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BURIAL FAQS
What is opening and closing and Why is having a place to visit so
why is it so expensive? important?
Opening and closing fees can include To remember and to be
up to and beyond 50 separate remembered are natural human
services provided by the cemetery. needs. A permanent memorial in a
Typically, the opening and closing cemetery provides a focal point for
fee include administration and remembrance and memorializing the
permanent record keeping; opening deceased. Throughout human history,
and closing the grave (locating the memorialization of the dead has been
grave and laying out the boundaries, a key component of almost every
opening and closing the interment culture. Remembrance practices
space); installation and removal of serve an important emotional function
the lowering device; placement and for survivors by helping them bring
removal of artificial grass dressing closure and allowing the healing
and remove at the grave site, leveling, process to begin.
tamping, re-grading and sodding the
grave site and leveling and re-sodding What happens when a cemetery
the grave if the earth settles. runs out of land?
When a cemetery runs out of land,
Can we dig our own grave to it will continue to operate and serve
avoid the charge for opening and the community. Most cemeteries
closing? have crematoriums, some historic
The actual opening and closing of the cemeteries even offer guided tours.
grave is just one component of the
opening and closing fee. Due to safety What options are available besides
issues which arise around the use of ground burial?
machinery on cemetery property and Besides ground burial, some
the protection of other grave sites, cemeteries offer interment in lawn
the actual opening and closing of crypts or entombment in mausoleums.
the grave is conducted by cemetery In addition, most cemeteries provide
grounds personnel only. choices for those who have selected
cremation. These often include
placement of cremated remains.
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