A Short Guide to Columbariums
Many people are surprised to learn there are several options for resting places for your loved one’s cremains after their cremation services in Barrington, IL. While people may be more familiar with having the cremains housed in an urn and kept in their home or scattering the remains, there are many more options available to families.
Some of these options include having the cremains buried as with a casket burial, having them kept in a cremation garden or even in a mausoleum. One very popular choice is to have the urn placed in a columbarium niche.
What is a Columbarium?
You might have seen a columbarium before but weren’t sure what it was called. A columbarium is a wall or other structure that can be by itself or part of a larger structure. Columbariums can be found outside, uncovered, or inside a building. They can be seen in cemeteries, cremation gardens, and other memorial sites.
Columbariums are made up of spaces called “niches”. It is in these niches that families keep the urn of their loved ones. There are two main types of columbariums niches which are:
Glass Font- With a glass front columbarium, people are able to see inside the niche. Due to this, many families may add the urn as well as photographs of the deceased, or other personal mementos to create a lovely display.
Metal Front- Metal font niches do not allow the contents of the niche to be viewed. However, these niches often offer a plaque or other area to be engraved to serve as a marker. These spaces are typically engraved with the deceased’s name, date of birth, date of passing and a short epitaph.
Why Families May Choose a Columbarium
Columbarium niches can make great options for families for several reasons. One of the most common reasons is that it offers a general and permanent place for family members and friends to visit and feel close to their loved ones.
Another reason families may choose this option is that columbariums are typically found in beautiful surroundings. These surroundings can include flowers, water features, benches, and other peaceful sitting areas where visitors can rest and reflect.
Considerations When Choosing a Columbarium
There are a few things to keep in mind if you or your family are considering a columbarium niche. The first one is that you will want to visit the columbarium in person and make sure it is well-kept. Look around at the niches, the grounds, the columbarium itself and ensure it is in good condition and that the surroundings are cared for.
Next, it’s important to visit the columbarium before you make any commitments to ensure it is in good condition and the surroundings are being kept up nicely. This is especially true if the columbarium is outside where it is more vulnerable to the elements.
Also, check with the columbarium provider and see if they have any certain restrictions on what type of urns are allowed. Some providers may require urns to be made of certain materials or a certain shape.
You will also want to take note of the dimensions of the niche you decide on to ensure you purchase an urn that will fit comfortably in the space. Think about the height, width, and depth of the urn.
If you would like more information about columbariums or cremation services in Barrington, IL. contact us anytime. We are always here to help in any way we can.
