ASK THE DIRECTOR - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013
Dear Jerry,
While visiting my husband's grave on Sunday I was looking at all of the
headstones and monuments at the cemetery. I always read the names and
dates to myself and admire all of the detail work on some of the stones,
especially the older ones. I also noticed that years ago, families had
their own mausoleums built. That doesn't seem to be too popular today, I
suppose because it's too much money. Just out of curiosity, if you were
to build one of those types of family mausoleums today, how much would
it cost?
Delores J.
Stamford, CT
Dear Delores,
Not a silly question at all. Some of the private family mausoleums in
our local cemeteries are quite impressive memorials, and to have one
built today would require some money for sure. How much you ask? Let
me try to answer that for you.
Those private family mausoleums that you see when visiting our local
cemeteries usually have two to eight crypts in them. A private mausoleum
can be a small horizontal structure just large enough to hold one or
two crypts, or it can be a larger, walk-in building with tall columns
and other ornamentation. Basic small one or two-crypt private mausoleums
would range anywhere from $25K to $50K, and those costs can vary
greatly depending on location, style, and quality of stone, amount of
detail work, and cost of other materials. The walk-in mausoleums
typically start between $200K and $500K and can cost upwards of
$1 million or more.
While researching your question, I read that a cemetery and funeral home in
Pennsylvania offers private mausoleums ranging from $37,000 for a
simple two-crypt model to $2.5 million for a 12-crypt walk-in mausoleum
made of rainbow granite. These include foundation, installation and
cemetery site. I also saw that you can purchase a mausoleum on the
internet. www.familymausoleum.net
is selling one- to six-crypt, custom-built, granite mausoleums that are
shipped and reassembled onsite, for $11K -$160K, dependant upon size
and style, and including installation, but not including the costs of
the cemetery site or the required foundation.
Mausoleum crypts are designed to provide a clean and dry above-ground
burial. Once the casketed body is entombed, the crypt is sealed with a
stone front (usually granite or marble, often with a metal plaque on the
front). Community mausoleums are typically built with stacks five to
seven crypts high, while private mausoleums might not be as tall. Many
mausoleums, both community and private, include an area (called a
columbarium) for cremation niches, often stacked floor to ceiling, with
stone or metal
Thanks for your question.
Regards,
Jerry
Gerald R. Bosak, Jr.
