When the time comes for a family to say goodbye to a loved one, it’s common to be buried in a cemetery. Cemeteries offer a final resting place for our loved ones and can be a source of comfort during this emotional time. 

If you’re selecting a cemetery for your loved one who has recently passed or you’re simply planning ahead for your own arrangements, it’s important to keep a few things in mind when deciding.

Location

The decision of where to be buried is a personal one, so it is important to think about what is most important to you before making a decision. If you live far from where you grew up, you may want to be buried near where you live now so that your loved ones can easily visit your grave. Alternatively, you may want to return to your hometown so that you can be close to your family and friends who still live there.

Types of Cemeteries

The 4 more common types of cemeteries are municipal, private, religious, and veterans/ military cemeteries.

Municipal Cemetery: A common type of cemetery that is owned by the town or city government. These cemeteries are open to the public.

Private cemeteries: These are more restrictive cemeteries and are usually owned by an organization or company. Some of these cemeteries are run for profit and are likely more expensive than a municipal cemetery. 

Religious cemeteries: Another common type of cemetery that is run by a church or religious group. These are typically reserved for members of a religion or community associated with it. 

Military/ Veteran Cemeteries: These are government-owned and maintained cemeteries reserved for members of the military, veterans, and their families. 

The type of cemetery you choose is entirely up to you. If you’re choosing for a loved one, try to pick one that best aligns with their personality or views.

Cost

When it comes to cost, every cemetery is different. Some cemeteries are run by municipalities and are therefore very affordable, while others are privately owned and can be quite expensive. There are also a variety of options available when it comes to burial plots, so you’ll need to ask about those as well. 

Some questions you may want to ask include:

• Are there any maintenance fees?
• Who is in charge of maintaining the grave site?
• What types of markers are allowed? Are there any marker installation costs?
• Are there costs for opening and closing the grave?

The best way to get an accurate estimate of cost is to contact the cemetery directly and ask about their various options and prices. Once you have that information, you can make an informed decision about which option is best for you and your budget.

Reputation

There are many reasons why you should consider the reputation of a cemetery before purchasing a plot. Ask family, friends or even neighbors what they think about certain cemeteries. You can also read online reviews of families who wrote about their experiences there. And of course, the best source of information comes from funeral homes and churches who you can rely on for recommendations.

No one wants to think about death, much less plan for it. But making the decision now can save your loved ones a lot of stress and heartache later on. If you’re in the process of researching cemeteries, we hope to have helped in your decision-making.

Choose Wyuka

Wyuka Cemetery has played an integral part in the lives of Nebraskans for over 140 years. We are nationally recognized as a historic cemetery and as a vital piece of Lincoln’s history since its birth. Over the years, more than 52,000 individuals have selected Wyuka as their place of rest. We invite you to experience our 140-plus acres of beautiful landscape and see for yourself if we are the right fit for you.