While a traditional burial in a cemetery in Huntersville, NC is always a valid choice, there are many other options for a deceased’s final resting place, such as mausoleums.

But what is a mausoleum? According to the National Funeral Directors Association, a mausoleum is “a building designed for above-ground placement of a casket. The casket is placed into a crypt that may be designed for one or two persons.” In other words, they are free-standing structures that provide a secure, dry and clean place for bodies to be interred.

There are many different kinds and styles of mausoleums. Some mausoleums have one crypt, or a chamber designed to hold one body, while others have a larger space made to hold a few people like a family or a couple. Some mausoleums even have more than one room for different parts of a family. Mausoleums are commonly decorated with exterior markers to denote who is resting inside, and yet others have windows and glass to allow in natural light and air.

The term mausoleum came from one of the first one’s ever built. Erected in 353 BC near what is now known as Turkey, The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was the final resting place of a famous Persian king named Mausolus. However, just because they’re very old doesn’t mean mausoleum aren’t still popular. In fact, mausoleums offer tons of great benefits, making them a common choice for internment.

Some of the benefits of mausoleums include:

• Protection and Privacy – Though everyone will experience grief, most people prefer to show their mourning in private. Because mausoleums are enclosed buildings, they offer the bereaved much-desired privacy in their time of loss. Similarly, because they are enclosed buildings, mausoleums also offer protection for the body. Many of them are also climate-controlled, which gives the bereaved even more peace of mind for the body and comfort when they are paying their respects.
• Convenience – Mausoleums are convenient for the bereaved as they offer easy access to the lost loved one for year-round visitation. Hot summers, cold winters, rain and other elements aren’t an issue.
• Cost-Effective – Mausoleums have been proven to have comparable costs to those of a more traditional ground burial, especially if the structure will be used to house more than one body. Families can lower the costs of burial by purchasing a shared mausoleum.
• Eco Friendly – Both traditional ground burial and cremation have negative impacts on the environment, such as ground disruption or release of gasses into the atmosphere. Since mausoleums can hold more bodies per square foot of ground that a traditional burial, they are better for the planet and are a great option for those that want to leave a small footprint behind when they’re gone.

Is a mausoleum the right choice for you or your family? Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden can help you decide. We have vast experience as a Huntersville, NC cemetery and can offer you more information on your different internment choices. Call or visit us today to learn more.

Everyone experiences grief in different ways and for different amounts of time, but grief is always hard, from right after a visit to a cemetery in Charlotte, NC to the following months and years. But what happens when grief becomes too much for one person to handle?

If you experience any of the following, you might want to consider seeking help for your loss:

1. Inability to Continue Normal Activities – If you are unable to perform normal activities like going to work or school, or even eating or sleeping, you many need a help with coping.
2. Numbness to Emotion – Grief comes with a range of emotions, from sad and confused to even happy. Each emotion is acceptable during periods of mourning, but numbness is not. If you are feeling entirely numb and unable to feel any emotions, it may be time to seek help.
3. Avoiding Time with Loved Ones – Sometimes it’s easier to process grief on our own, but it’s also important to be with loved ones. If you find yourself consistently avoiding other people, you should consider counseling.
4. Inability to Move On – There is nothing to be ashamed of about not being able to move on. Sometimes we all need a bit of help.
5. Hallucinations/Voices – It may be comforting to imagine your lost loved one is with you but hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there is always a cause for concern. Be especially wary if what you are seeing, or hearing is accusing or angry.
6. Loss of Enjoyment – You shouldn’t stop living your life completely during grief. You’re still allowed to pursue your interests and goals. If your grief is preventing you from pursuing activities that you enjoy, or enjoying things you normally would, you may just need help finding your way forward.
7. Sudden Changes in Behavior – If you find that you don’t recognize the choices you’re making or the person you’ve become, this may be cause for concern. Keep and eye out for irrational anger, excessive drinking, and drug use.
8. Escapism – Staying busy or trying to escape to avoid feeling sad is not a long-term solution. Eventually, you will need to face your feelings. If you are don’t feel up to doing so on your own, it may be wise to ask for a helping hand.
9. Thoughts of Hurting Yourself – Feeling you want to hurt yourself should not be ignored and must be addressed with a professional.
10. Fear of New Relationships – Apprehension of new relationships due to the fear of loss is common when grieving. However, in order to move forward and continue to grow, we must forge new relationships.

Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden is an experienced Charlotte, NC cemetery and can offer you more information on dealing with or getting help for grief. Please give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss.

Preparation will make any difficult situation better, and what’s more difficult than a loss? Use this list of important cemetery terminology to be better prepared in the event of the loss of a loved one, or to better plan for your eventual passing and burial in a cemetery in Matthews, NC.

1. Bereaved: The deceased’s loved ones or immediate family.
2. Burial Certificate: A legal document authorizing burial. The same documents apply to cremations, and it made by your local government.
3. Death Certificate: A document proving the cause of death, generally issued by the deceased’s doctor.
4. Columbarium: A wall with niches or holes in which cremation urns are housed.
5. Committal Service: A service in which the body is buried or interred.
6. Cremains: Another word for cremated remains.
7. Crematory: The furnace in which bodies are cremated. It can also refer to the building that houses the furnace.
8. Death Notice: An article or newspaper section announcing someone’s death and providing funeral or memorial details.
9. Embalm: Preserving a dead body by running preservative fluids through the arteries and veins.
10. Eulogy: A speech praising, remembering and celebrating the deceased’s life.
11. Exhume: Digging up the remains of someone who was already buried.
12. Flower Car: The car or vehicle used to transport the flowers from the church and/or cemetery to the funeral home.
13. Funeral Director: The man or woman who works with the bereaved to plan and execute a funeral service and all accompanying details. Generally, funeral directors maintain or run funeral homes.
14. Funeral Spray: A floral tribute traditionally given to the bereaved at a funeral.
15. Grave Liner: A wooden, metal or concrete casing that holds the casket in the ground. Grave liners help prevent the ground around the grave from sinking for safety and help keep the grass above the grave level as the earth settles for aesthetics.
16. Pallbearers: Family, friends, or religious members that help carry the casket.
17. Memorial Service: A service held to honor the deceased when the body is not present.
18. Mortuary: Another word for a funeral home.
19. Obituary: A death notice in a newspaper or on a website that gives a small biography of the deceased and often includes a photo.
20. Plot: A piece of land, usually owned by an individual or a family, that’s reserved for two or more graves.
21. Reposing Room: A room in a funeral home that stores the body until the burial or funeral.
22. Vault: Almost synonymous with grave liner, but vaults tend to be more expensive. Vaults are usually made of wood, metal or concrete.
23. Viewing: The time at which friends, family or funeral goers can view the casket.

The more you prepare now, the easier your experience in a Mathews, NC cemetery will be. If you want more information or have more questions about cemeteries, funerals, and other related topics, Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden is here to help. We have years of experience that we would love to put at your disposal in your time of loss or preplanning. Stop by and visit us or give us a call today.

From caskets and urns to much more, you can purchase just about anything for use after a cremation and visit to a cemetery in Huntersville, NC. Whether you’re honoring your lost loved one at a cemetery or in a future memorial service, there are products can make your loved one’s cremation and service much more unique, memorable and creative. This creativity helps make the services respectful for the deceased and meaningful for the living. Some of these products are used before the cremation takes place:

• Remembrance Jewelry: Similar to Thumbies, remembrance jewelry holds part of the deceased inside, so you can carry it with you wherever you go. You can use a small lock of hair, cremated remains, or even soil from somewhere meaningful to be placed inside a locket, bracelet or other jewelry piece.
• Cremation Caskets: You do need a rigid container in which the body will be cremated. Crematoriums provide a basic container, but you can opt to purchase a more elaborate or special cremation casket to make the cremation more special.
• Thumbies: A Thumbie is a custom jewelry or pendant piece that creates a lasting imprint of the deceased’s fingerprint, footprint or handprint. Special Thumbie artists use a cast or image of the actual print to create these lovely keepsakes. You can choose different finishes including silver or gold to make the piece even more unique.

You can also find products that allow for personalization after the cremation like urns. You may choose to keep the deceased’s ashes in an urn. There are many different shapes, styles, colors and sizes of urns to choose from, so it’s not that hard to find one that suits your preferences and needs. Some urns are basic but dignified, while others are personalized with engravings, paintings and other decoration. You can also use memorial stationary. Make the cremation service itself even more special with custom stationary featuring photos of the deceased, meaningful quotes, or a simple decoration. You can use this stationary for the guest book at the service, or to write thank you cards on later. You can also find memorial folders, registry books, bookmarks, prayer cards, acknowledgement cards and more.

Finally, there are lots of creative and special ways to put a cremated loved one to rest. These include scattering your loved one’s remains freely outdoors. You may also hire a specialist to scatter them in the ocean or even in the sky. You can also put them to rest in a cemetery or columbarium. You may house the deceased in an outdoor niche above ground designed to hold urns.

These are just a few of the many cremation products available that make it easy for you to plan a creative, respectful and personalized cremation and memorial for your lost loved one. Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden can help you with all of your Huntersville, NC cemetery needs. We have years of industry experience and can recommend products such as these and many more. Please give us a call today for more information about what we can do for you in your time of loss.

Losing a family member or loved one is never easy. The high cost of cremations and burials in cemeteries in Charlotte, NC and the rest of the country often compounds the stress and pain of a death. Luckily, there are ways you can still have a personalized and special service without spending too much money on cemeteries, burials, and cremations.

Even simple burials in cemeteries can be expensive, not including the costs of services and other products. There is no shame in looking for help with paying for or lowering the cost of cemeteries and cremations, such as preplanning. Check the deceased’s papers and information to see if they made any plans to help pay for their cremation. They might have put in place things such as prepaying programs, funeral insurance, life insurance, and payable-on-death bank accounts.

You can also try fund raising. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your community, neighborhood, friends or other family. You’d be surprised how quickly people will chip in. If you choose to fund raise, social media is also a great tool to make your need known and get more people involved. Don’t be afraid to share any fund raising or write posts about your need.

Get creative with fund raising like:

• Car washes or bake sales
• Church groups or donations
• Memorial funds at the deceased’s workplace or bank
• Crowd funding websites like GoFundMe.com or GiveForward.com

Local, state and even federal government programs can help pay for funerals, burials, and cremations. Check with your local social service, county treasurer, or public fiduciary to see if any systems are in place. These programs have varying requirements, especially since local government budgets are tight, and they are making such programs more difficult to qualify for. Be sure to double check that you are eligible. The Social Security Administration can also provide assistance. Call to report a death and you may be eligible for a lump sum of $225 or other survivor benefits. Other federal programs that can help are Medicare, Medicaid and the Veteran’s Administration, The Bureau of Indian Affairs, and The Railroad Retirement Board.

If you still can’t get enough funding, there are tons of low-cost burial, cremation, funeral and cemetery options you can choose from, including hosting the memorial service at home, the community center, church or other religious establishment, bringing pot-luck food for the service, choosing body donation to a medical school or other organization (Science Care is the world’s largest body donor program), direct cremations, or burying the cremains on family land or a family plot.

If you need more information on any of these tips or would like to learn more about Charlotte, NC cemeteries, Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden is here to help. We strive to offer well-priced and expert services to make a time of loss easier and less stressful. Please pay us a visit or give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss.

Though its only become recently popular to bury cremated remains in cemeteries in Matthews, NC, the act of cremation is very old. In fact, historians believe that humans started burning their dead as early as 3000 B.C, as they have discovered pottery shards and urns that service as evidence. Cremation became more and more popular around Europe and what we now call the Middle East until Homer’s time, around 800 B.C, when it became the most common disposition method. This rise in cremation is assumed to be because of the growing number of dead from both war and disease.

By 395 A.D, cremation and the when the Roman Empire were at their peaks. In fact, ancient Romans stored cremated remains in decorated urns like we do today. However, the early Christians still practiced traditional Jewish body disposition, which meant burying the dead in cemeteries. The Christians therefore disapproved of cremation in favor of cemeteries.

This proved to be ancient cremation’s downfall, because when Constantine made Christianity the official Roman religion in 400 A.D, the practice almost disappeared in favor of the traditional Jewish burial. Cremation drifted out of history until around 1873 when an Italian professor displayed his new cremation chamber model at the Vienna Exposition. His new invention jump-started the cremation revolution on both sides of the Atlantic. The first modern cremation chamber in the United States was built in Washington, Pennsylvania in 1876 by Dr. Julius LeMoyne, with the second not far behind in Lancaster, PA in 1884. Soon, crematories were being built all across the US, and by the year 1900 there were 20 in operation.

The practice took off even more when, in 1913, Dr. Hugo Erichsen started the Cremation Association of America as a way to spread to word about this modern way of safely and hygienically disposing of bodies. The foundation was originally made up of doctors with concerns about the spread of diseases from whole-body burials to living humans.

This belief and the foundation continued to foster cremation popularity until the 1920s when it was proven that whole body burials, when done properly were just as safe for the public’s health. After that discovery, the Cremation Association of America switched gears and began promoting cremation not as a health choice but as a personal choice. The foundation changed its name to Cremation Association of North America (CANA), in 1975, and is still around today.

Cremation has been becoming more and more popular since the 1980s in America and around the world. This rise is due to a number of factors such as cost, environmental concerns, creativity, religion and more.

While traditional burial is still the most commonly seen disposition method, studies show that might not always be the case. According to CANA, there were over 2,100 crematories in use in the US in 2009 performing over 9,000 cremations a year, and the number is still going up.

This could be because it’s becoming more and more popular to bury cremated remains in cemeteries, like Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden, a Matthews, NC cemetery. If you want to learn more, please stop by or give us a call today.

Cemeteries in Huntersville, NC are intimidating. First of all, it’s never easy to go through a loss. However, it can be even harder to know how to act in a cemetery or funeral home. From how to dress and where to stand to what to say and everything in between, it’s hard to know exactly what the proper etiquette is, especially when it comes to being respectful of the proceedings and family members.

This guide can help you get started on knowing how to act in a cemetery:

• Attire – Cemeteries and funeral homes are serious places, and your attire should be as well. Unless otherwise noted or dictated by culture, keep your clothing conservative and in darker colors.
• Distractions – Turn off your phone. If you don’t want to turn if off completely, at least put it on silent or Do Not Disturb for the duration of the service. If you must take a call, do step outside as looking down at your phone or checking messages inside the funeral home is disrespectful. Along those same lines, people often do not bring children to funeral homes for fear they will be a distraction or disruption. Use your best judgment with your child, but toddlers and babies should generally stay at home with a sitter.
• Seating – The first two rows of seats are oftentimes reserved for the close friends and family, but other than that the seating plans are usually open. Try and remain seated throughout the service, unless dictated by the MC. This same basic rule applies to a graveside service, as the chairs right by the grave are typically reserved for family.
• Religion – Cemeteries can be religious places during services, and this may make some people uncomfortable. If the ceremony has religious aspects that do not match your own or make you uncomfortable, simply remain silent and respectfully engaged. Remember, you are there to honor the deceased not make a religious statement.
• Communication – There might not be many chances for you to speak with the family of the deceased at the cemetery or funeral home, but if you do have an opportunity be sure to take it. All you need to do is express sympathy for their loss. If you knew the deceased well and feel it’s appropriate, you may say something more personal about the deceased. However, keep it short and simple as the family most likely has lots of other guests to attend to.

Use your best judgment, and always try and follow the family’s lead when it comes to etiquette. When in doubt, lean in towards the conservative side. Do keep in mind that the above are general guidelines and do not necessarily apply to every cemetery experience.

Do you have more questions about Huntersville, CA cemetery etiquette or services? Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden is here to help. We have years of experience we would love to put at your disposal. Give us a call or stop by today to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss.

There are tons and tons of cemeteries in Charlotte, NC. How are you supposed to know which one to use, either for your future passing or for the recent loss of a loved one?

This choice may seem especially difficult because most cemeteries and funeral homes seem to be very similar in services and costs at first glance. However, choosing a cemetery or funeral home is very personal, as you need to make sure the one you choose matched with your preferences and needs.

When looking for a cemetery, you need to take the following into consideration:

• Location – Sometimes this doesn’t mean closest to your home, as oftentimes funerals take place in different towns where the deceased wants to be buried, or where other family members live.
• Services Offered – Make sure your cemetery or funeral home offers the services you want. Such services include burial options like cremation, traditional burial, or green burial. They also include different technology like online obituaries, digital guest books or live streaming.
• Service Prices – You’d be surprised how much cemetery and funeral home prices vary. Be sure to shop around and get quotes from different cemeteries to make sure you’re getting the best prices for services.
• Product Prices – Caskets, urns and other funeral accessories and products can get pricey. Compare cemetery and funeral home product prices as well.
• Veteran Services – If you or your loved one served, that should be recognized in a special way. Check that cemeteries funeral homes offer veteran services if applicable.
• Cultural and Religious Needs – Make sure the cemetery you choose is able to provide you with your cultural and/or religious funeral needs.
• Reviews – Research other customer’s experiences with cemeteries to gauge efficacy, pricing, compassion and more.

It’s never fun to think about and plan for death, but it’s better to start looking for a cemetery now before you need one. This way, you won’t be scrambling to find one if you lose a loved one, or your family won’t be stressed out looking for one for your funeral after you pass. You don’t want to be stuck with the easiest or most accessible cemetery when the time comes because you don’t have the time or money to find a better one.

Start gathering information on cemeteries in your area to get a head start on choosing one. When researching, use tools like price comparisons. Every funeral home is required, by law, to have and make accessible a general list of prices for their offered products and services. You should also note service fees, as what is and what is not included in services fees varies greatly from cemetery to cemetery. Finally, don’t forget to add funeral insurance to your current life insurance policy.

If you want to learn more about Charlotte, NC cemeteries just get in touch with Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden. We are more than happy to help you with preplanning or in your time of loss. Call or visit us today.

No one likes to talk about death, cremations, or cemeteries in Matthews, NC. That’s probably because there’s a lot people don’t know about them, and the unknown is frightening. One way to make them less scary is to learn more about them. Let’s start with cremation.

Make cremation less scary by learning more about it. These frequently asked cremation questions and their answers are good places to start:

• What is Cremation? Cremation when a body is reduced to bone fragments and ash for its final disposition. The body is heated in a chamber from 1,500 to 2,000 degrees F until it breaks down. It usually takes about two to three hours for a full cremation for an average sized adult.
• Can the Family Watch the Cremation? Cremation viewing may be available to family members if arranged in advance. Check with your cremation service for more information.
• How Can I expect My Loved One’s Cremated Remains to Look? Cremated remains look like ash, but with a light grey to white color. You can expect anywhere from 4 to 8 pounds of ash depending on how big your loved one was.
• What Happens After Cremation? After the body is reduced to bone fragments via heat, the remains are swept into a container and cooled. Once cooled, they are inspected for items that weren’t reduced by the heat like medical devices, metal from clothing, etc. The remaining bone fragments are then put through a machine to be compressed to a consistent size of ash, placed in the chosen receptacle and given to the family.
• Are All the Remains Returned to My Family? All of the remains are returned except small particles that may have been drawn into the cremation or processing machines.
• How Do I Know I’ll Get the Right Remains? Every cremation business has a series of checks and policies to ensure you get your loved one’s remains. These include positive identification at all stages of cremation, metal identification tags, and certified technicians.
• What Do I Do with the Remains? There are many options for your loved one’s cremated remains. You can bury them in a cemetery, inter them in a columbarium, or scatter them on private property just to name a few. You can get as creative as you like.
• Do I Have to Pay for an Urn? Cremated remains can be returned to you in a basic container that’s included in the cremation charge. You may purchase an urn or other receptacle if you so choose.
• Do I Need A Cremation Casket? You do not need to purchase a traditional casket for cremation. You do need a rigid container for the body to be cremated in.

Cremation isn’t as frightening once you know more about it. If you have more questions, or want more information about cremations, funerals, or Matthews, NC cemeteries, just reach out to Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden. We have years of experience that we are ready and willing to put at your disposal. Call today!

Death is never easy, but it becomes especially difficult when you’re faced with all the steps between your loved one’s death and the Huntersville, NC cemetery. Use this list of steps to help guide you through the process and make your lost loved one’s funeral and burial go smoothly.

1. Report the Death – The first step is to report the death to the proper authorities. If the death is at a hospital, nursing home, or hospice, the officials there will know what to do and will make the report for you. If you are at home, or have no other options, call 911.
2. Prepare to Work with A Funeral Director – You will need the assistance of a funeral director to complete the death certificate, transport and store the body. Take note if the deceased made pre-arrangements for his or her funeral and be prepared to relay these wishes to the funeral director.
3. Pick a Type of Service – There are several service options you need to be prepared to choose from:
   • Funerals, in which the service is held before the body is cremated or buried and the body is present
   • Memorials, in which the service is help after the body is buried or cremated and therefore not present
   • Graveside services in which the funeral takes place at the grave
4. Make Cemetery Arrangements – If you choose a burial rather than a cremation you will need to make cemetery arrangements. Decide where the burial will take place, and if necessary, purchase a plot. If you’re unsure where to start, your funeral home will most likely be affiliated with a cemetery and can help you find a plot. You could also check with your church, synagogue or other place of worship for further guidance.
5. Make Funeral Arrangements – Feel free to get creative when making funeral arrangements to make the service personal and meaningful. Flowers, music, pre or post service events and other special touches help make the service personal for you and the deceased.
6. Plan Formal Transportation – If you choose to do a burial, you will need a hearse to move the body from the funeral location to the burial location. Most funeral homes have one available for use and will include that cost in the overall funeral bill.
7. Inform the Family and Write Death Notice – Personally inform all close family, friends and loved ones of the death, ideally over the phone or in person. If you’re nervous, take the time to write a script to help you make key points. Don’t forget to write and release a death notice to notify the rest of the friends, coworkers, associates etc.

Don’t forget to make a list of what you need to accomplish before the funeral to help you stay organized and not forget anything important. This list could include your attire, personal items or collecting photos.

Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden is a cemetery in Huntersville, NC and can help you with any other questions you may have about planning.