Why Choose a Cemetery?
A cemetery is a history of people, a perpetual record of yesterday, and a sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering — always.
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Why Choose a Cemetery?
To remember and be remembered are natural human needs. Throughout history, we have memorialized our dead. It has been an important tradition in every culture. The Washington Monument, Tomb of the Unknowns, and Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. are examples that demonstrate our need to honor our dead.
Recently, society’s view of death, dying and the process of bereavement has been changing. The rise in cremation and alternate forms of ritual surrounding our deceased has presented many more options than before. Sometimes, practical factors such as cost have overridden the inherent need to have a physical place for surviving loved ones to grieve.
There is no wrong choice in deciding how you or a loved one would like to be remembered. Consider the following reasons why a cemetery may be the right choice for you or a loved one.
A Peaceful Place for Families & Friends
We often think of cemeteries as a place that holds the remains of our community’s deceased. But cemeteries, more than anything, function as places for the living. They are a place where both families and friends can go to grieve or just spend a few moments remembering someone special. Psychologists say that ritual and remembrance practices, including having a place for permanent memorialization, help survivors find closure and allow the healing process to begin. Because of the natural beauty of a cemetery with its grass, trees and flowers, it serves as a sanctuary where people can go to reflect, contemplate, and sit with nature.
A Keeper of our Community’s Heritage
The cemetery has a sacred and important role within our society – one that most cemeteries take very seriously. Cemeteries store demographic data on hundreds and even thousands of individuals and families that have contributed to a community. A family historian will find a wealth of information about his or her family tree by contacting the local cemetery.
Sacred and Protected Grounds
Cemeteries are considered sacred grounds and they are protected by the law. A cemetery cannot be sold or built upon without careful consideration. When a deceased person is placed in a cemetery, their remains are protected. Communities afford respect to cemeteries and to the memorialization which cemeteries provide. In order to protect interment rights holders, strict rules govern the use of cemetery lands. Graves are normally considered to be sold in perpetuity which restricts possible re-development.
Ongoing Maintenance and Care
When a cemetery runs out of land, it continues to operate and serve the community. Since more and more individuals and families are purchasing their graves in advance, graves which have been sold will be opened when a death occurs, markers will be placed and other services will be provided. Most states, including Minnesota, have laws that require funds to be set aside from each sale for the long-term care and maintenance of the cemetery.
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