Burial Services
Burial Services in Reading PA, Berks County
Most people are familiar with the concept of burial, or "interment," but may not be aware of the variety of options that are often available. Many cemeteries offer one or more of the following:
- Ground Burial: Burial of the casket below ground. A “vault” or “outer burial container” is required at many cemeteries.
- Mausoleum, or Community Mausoleum: A large building that provides above-ground entombments.
- Private Family Mausoleum: A small structure that provides above-ground entombment of, on average, two to twelve decedents.
- Companion Crypt: Permits two interments or entombments side-by-side.
- Private Family Estate: A small section of a cemetery usually bordered by gates, shrubbery, or other dividers that allows for ground burial of several members of the same family.
Burial FAQs
What is opening and closing and why is it so expensive?
Opening and closing fees can include up to and beyond 50 separate services provided by the cemetery. Typically, the opening and closing fee includes administration and permanent record keeping (determining ownership, obtaining permission and the completion of other documentation that may be required; entering the interment particulars in the interment register; and maintaining all legal files); opening and closing the grave (locating the grave and laying out the boundaries, excavating and filling the interment space); installation and removal of the lowering device; placement and removal of artificial grass dressing and coco-matting at the gravesite; leveling, tamping, re-grading and sodding the gravesite; and leveling and re-sodding the grave if the earth settles.
Can we dig our own grave to avoid the charge for opening and closing?
The actual opening and closing of the grave is just one component of the opening and closing fee. Due to safety issues that arise around the use of machinery on cemetery property and the protection of other gravesites, the actual opening and closing of the grave is conducted by cemetery grounds personnel only.
What happens when a cemetery runs out of land?
When a cemetery runs out of land, it will continue to operate and serve the community. Most cemeteries have crematoriums, and some historic cemeteries even offer guided tours. In a hundred years will this cemetery still be there? We think of cemetery lands as being in perpetuity. There are cemeteries throughout the world that have been in existence for hundreds of years.
How soon after or how long after a death must an individual be buried?
There is no law that states a specific time for burial. Considerations that will affect the timeline include the need to secure all permits and authorizations, notification of family and friends, preparation of cemetery site and religious considerations. Public health laws may have limitations on the maximum length of time allowed to pass prior to final disposition. Contact us for more details.
Does a body have to be embalmed before it is buried?
No. Embalming is a choice that depends on factors like if there is to be an open casket viewing of the body or if there is to be an extended time between death and interment. Public health laws may require embalming if the body is going to be transported by air or rail.
What are burial vaults and grave liners?
These are the outside containers into which the casket is placed. Burial vaults are designed to protect the casket and may be made of a variety or combination of materials, including concrete, stainless steel, galvanized steel, copper, bronze, plastic or fiberglass. A grave liner is a lightweight version of a vault, which simply keeps the grave surface from sinking in.
Must I purchase a burial vault?
Most large, active cemeteries have regulations that require the use of a basic grave liner for maintenance and safety purposes. Either a grave liner or a burial vault will satisfy these requirements. Some smaller rural or churchyard cemeteries do not require use of a container to surround the casket in the grave.