What is a Burial Funeral?

A burial funeral is a funeral where the deceased is buried underground or above ground and the deceased person is not cremated. Several Religious groups especially the pseudo-Christian funeral customs such as Judaism and Islam and even several Christian denominations constitute that funerals be carried out in alliance to their beliefs.

If the thought of  being burnt in an incinerator, then pulverised in
an ‘industrial blender’, then placed in a jar makes you uncomfortable, then maybe Cremation is not for you.

Many people would not have a clear idea of what a cremation funeral is. A cremation funeral is when a deceased person is placed in a coffin/casket and their body and coffin is cremated. A crematorium functions similarly to a giant oven. When switched on the heat reaches a temperature that is so hot that the coffin and the deceased person self-ignite and burn until coarse ash is all that remains. This usually takes between 2-4 hours, depending on the coffin and the deceased person. The coarse ash which remains is collected and placed into an ‘industrial pulverisor’ which pulverizes the coarse remains into a finer ash. The ashes are then placed into a container often referred to as an urn. Ashes can be then scattered, taken to a home, or placed in a memorial niche in a cemetery.

Burial Funeral – Resting Place Options

1. Single, dual, family burial plot

Burial plots can hold either 1 or more within the same plot. If there are two people they may be placed side by side or placed on top of the other. It is more cost-effective for a double plot and family plot than a single burial plot. Therefore spend some time to plan for a partner and/or other family members.

2. Natural burial plot

Sydney Natural Burial Park in Kemps Creek opened in 2010. It is an option for funeral burials where a person does not want a marked grave and wants their remains returned back to the earth but with minimal impact to nature. Natural Burials are seen as a simple, sustainable and environmentally friendly option for people who value these elements when deciding on a funeral and resting place. There are certain requirements for a natural burial. The deceased body is prepared without any chemical preservatives, the coffin must be in untreated timber, and the clothing worn by the deceased is biodegradable.

3. Above-Ground – Mausoleum and Crypts

There are indoor, and outdoor above ground spaces for Mausoleums and Crypts. Similar to ground plots they also are available in single, side-by-side and family sizes. Above Ground resting places tend to cost more than ground resting places. However, Crypts and Mausoleums do not require vaults so factor this in when calculating if this option is suitable for you.

Elements of a burial resting place

-Casket/Coffin
-Burial funeral plot
-A memorial – A tribute usually in the form of a plaque or a memorial stone/headstone
-Vault – Usually a concrete enclosure underground where a casket /coffin is placed to provide

Benefits of a burial plot?

– Burial plots are generally larger in size. Does this have any significance? Yes. They are usually easier to find in a cemetery.
– No emissions from using a crematory. People often forget large amounts of energy is used to cremate a human body.
– Carrying on an individuals religion, customs, and traditional.
– Ability to easily place flowers on the site
– A more natural and private setting. As burial plots are larger and therefore are on large areas of land. It’s a good option if you want outdoor visitations.
– Ability to personalise and memorialise the deceased on the gravestone with a larger headstone or plaque.
– Other family members can be placed in the same burial plot making the plot more personal
– Purcashing a family plot can be cost-effective.

The Living and the Dead

Most baby boomers remember a time when they visited a graveyard or a cemetery and pay their respect for their relatives. Where burials were the only option for their grandparents and maybe parents. Time passed and populations increased, social norms changed, customs changed. The relationship between the living and the dead has significantly changed. Our perception of our dead after a funeral may say a lot about ourselves as a society.

When l travel to a landlocked country l miss the ocean and long to see it. However, when l’m in Sydney l may visit the beach once every 3 months but often less due to the business of life. However, just knowing that the ocean is not too far away for me to visit brings me comfort. I share a similar belief for funeral plots. It is there for me to visit when l want to revisit and absorb the benefits that a funeral plot can offer me. The peace, the serenity, the sounds, the privacy, the ability to know my loved one is right there. There is a reason people say they found closure when a person who was missing for so long is finally found, even if only their remains.

The spirit may be gone but the physical presence for me is still very important. It brings me comfort, and in life that’s often what our actions and ambitions strive for. For an entirely subjective topic, that’s my entirely subjective view.