Dealing with loss is never easy, but carefully choosing your loved one’s final resting place and commemorating it with a beautiful headstone can provide some comfort. These days, there are several burial options available, which can make deciding overwhelming. This overview describes a few common service types to help you make a selection.

Traditional In-Ground Burial

This is the most common type of burial and places the casket into a designated gravesite, giving the deceased’s loved ones a set location to visit and pay tribute. Graves are marked with engraved memorials, such as monuments, headstones, or flat grave markers.

Cemeteries often allow families to buy a single plot for one individual, companion plots beside each other or with double-depth for couples, and family plots that make it possible for several loved ones to be buried together. Discuss these options with close relatives and consider everyone’s preferences and family traditions. It’s also helpful to speak with a funeral director to learn the various rules and regulations of local cemeteries.

Alternative Burial Methods

Some families choose above-ground burials, which have coffins housed in private or community mausoleums or lawn crypts. Community mausoleums are open to anyone. Since these structures entomb the deceased indoors, they keep the burial site protected from the elements and allow loved ones to visit in any weather. Your funeral home can determine if a mausoleum is available in your chosen cemetery.

Green burials have also become popular in recent years. They don’t require caskets, embalming fluids, or burial vaults, placing remains directly into the ground so the body can decompose naturally. This option is considered more eco-friendly since it reduces potential environmental contamination from embalming chemicals. It’s a unique way to honor a lost loved one who felt a deep connection to nature or was actively involved in environmental work during their lifetime. 

If you’re in charge of planning a loved one’s burial, the compassionate staff at Derrick Monument Company, Inc. will help you create the perfect headstone to honor them. This family-owned and -operated business has created meaningful remembrances for families in Genesee County, NY, since 1915. They offer a variety of high-quality and attractive products you can customize to reflect your loved one’s unique life. Call (585) 768-8470 to schedule a consultation, or visit them online to learn more about their services.