Burial, explained.
The choices that come with it, the costs that come from the cemetery, and what your faith may ask.
About 2 minutes to read
Burial is the oldest choice, and still the one many faiths ask for. The body is laid to rest in a cemetery, often after a visitation and a funeral, in a place family can return to.
The choices that come with it
The casket
Wood or metal, simple or ornate. Some traditions ask for a plain wood casket or a shroud. You can also buy one somewhere other than the funeral home.
The place
A cemetery plot, a family plot, a crypt in a mausoleum, a natural burial ground, or a national cemetery for eligible veterans.
The marker
A headstone or a flat marker, and the words on it. Many families decide this later.
Read more: what happens, step by step
- The body is cared for. Embalming if there will be a viewing; otherwise refrigeration is usually enough.
- A visitation, if you'd like one, so family and friends can gather and say goodbye.
- The funeral, at a place of worship, the funeral home, or another place that matters.
- The committal, a short service at the graveside, and then the burial.
Costs that come from the cemetery
Burial has costs beyond the funeral home, and families are often surprised by them. Your plan's estimate includes them.
- The plot, or a space in a mausoleum
- Opening and closing the grave
- An outer burial container. Many cemeteries require one so the ground doesn't settle.
- The marker, and often a fee to set it
What your faith may ask
Orthodox Christianity, Judaism and Islam ask for burial, often soon after death and with a simple casket or shroud. The Catholic Church prefers burial, and most other Christian churches welcome it.
In your plan, you’ll decide
- The cemetery, or a plot you already own
- A casket, and whether to have a viewing
- A headstone or a flat marker, and the words on it
- A graveside service, or a funeral first
Make it part of your plan.
We'll open the planner with burial chosen. Nothing is saved until you choose.