If your loved one has passed away without making any prior arrangements for their funeral, it can be a challenge to have everything sorted out in a short amount of time.
One very important thing you and your family need to decide before the funeral is how you will lay your loved one to rest. If you decide to have them buried, you’ll then need to choose a cemetery.
Choosing a cemetery to lay your loved one to rest in can be difficult when you’re dealing with grief, and you might not know where to begin and what to look into when picking a cemetery.
These are some important questions you should ask when choosing the right cemetery.
1. What’s the cost?
This is probably the most important question you need to ask before picking a cemetery. Not all cemeteries have the same price, and some may even have hidden costs aside from the base price.
In addition to the plot itself, some cemeteries may charge you for opening and closing the grave as well as maintaining it in the long run. In some cases, cemeteries will even charge more for plots with better views.
Since you have a short span of time to manage your finances for the funeral, asking about these costs is important so that you can plan out your budget.
2. What kinds of cemetery plots are available?
Usually, cemeteries offer different kinds of plots of varying sizes in different locations. For instance, if you choose to have your loved one cremated, you can have their ashes buried in a small-sized plot, while caskets are buried in larger plots.
If your loved one wished to be buried in a particular type of plot, you should ask the cemetery about what types of plots are available. You may also need to visit the cemetery to see the plots for yourself before making your choice.
3. What kinds of monuments are allowed?
Some cemeteries have rules about what kinds of monuments are allowed for graves. If you want to honor your loved one with a headstone or a special monument, make sure to ask the cemetery about the kinds of monuments they allow.
Having a monument made can be expensive, so it’s important to find out beforehand if the monument fits the cemetery’s policies to avoid spending time and money to redesign it.
4. Who will be responsible for the upkeep of the grave?
Even after the funeral, you’ll want to continue giving your loved one the same care you gave them in life by making sure their grave is properly maintained. Many cemeteries have employees who will look after the graves, but at some cemeteries, it is the family that will look after the grave.
If you think you and your family will have difficulty managing the maintenance of your loved one’s grave, make sure to ask the cemetery if they can assign someone to take care of the plot for you.
Some cemeteries will charge an annual fee for grave maintenance, so be sure to check with the cemetery regarding the prices.
5. Does the cemetery allow plots to be paid for in advance?
Finding the right cemetery right after the passing of a loved one can be a challenge, and sometimes local cemeteries may not have any available plots.
Ask cemeteries in your area if they allow families to pay for and reserve a plot. This can save you the stress of having to search for cemeteries with available plots and give you more time to deal with your loss and plan other aspects of the funeral.
Ask a funeral home for help with choosing a cemetery
Planning a funeral is a complicated process and finding the right cemetery to lay your loved one to rest in is just one of the many factors involved.
Consider speaking to a reputable funeral home in Pittsburgh to help you decide on a cemetery to make the funeral planning process a little easier for you and your family.
