The cost of your cemetery property is actually one of the least expensive items
on a list of funeral needs, yet it is one of the most important decisions you
will make.
Since before the pyramids, civilizations have recognized the human need for
remembrance. Many Biblical references attest to the fact that a place of
permanent remembrance was vital to God and important to people. Abraham insisted
on buying a burial site for his beloved wife, Sarah. Joseph of Aramathea
pre-purchased a site for his family – which he then donated for Jesus’ use.
WCMPark
Traditional Cemetery
The cemetery is the final site of remembrance for your loved one - what you will
see long after the funeral is over. Your cemetery should provide the level of
care and professionalism needed to insure the beauty and peace of your site for
eternity. Remember, that your one-time purchase of cemetery property maintains
that site forever. Can you pay a lawn care firm once – and have them mow your
yard forever?
The cemetery you choose provides a permanent tribute to the life, not death, of
your loved one. It is a perpetual record of yesterday, a sanctuary of beauty and
peace today, and a promise of commitment for tomorrow.
A cemetery lot is real estate. It doesn’t rust, wear out, or move away. It is
actually an asset of lasting value, providing each family with security and
peace of mind. Although cemetery property is only one of the items on a list of
funeral needs, it is one of the most important decisions you will make. Your
cemetery is the final site of remembrance for your loved one – what you will see
long after the funeral service is over. Cemetery real estate is priced by a
number of factors:
ØGeneral reputation of the property for care, maintenance, and the training and
expertise of their staff.
(Cemeteries are regulated by a variety of federal, and state agencies, including
the Pa. State Real Estate Commission, OSHA, the FTC, fiduciary and trust
regulations, as well as other safety and legal regulations that protect the
public, the lot owners, and the staff.)
ØLocation of the specific lot to enhancements such as:
roadway access and/or water service
trees or landscaping assets
statuary or other beautification features
ØAvailability of lots in a specific garden or section:
Older or more developed areas have fewer lots available which increases their
value.
Newer areas are often value-priced to encourage selection.
Cemeteries in Pennsylvania are required to place 15% of every burial space sold
into a trusted Care Fund. The idea is to accumulate funds so that a cemetery can
continue to be well maintained even if it no longer has property to sell or
burials to be made. While WCMPark has more than enough property for continued
growth, we are committed to insure that trust-fund income will support the
cemetery far into the future, so that WCMPark will always be a cemetery “Where
Beautiful Memories Remain Beautiful”.
The 'Opening & Closing' cost is the labor charge made by the cemetery for making
the interment. There are over 50 different duties that must be handled by
cemetery staff in order to verify the location, open the site, inter the casket,
refill the site, perform clean-up operations, comply with records maintenance,
safety requirements, and equipment maintenance. The cost of 'Opening & Closing'
includes payroll, equipment usage, supplies, insurance, and related office
expenses.
Not-for-profit means that all funds received are spent for the benefit of the cemetery and its lot owners, not as dividends, bonuses, or
owner profits. A non-profit cemetery may also receive tax-deductible
contributions to the cemetery, to benefit the Endowment Care fund or a specific
building or development fund.
A burial vault is designed to support earth weight, and to protect the casket
from
being crushed. While a casket is designed to contain the earthly remains of a
loved
one, they are not manufactured for in-ground protection. That is the purpose of
a
burial vault or grave liner.
Most states do not mandate the use of a burial vault; however, most
cemeteries do
require at least the minimum protection afforded by a grave liner or other outer
burial container. The use of a burial vault prevents the ground from settling
over
the years, and helps make it easier to maintain the cemetery grounds.
Cemeteries usually require an outer container or cremation vault for an urn.
