As you consider different options for burying your loved one—or even as you make plans regarding your own final resting place—it’s important to explore all the possibilities. Something that may surprise you is the sheer number of cemetery options that exist.
As you consider different options for burying your loved one—or even as you make plans regarding your own final resting place—it’s important to explore all the possibilities. Something that may surprise you is the sheer number of cemetery options that exist. Not all cemeteries are created equal, and there are several different types of cemeteries worth knowing about.
Religious cemeteries. These cemeteries are owned and operated by a religious group and serve a specific religious community. Generally, these are private cemeteries. In most cases, religious cemeteries require that the deceased observed the religious practices tied to the cemetery. However, the level of religious observation required varies by cemetery.
Public or Municipal cemeteries. In many cities, the government owns cemetery space that is available to the public. The city or county typically maintains the cemetery grounds and burial services are typically performed by a funeral home or outside cemetery service organization.
Natural cemeteries. These cemeteries typically try to minimize the environmental impact of funerals and burials. They might not have traditional granite headstones or brass markers and may instead use trees or rocks to mark graves.
Garden cemeteries. Like natural cemeteries, garden cemeteries often use benches, flowers, and trees to establish a park-like atmosphere. These cemeteries are designed with pathways and landscaped to feel much like a public park.
Memorial parks. Memorial parks are typically designed with grass markers - gravestones that lay flat on the ground, rather than tall stone monuments and headstones. This makes it easier to maintain the grounds.
Lawn-Park cemeteries. This type of cemetery is a combination of a garden cemetery and a memorial park. A lawn-park cemetery typically has areas for larger monuments as well as space for grass markers.
Monumental cemeteries. By contrast, monumental cemeteries are filled with large marble or granite monuments, in lieu of more standard headstones and grave markers.
Veteran cemeteries. Those who are honorably discharged from military service have the option of being buried in these cemeteries.
Green cemeteries. In green cemeteries, the deceased is buried in a way that minimizes environmental impact. Typically the deceased are buried without the use of embalming chemicals and many green cemeteries require the use of biodegradable caskets. Green cemeteries are specifically certified as such.
These are just some of the types of cemeteries, and of course, there’s no "correct” answer as to which cemetery you choose.
