Burial Services

Burial Services

The earliest human burial dates back 100,000 years making it one of the longest-lived and most widespread of traditions. For an overview of the many different burial traditions, check out the websites in the Resources section below.

Understanding Burial Services

We hold the deepest respect for this long-standing tradition. If you would like to learn more about the burial services we offer, we invite you to review the following information. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.


There are several important considerations when deciding on burial for a loved one, whether following a recent loss or as part of funeral pre-planning. One of the initial decisions involves selecting both the cemetery and the specific place of burial within its grounds. You will also need to choose a casket and, in many cases, a burial vault, as these are often required by modern cemeteries. At some point—though not necessarily immediately—you may also wish to select a headstone or marker and determine the wording of the inscription.

A member of our professional staff is available to guide and assist you through each of these decisions, ensuring that every choice reflects your wishes and honors your loved one appropriately.

An Open Invitation

We offer a variety of affordable burial service options to accommodate different preferences and budgets. These range from simple burials, in which a member of our staff oversees the interment, to graveside services led by a minister or celebrant, as well as traditional funeral services followed by burial. Each option may be tailored to meet the individual needs and expectations of today’s price-conscious families.

How to Plan a Burial Service

Burial services, in one form or another, have been an integral part of human communities for thousands of years. Throughout history and across cultures, burial practices have consistently served as a meaningful way to honor the deceased. Graveside services are frequently portrayed in films and television—sometimes solemn, sometimes uplifting, and at times reflective—helping many people develop a general familiarity with their appearance and traditional structure.


However, when the time comes to arrange a graveside service for a loved one, it can be challenging to transform what is only generally familiar into a service that is truly meaningful and deeply personal. This graveside service planning guide is designed to outline the primary steps involved and highlight key topics to consider when meeting with your funeral director.

If you have any questions as you review this information, we encourage you to contact us. A member of our professional staff is available and ready to provide the guidance and answers you need.

What's Involved in Planning 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.

Reasons to Hold a Burial Service

Check mark inside a circle.

Simplicity

Many people today seek greater simplicity in their lives—an approach that is natural, uncluttered, and uncomplicated. This desire is not new, but rather a long-held value reflected throughout history. Religious traditions such as Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Quaker orders have long emphasized a simple and sincere way of life. At its core, this longing reflects a focus on what matters most, and the simplicity of a graveside service honors that principle by placing attention on remembrance, reflection, and meaning.

Outline of a pine tree.

The Natural Setting

What more fitting setting to honor the life of a loved one than beneath the open sky, surrounded by trees and flowers? Regardless of the type of cemetery where burial services are held, the natural surroundings often provide a profound sense of emotional and spiritual comfort for those in attendance.

Black and white icon of a church with a cross on top, front door, and side seating.

Religious Requirements

For many families, the choice of burial is rooted in deeply held religious beliefs. Within Christianity, the belief in the resurrection of the body leads many to view burial as an important act of faith and religious observance. Jewish and Islamic traditions likewise maintain strong religious and cultural commitments to burial, making it a meaningful and essential component of their final rites.

Black outline of a person.

The Importance of Witnessing

As noted earlier, burial has been an integral part of human societies across all eras and cultures. This enduring relationship has shaped a widely shared belief: burial is a profound act of respect, and its meaning is often deepened when it is witnessed by family, friends, and the community.

When it comes time for you to make final care arrangements on behalf of a deceased family member you may be surprised to learn of the benefits of well-crafted burial services. During the arrangement conference with a funeral director you'll have the opportunity to discuss the features and benefits of graveside services and look at the top three reasons why families choose a graveside service:

Selection of Cemetery & Burial Property

Before proceeding further, it is important to note that a burial plot or mausoleum crypt may have already been selected and purchased by a family member. In some cases, a distant relative may have acquired a larger family section within a local cemetery for future use. In either situation, it will be necessary to obtain the appropriate documentation confirming ownership of burial rights and bring those records to the initial meeting with the funeral director.

If no such arrangements have been made, the family will need to select a cemetery and purchase burial property. While today’s families often have access to a wide range of information, the purchase of cemetery property is not a common transaction for most people. For that reason, the following information may be helpful:

  • When purchasing cemetery property—such as a burial plot, mausoleum crypt, or columbarium niche—you are acquiring the right of interment, not ownership of the land itself. The cemetery retains ownership and responsibility for the property.
  • A portion of the purchase price is typically allocated to an irrevocable perpetual care fund, which supports the ongoing maintenance of the cemetery grounds.
  • Burial and future visits to the site are governed by the cemetery’s specific rules and bylaws.
  • The cost of burial property varies widely, depending on the cemetery and the specific location of the plot, crypt, or niche. While resale opportunities may occasionally be available, these options are often impractical when arrangements must be made within a short time frame.

In addition to the cost of burial property, other expenses may apply, including cemetery fees for the opening and closing of the grave, the purchase and installation of a headstone or marker, and the selection of a casket and burial vault.

Because we maintain strong working relationships with local cemetery administrators, we are well positioned to assist families with this portion of the process. We invite you to contact us to begin, and a member of our professional staff will be pleased to provide guidance and support.

Choosing a Casket & Vault

It is often noted that the casket represents the single largest expense associated with burial arrangements. While this is frequently the case, the purchase does not need to exceed what is comfortable for your family. We offer a broad selection of affordable caskets and burial vaults and work closely with families to ensure the cost of a graveside service remains within budget.


Beyond cost considerations, the choice of a casket is largely a matter of personal preference. Families may select from fine hardwood caskets—including walnut, cherry, maple, oak, pine, and other species—or from metal caskets available in various gauges and finishes. Rather than feeling uncertain about which option is most appropriate, we encourage you to rely on our experience and guidance. Our knowledgeable staff is available to assist you in selecting the casket and burial vault that best meet your needs. We invite you to call us or visit our office for personalized assistance.

Planning a Meaningful Graveside Service

The details of a graveside service are shaped by your family’s intentions and emotional needs. If simplicity is your primary focus, the service may differ significantly from one guided by religious tradition or formal ceremony. Each service is thoughtfully designed to reflect what is most meaningful to those involved.


While some families view a graveside service as a simplified version of a traditional funeral—often led by clergy with familiar prayers or hymns—we encourage you to approach the planning process with an open mind. Doing so allows for greater flexibility and creativity in honoring your loved one. Together, we will determine an appropriate date and time, and thoughtfully select readings, music, and any other elements that best reflect their life and legacy.


We will also discuss who you would like to officiate the service. This may include your funeral director, a member of the clergy, a celebrant, or a family member or close friend. While selecting the cemetery and burial site involves practical considerations, planning the service itself is where personal reflection and heartfelt remembrance take precedence.


Your funeral director will take the time to listen and learn about your loved one—who they were, what mattered to them, and how they will be remembered. Through this careful and compassionate process, we strive to create a graveside service that honors their life with sincerity, dignity, and meaning.

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 at 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.


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