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.