BURIAL OPTIONS

As society evolves, new customs are created shaping burial practices for future generations.  Families who contact the Diocese of Lansing Cemeteries have an idea of their burial preferences, i.e., what they would like to be buried in, or plan to select for a deceased loved one.  New customs require new services, new choices and new products as our cemeteries attempt to serve the diverse Catholic population of our diocese and at the same time maintain the integrity of our Catholic burial traditions.  Respecting your preferences — personal, familial, emotional, financial and spiritual — the Diocese of Lansing Cemeteries offers a wide variety of Catholic burial options for those who prefer to customize their cemetery needs.

 
TRADITIONAL GROUND OPTIONS

A traditional earthen grave remains the most widely used form of burial.  Graves are generally of two types, either with a lawn level marker, or with a raised family monument.  All cemeteries sections are “zoned” for aesthetic, operational and maintenance reasons.
 

Flat Marker Sections

In a lawn-level or flat marker cemetery section the bronze of granite memorial is set flush to the ground allowing lawn care equipment to pass over it.

Monument Lots

A monument cemetery lot is one where the memorial is set on a foundation and extends above the ground.  Only one upright memorial is allowed on a cemetery lot.

Memorialization

Ground burials allows for more flexibility when making your memorialization preference.  Contact the Cemetery Office for copy of the rules and regulations in your particular      cemetery section.

St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Cemetery and Old Calvary Catholic Cemetery are primarily monument cemeteries while New Calvary Catholic Cemetery is primarily a flat marker cemetery.

Burial lots are currently not available in St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery.

 

Estate lots

An estate lot is a family lot which contains a minimum of eight traditional grave spaces.

            Available at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery only. 

 

 

 

Shared Monument Lots (Upright Monument)
This feature  cemetery section consists of either two or four graves with a large, above ground monument that was designed and erected by the cemetery with a specific theme in mind - the Way of the Cross or the Mysteries of the Rosary.

Available at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery only

Baby Burial Area

St. Joseph and New Calvary Cemeteries have dedicated sections for the exclusive burial of infants due to miscarriage, stillborn, and/ or neonatal death.  Lots and burial are provided by the cemetery at no cost to grieving family.  This is one way the Diocese of Lansing Catholic Cemeteries serve the entire Christian community with charitable burial assistance at a very difficult and emotional time.

 

ABOVE GROUND OPTIONS

Families whose preference is something other than traditional graves St. Joseph and New Calvary Catholic Cemeteries have a beautiful mausoleum.  Single or double crypts are available at different locations and height in the mausoleum.  Mandatory standardized lettering sold separately.

 

Mausoleum Crypt

Mausoleum crypts are located inside and outside of the building structure.  Preference will depend on family preference for scenery as well as visitation requirements.  For security reasons, mausoleums at St. Joseph and New Calvary Catholic Cemeteries have limited visiting hours.  Contact the Cemetery Office for details.

Crypt fronts are made of polished granite and are available inside and outside of the mausoleum.  Typically upper and lower level crypts are less expensive than those located at eye level.

 

Memorialization

Mausoleum memorialization is provided in the form of standardized bronze lettering in order  to maintain a uniform look within the entire structure.  Lettering is purchased separately.  A military symbol is placed on the crypt front of veteran who so desire.  Memorialization regulations may differ, however, between mausoleums in different
cemeteries.

           
CREMATION

The most important selection related to burial or inurnment of cremated remains is really the selection of the urn to hold those remains once they are returned from the crematory. In selecting an urn, keep in mind the final burial location - will the urn be seen or not?  Does the burial or niche space allow for the identification of the individual?  Obviously, a glass front niche will not do so, therefore the name of the deceased will have to be on the urn itself.  Is the urn appropriate for this?

In general terms, there are five options for the final disposition of cremated human remains: ground burial and above-ground inurnment.

Unoccupied Adult Grave Space

In an existing unused adult grave up to two cremation burials with suitable approved memorialization is permitted.  The purchased second rights is required before the interment of the second cremated human remain.

Occupied Adult Grave Space

In a grave space already utilized by another person only one cremated human remains per grave space is permitted provided there is adequate depth, permission of the burial right holder (if applicable) is obtained, purchase of mandatory second rights and the cemetery rules concerning memorialization are observed.  This option is available at all fiver diocesan cemeteries.

Cremation-only Burial Section

St. Joseph and New Calvary Catholic Cemeteries have dedicated in-ground burial areas designed to accommodate cremated human remains of one or two persons.  These cremation-only grave spaces provide space for one flush 24” x 12” bronze or granite flush marker.  Upright memorial are not permitted. 
   


Stand alone - Columbarium

St. Joseph Cemetery and New Calvary Cemetery offer niches for above ground cremation inurnments. 

These options are not available at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery, Old Calvary Catholic Cemetery or St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Cemetery.

 

Granite Front  - Columbarium

Located in the cemetery, niches are available for single or two urns in a free standing outdoor columbarium located in the cemetery. (Urn size restrictions apply in niches.)  Available at New Calvary Catholic Cemetery only.

 

 

 

Clear Front  - Mausoleum

Located in the cemetery mausoleum of St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery and New Calvary Catholic Cemetery, niches are available for single or companion urns.  To maintain a sense of visual integrity of the columbarium, some niches, not all, require the urns be purchased directly from the cemetery.

 

 

 

Frosted Glass Front Niche - Mausoleum 
           
This mausoleum only inurnment option features an etched glass front forming part of a artistic mosaic design of the interior columbarium. 

Available at New Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

 

 

Deluxe Niches - Mausoleum

Extra large niches encase two mausoleum features.  Niches will
house extra large and specialty made urns.

Available at New Calvary Catholic Cemetery only.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Diocese of Lansing Catholic Cemeteries have a wide variety of Catholic cremation options for those who prefer to customize their cemetery needs and priced to meet your budget

Contact Us

Regardless of the burial option chosen, it is important to understand that the Diocese of Lansing Cemeteries are not selling real estate in its traditional sense, but an easement or license for the use of cemetery for the interment of human remains subject to the rules, conditions, and limitations made or to be made by the Diocese of Lansing Cemeteries.

 

[Click here for our pamphlet - Whose Lot Is It?]