About Mausoleums

Mausoleums are large buildings designed as an alternative to underground burials. They consist of freestanding structures largely comprised of granite and marble and typically with bronze detailing. Mausoleums contain dozens of recessions in the walls for both crypts and niches in which remains can be stored. The size, type, style and number of niches contained varies in each mausoleum, but many options are available.

Types of Mausoleums

• Traditional: The basic or community mausoleum- the structure either on its own or as part of a cemetery- is the most common and widely available option.
• Chapel: Chapel mausoleums are mausoleums connected to or consisting of a chapel or church, which offers visitors the dignity and comfort of church surroundings.
• Garden: Garden mausoleums offer family members and friends peaceful visits with their departed loved ones by combining the mausoleum with a beautiful outdoor garden setting. In a garden mausoleum, the crypts and/or cremains are displayed either on a freestanding wall within the garden or in smaller, separate areas throughout the property.

About Columbaria

While mausoleums are above ground structures that can accommodate both caskets and urned or inurned cremains, a columbarium offers a unique place for cremains only. Just like a mausoleum, the structure is large and typically marble, granite or bronze. However, a columbarium contains only rows of recesses for niches and no spaces for caskets.
 Columbaria are often attached to cemeteries or churches, but can also exist as freestanding structures or even as gardens. The storing of cremains in a columbaria is one of the only methods of cremation accepted by the Catholic Church.

Advantages to Mausoleums/Columbaria

• Provides protection from the elements and allows remains to be stored in a clean, dry environment.
• Excellent alternative for those opposed to underground burial.
• Allows for the largest number of entombments in the smallest spaces and are thus helpful in combating the increasing shortage of land for burials.
• Accepted by most major religions.
• Are available in many different styles
• Offer a beautiful resting place for loved ones.
• Provide a peaceful, intimate setting for visitors.
• Cost effective way to avoid pricier aspects of in ground burials such as headstones and burial vaults.
• Glass-front niches allow families to decorate the area with personalized touches such as photographs or flowers in order to preserve and honor the memory of their loved ones.
• Are available in many different styles.

What is a Niche?

A niche is a small, ornamental space where an urn or inurned cremains can be kept. Niches are generally indentations in the walls of mausoleums and columbaria. The niche may be made out of bronze, granite or marble and can also be made with glass paneling so that the urn or cremains may be displayed.
Many different types and styles of urns are compatible with standard niches. Niches, especially ones with glass fronts, offer families the opportunity to personalize the resting place of their loved one with pictures, letters or other mementos. Bronze plaques are often displayed in front of the niches in order to identify the departed.

How Can I Store My Cremains?

When using a mausoleum or columbarium, cremains may be stored either in or out of traditional cremation urns. While most state and local laws don’t specifically require the use of an urn or other receptacle for the cremains, restrictions and guidelines vary depending on location.

Private Family Mausoleums

Just as it is possible to purchase a family burial plot, family mausoleums are also available for families who wish to rest together and preserve the family legacy. When a family purchases all or part of the structure and invests in the preservation of the family name for the future, they develop a permanent resting place for the entire family to visit and remember.

Advantages to Private Family Mausoleums

• Offers the family privacy that is greatly important in the process of mourning a loved one.
• The ability to personalize not only the niche, but the entire mausoleum in order to suit personal tastes.
• Creates a space where it is possible to visit multiple family members at once.
• Financially prudent- private mausoleums are exempt from estate taxes.
• Allows entire families to remain together after death.
• Gives younger generations the chance to learn about their family history in an intimate way.
• Conducive to planning in advance- the creation of a family mausoleum makes the process faster and simpler when a loved one dies.
• Offers the opportunity to maintain the family legacy.

House of Urns, LLC provides families and people of interest, a full variety of urn styles, designs and materials to match personal interests with personalization options available through engraving or appliqué additions. Many of the urns offered by House of Urns are the choice for placement into either enclosed or glass niches (for secure eternal viewing) within mausoleums and columbariums.

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