We'll discuss who you would like to lead the event; it could be your funeral director, a member of the clergy, a celebrant, family member, or close friend. Certainly, the selection of the cemetery and burial plot are practical decisions; but planning the service format is where the heart can take over. Your funeral director will sit with you for as long as it takes to bring love and memories into the event. He or she will explore your loved one's life with you to find the essence of who they were, all in the effort to craft a fitting graveside service.

Are You Ready to Talk About Burial Services?

We're ready to listen. In fact, that's what we do best: we not only hear the words, we understand the feelings and the familial dynamics behind them. When you call us for assistance in making the necessary arrangements for a graveside service, you'll discover the value of having an experienced ally committed to serving your family as you would wish to be served.
Speak to a Licenced Professional

Serving families since 1864.

Owns and operates private on-site crematory, bringing peace of mind to those we serve.

Offers spacious rooms and plenty of parking for larger gatherings.

Hand delivery of your loved ones cremated remains (upon request).

Free private preplanning consultations available with flexible payment options.

Quality product and reliable service sourced from other local family owned businesses and suppliers.

Two convenient locations in Nottingham and Kingsville.

No answering service. Speak directly to a funeral director or the owner.

Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Sources:
  1. Wikipedia, "Burial", modified 2014, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burial
  2. National Parks Service, "Burial Customs and Cemeteries in American History", accessed 2014
  3. Funerals & Flowers, "Death and Funeral Customs", 2013