Planning a Graveside Cremation Service

With the popularity of cremation continuing to rise, so too is the different disposition methods for the cremated remains. For many years, people would simply store their loved one’s ashes in an urn within their home. However, many families are now opting for a graveside service for the burial of ashes. This option allows friends and families of the deceased to have the body cremated and then hold a formal ceremony where the ashes are buried.

Cremation Graveside Services

Burial or interment are the two primary methods of disposition for cremated remains. Both methods allow for friends and family to gather before the remains are cared for and hold a formal service.

Typically, a graveside service includes many of the same aspects of a funeral service. This includes things like the singing of hymns, a eulogy, prayers, and readings. The service can either be led by a religious officiant or by a loved one of the deceased. During a traditional burial service, the committal is when the casket is lowered into the grave. However, during a graveside committal service for cremation, the ashes are either placed in a columbarium niche or buried in the ground.

Burial

Burying cremated remains can occur in one of two ways. The first is having the ashes spread loosely within the ground. The second option is to bury the ashes in an urn similarly to burying a casket.

If your family would like to spread the ashes, many cemeteries offer community gardens that the ashes can be spread throughout. This is commonly referred to as a scattering garden. Another popular way to spread the ashes are to plant them with a memorial tree or plant. Spreading the ashes has been shown to have many positive effects on the environment including enhancing plant growth. For many people, planting the ashes in a garden or with a tree represents new life and the deceased’s spirit living on through nature.

Burying the cremated remains is quite similar to a traditional burial. With this type of burial, it is important to know that many cemeteries will require you to purchase a cremation vault. This is necessary to help protect the urn, but also prevent the ground from collapsing and keeping the cemetery safe.

Columbarium Niches

A columbarium niche is an above ground structure on the grounds of the cemetery. The structure features a wall where the urn is stored and protected. Once placed within the columbarium, it is sealed in place for eternity. At most cemeteries, the columbarium is found within a mausoleum or a chapel.

Having the urn stored within a columbarium is a popular choice for many families that want to visit the remains to pay their respects. In most cases, the niche within the columbarium in which your loved one is placed is marked with a plaque to identify the remains similar to how a tombstone marks a grave. 

Contact Us Today

If you are ready to start planning a cremation with graveside service contact us at Gill Brothers Funeral and Cremation Services. We serve Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding metro communities. Please visit our Funeral Pre-planning section to learn more and pre-arrange online.