There are times in life when we all feel uncertain — and this can be particularly true during times of deep emotional stress. Understanding all of the choices surrounding the final phase of life can feel overwhelming. Our staff at San Tan Mountain View Funeral Home continually look for ways to ensure you understand the various options that are available. With aboveground burial becoming increasingly popular in recent years, crypts may be a consideration for your friend or family member’s final resting place. However, it’s not unusual to have questions about how a crypt interment differs from a ground burial or cremation. This helpful guide provides you the information you need to think through this important decision with your loved ones.
A crypt is a structure that is often placed inside a cemetery, meant to provide a final resting place for remains that have either been placed in a casket or cremated remains that are in an urn. This flexibility allows families to make different decisions about the disposition of their remains, yet still remain together as a family unit inside one structure. This above-ground method of entombment provides a secure location that can be quite serene, offering loved ones a physical structure that can be visited to pay their respects to those who have passed.
Bodies can be placed in crypts in a multitude of ways, with companion units being a popular selection. Companion units are designed to store two casketed remains together in the same space. These units can be designed to either have the spaces side-by-side or end-to-end, depending on the size of the crypt and the preferred location of the remains. After a memorial service, the casket will be interred into the crypt, often with a final blessing or prayer with the inner circle of loved ones. Crypts will have a memorial plaque or inscription in the granite of the crypt with personalized details about your loved ones.
Inside the crypt, there are drain holes located in the bottom corners with vents located in the top corners of each space. This allows a free flow of air throughout the space. Caskets are placed inside the crypt then enclosed with a type of metal shutter. A final exterior layer of material is made of either marble or granite and is the front-facing portion of the crypt.
Starting in the early Christian period, crypts were used extensively — starting with St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. With tombs resting directly below the high altar in this vaunted church, it was quite easy to see why the practice quickly caught on and spread throughout Europe as a preferred method for maintaining final remains. While underground crypts were used extensively in the Middle Ages, aboveground crypts are much more popular in the U.S. today. Today’s crypts are inside mausoleums, which can be quite intricate in their design and decorations. Crypts are generally built from concrete, marble or other durable materials that are meant to stand the test of time.
You might be surprised to learn that the Taj Mahal is actually a mausoleum. Well-known as one of the most stunning and romantic buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal is also one of the most ornate mausoleums in the world. Built to honor the favorite wife of Emperor Shah Jahan, the Taj Mahal building effort was initiated in 1632 but wasn’t completed until nearly two decades later. Interring loved ones in a crypt is still considered to be a unique testament to the love and affection that was shared throughout the years.
Mausoleums may be either private or open to the public, with the latter being less expensive. Mausoleums can be found indoors, outside or in a tranquil garden environment. We created a guide on this difference between mausoleums and crypts some time ago, which goes into detail on the differences. Briefly, the term ‘crypts’ refers to the individual burial chambers that are located inside a mausoleum. Mausoleums exist in a variety of formations and can be single-family, multi-family or even community-based groupings of crypts. These protective buildings offer your loved ones’ remains a sanctuary from the elements, as well as a way for family members and friends to maintain the history of their family over generations.
With the space necessary to house several families or even generations together, crypts are considered ideal for those with extended families. This out-of-ground burial alternative also provides additional benefits, such as reduced costs associated with creating a final resting place for your loved ones’ remains. While a casket is still required as with a ground burial, the heavier vault may or may not be required. There are no opening and closing charges as there are with a burial, and the cost of the memorial may be lessened as well.
It is impossible to provide a true estimate due to the variety of factors involved in funeral planning. The best option is to begin planning early, speaking with our friendly and compassionate funeral directors. They are always available to help you define the ideal solution for your unique needs and budget. There are several factors that can influence the cost of a burial crypt for your loved one:
With so many factors to consider, most families work closely with their funeral director to ensure they fully understand how to proceed. This important decision, and many more, are addressed with care and consideration by the support staff at San Tan Mountain View Funeral Home. We have been helping families throughout the region make the final choices that bring peace and closure after a loss. Contact us at any time by calling 480-888-2682 or by sending an email to [email protected] to schedule time with one of our compassionate funeral directors. From pre-planning your final memorial to personalized services, we are confident that your loved one will receive the respectful final farewell that they deserve.
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Tags: crypts, Family Mausoleums, Famous Burials, Mausoleums