Burial

A burial is the act or ceremony of putting a dead body into a grave.
Burial options include:
  • in-ground burial 
  • above ground burial in a mausoleum
  • above ground burial in a lawn crypt
  • cremated remains (in an urn), and
  • natural or green burial.
    ​

Traditional In-ground Burial

​In-ground burial is the most traditional burial option. Often, the body is first embalmed because the family wants to hold a visitation where the casket is open. However, embalming is not required.  In-ground burial consists of five components: 
  1. Casket - Holds the body of the deceased or an urn holds the cremated remains
  2. Gravesite - The plot or space where your loved one will be buried.  
  3. Headstone and Grave Marker (Burial headstones are upright granite monuments usually found at cemeteries, where grave markers are flat bronze plaques placed on a granite stone base usually found at memorial parks.)
  4. Burial Vault - Used to support the soil above and around the casket or urn. Often they are made out of concrete and lined with plastic.  
  5. Gravesite Preparation & Maintenance - A plot needs to be dug into the ground and later back-filled. Some landscaping work may also be needed to restore the gravesite appearance.
    ​

Types of burial plots

With traditional in-ground burial, cemeteries generally allow you to buy these types of burial plots: 
  1. Single Burial Plot: This type of plot accommodates the burial of one individual.  
  2. Companion Plots: This is the purchase of two burial plots right beside each other. Couples often choose to purchase their burial plots in this manner.  
  3. Double Depth Plots: This is a type of companion plot. Individuals are buried one atop of another in a single space. This is another option couples often choose. Double depth plots are often cheaper than side-by-side plots because generally only one burial vault is needed.  
  4. Family Plots: At some cemeteries, a family can purchase a small area of the cemetery that will be dedicated to the burial of all family members. The area could simply be a row of single plots. 
    ​

Green or Natural Burial

Green burial which is also referred to as “natural burial” does not use embalming fluid, a casket, or a vault. Alternatively, the remains are placed directly into the ground, allowing them to decompose naturally and leave less impact on the environment. In some cases, the remains are buried in simple burial shroud or a biodegradable casket to protect the body from the earth until natural decomposition occurs. Another distinguishable element of a green burial is the absence of equipment or machinery to dig the burial site, instead the gravesite is dug by hand. The only real hurdle to natural burial is finding cemeteries that allow for the practice.  More information.
​

Mausoleum burial ​

Mausoleum burial is a method associated with more privacy and a sense of prestige. Mausoleum burials see the internment of the deceased within a free-standing building. A mausoleum is a building that memorializes deceased individuals and provides a secure enclosure. When choosing to place your loved one in a mausoleum their casket or vault will never come in contact with the earth, as they are within an above-ground structure. This also ensures that the burial site will always remain clean and dry, allowing you to visit your loved one in any weather conditions.  
A mausoleum can be of two kinds - A municipal mausoleum or a private mausoleum. The main difference between the two is that a municipal mausoleum includes multiple deceased individuals that are not necessarily related, whereas a private mausoleum is built by request for a single family. Private mausoleums are typically for larger families that wish to remain together and are much more costly. 
​

​LAWN CRYPT BURIAL

Essentially, a lawn crypt is an underground mausoleum that has no entry. A crypt is a chamber made of concrete and reinforced steel. The biggest benefit of lawn crypts is that they do a great job of protecting the casket while also still allowing for a traditional looking in-ground burial. Grass is planted above the crypt and often times a drainage system exists below. 
​

​BURIAL AT SEA

A burial at sea involves the disposal of a deceased corpse into a body of water, typically off of some form of ship. The ceremony may involve burial in a casket or sailcloth. Today, burial at sea is mostly done for Navy personnel, however anyone can technically apply for burial at sea. Going through the application process and receiving the proper permits can be rather difficult. Different religions and countries each have their own unique methods of burial at sea and may follow a slightly different process. 

Burial at Sea falls under the Disposal at Sea permitting provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Those looking to conduct a burial at sea will need to contact Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) permit officers. If ECCC permit officers determine that no marine pollution will be caused by the burial at sea, then a Letter of Advice will be issued with guidelines and advice for proceeding with the burial. Anyone who wishes to proceed with the burial at sea of a deceased person should contact ECCC as soon as possible. Note - Considerable time and effort will be required to allow for appropriate site selection. See a list of Disposal at Sea regional offices here.
​

Home Burial

Some cities allow for a burial to take place on your own private land. Your municipal government or funeral director will let you know if your community permits home burial.