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SELECTING A CEMETERY

Selecting a cemetery is an immensely personal decision with ramifications for the individual, next-of-kin, family, the community of mourners, and for future generations. A cemetery must simultaneously honor the decedent in a respectful manner and provide a peaceful and dignified place for visitors and mourners to gather. It must fulfill these functions now and perpetually into the future.

Selecting a cemetery is a difficult process because it is a unique decision that is made only once during a lifetime, the decision tends to have significant associated expense, and the consequences of the decision are not fully known until after a death has occurred.

We recommend that you COMPARE PRICES AND SERVICES.  When planning for services and a final disposition, it is beneficial to compare prices and services to ensure you are getting what you want. Visit websites and multiple funeral establishments to compare services, restrictions, rules, and prices. Decide how much you want to spend. Also, you may wish to compare prices at multiple cemeteries and ask about their endowment care funds and cemetery maintenance standards. Ask for a tour, and if a funeral establishment or cemetery is not being maintained to your satisfaction, take your business elsewhere.

PLOT:

Many factors can impact the cost of a cemetery plot. As you consider the option that works best for your family, it is important to have all the information prior to making final decisions.

We believe the most important factors to consider when selecting a cemetery include:

  • Burial options available

    Geographic location and proximity to family, friends

  • Type of memorialization allowed.
  • Type of care (perpetual and ongoing)
  • Available facilities (staffed office, restrooms, maps)
  • Visitation hours

All agreements made with our cemetery including any purchase, are in writing with copies retained by the customer.  Property purchases include specific burial locations and explicitly define what goods and services are included. Before selecting our cemetery, please review the rules and regulations that govern the rights and limitations property owners are afforded.

CEMETERY COSTS TO CONSIDER

BURIAL PROPERTY PURCHASE

If you choose a traditional burial or burial of an urn, you will need to purchase a cemetery plot or niche unless you are eligible for burial in a veterans’ cemetery.

You should consider:

  1. Prices and options available to you will make the price of burial property and the selection of burial property vary widely within this cemetery.
  2. Your preference and personal choices may affect the price of the burial location as well as the burial services available for each location.
  3. Please be sure to ask about the specific limitations and options available for a property you are interested in.
  4. However, single graves are one price.  Double graves are one price.  The grave costs will go higher if you choose an “upright monument” area.

Niches vary in costs due to size, materials, location inside, location outside, and individual development accommodations which can be very different and specific to an area.  This will affect prices.

Burial in a mausoleum (entombment) involves purchase of a crypt,

Ask if the cemetery will buy the property back if you move out of the area or change your mind.

Burial location will determine the burial arrangement limitations.

ENDOWMENT CARE FEES:

Ivy Lawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home is an endowment care cemetery.  We charge 10% of the property cost as an endowment fee and collect at the time of purchase.  It is a one-time fee.  This will ensure we continue to be able to provide the promised level of care and service.

See Endowment Care Information Agreement.

BURIAL COSTS AND FEES:
There are interment related fees paid at the time a burial is arranged.  This includes a fee for opening and closing any burial property, administration costs and maintenance fees.  See the explanation which shows what this burial fee includes, such as ongoing cemetery maintenance and groundskeeping.

There are other costs related to a burial which will apply to the overall cost of every property and every burial including ongoing cemetery maintenance and groundskeeping, administrative fees, coordination of services with outside professionals, individual requests and or accommodations.

MERCHANDISE
VAULTS ARE REQUIRED.  See Our Outer Container Burial Price List

The law does not require the use of outer burial containers, known as vaults or grave liners.  Typically, vaults surround the casket in concrete or other material. Grave liners cover only the top and sides. Neither prevents the eventual decomposition of human remains.

Ivy Lawn Memorial Park requires use of a vault for every burial to keep the ground from settling after burial.  Costs vary based on materials as well as procedures and equipment used to place it or delivery of a vault.  You do not have to buy the outer container from the cemetery; however, if purchased elsewhere it must meet the cemetery’s size, shape, and material standards.

You must use a vault for every burial.  This is a requirement of this cemetery.  Costs vary based on materials.  See Our Outer Container Burial Price List

MARKERS

You may purchase a marker or monument from this cemetery or another source, but it must meet the cemetery’s standards.  Charges by the cemetery for foundations, setting, or permitting the setting of grave markers or monuments is the same whether you bought the marker or monument from the cemetery or from someone else. Be sure to review the rules and policies of the cemetery before you purchase. This can help avoid misunderstandings and can assist you in making decisions.