Choosing a cemetery

Although most members of People's Memorial Association choose cremation, there are still a significant number who prefer burial or entombment. Others choose to inter cremated remains either in the ground or in a columbarium. People's Memorial respects individual family wishes and offers a full range of choices. PMA Plan prices do not, however, include cemetery expenses. For those shopping for cemetery property, we provide this information.

National Cemeteries

The United States government offers free burial to most veterans and their qualified dependents at national cemeteries. Cremated remains can also be placed in a national cemetery. Washington State's Tahoma National Cemetery is located in the Covington/Maple Valley area at 18600 SE 240th St., Kent, WA 98042. For further information call 425.413.9614, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery website.

Cemetery Pricing Checklist

When investigating costs at a cemetery, ask about each of the items listed below and write down the information given. When burying cremated remains, expect total cemetery expenses of at least $1,000. When burying a casket, expect expenses of at least $2,000 plus the cost of the burial plot itself.

Cemetery Use Following Cremation

Some families choose to place cremated remains in a cemetery, rather than scattering them or keeping them at home. Cremated remains may be buried as with a traditional burial, in which case the various costs listed above would all apply, except that the vault used would be smaller and less expensive than for a casket. Another alternative for cremated remains would be placing them above ground in a niche in a columbarium. Placement in a niche will require purchasing a container that meets the specifications of the facility. Such containers can cost several hundred dollars. Another option would be to place the cremated remains inside the casket of someone else who is to be buried, in which case there might not be an additional fee.

Researching Your Options

PMA encourages you to research interment and inurnment options. The most economical choices are not always obvious. Check whether your area has a public cemetery. Several cities in Western Washington offer municipal cemeteries, which are often less expensive than private cemeteries. Yelm Cemetery, for example, offers a casket burial starting at $725. Casket burial at Kirkland Cemetery can be as low as $2,250 plus the cost of a grave marker. For more information, consult the City of Kirkland website.

Many faith-based organizations have columbariums or remembrance gardens, where cremated remains can be interred or scattered. For example, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church recently constructed a columbarium for the families of congregation members. Total cost for a single niche is $1,750. A double niche at the Mercer Island church is $2,750. St. Mark's Cathedral, located in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, also has columbarium spaces available. Their most economical option currently is a relatively low $890. This includes a bronze-front single niche, plaque, and inurnment.

It is always a good idea to visit a cemetery before seriously considering the purchase of a plot or niche. Prior to your visit, call the cemetery office to ensure that someone will be available to answer questions. Inquire about your options. For example, are lawn crypts available for purchase? Lawn crypts eliminate the need for purchase of a grave liner, which may lower the total cemetery cost. If you are considering a columbarium, niches above or below eye level are often the most affordable option. If you want to search for a bargain, check want ads for plots or niches for resale or place your own ad looking for a seller.

Sample Cemetery Cost Calculation

The initial purchase of a plot or niche is not the total cost of burial. The PMA Cemetery Checklist found at the top of this page is useful in assessing the total cost. Below is a sample cemetery checklist created using a price list provided by Cypress Lawn Memorial Park. Prices used are for illustration purposes only and subject to change.