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Green Hills Memorial Properties

Frequently Asked Questions About Cremation

Cremation is an option that's becoming increasingly popular. Today, about 40% of families and individuals in California choose cremation. Some prefer it due to its lower cost, some for religious reasons, and still others because of their views about land use or environmental concerns. Still, many people know little about the cremation process itself and what they should do with the cremated remains (commonly called ashes.) Cremation is simply one method of preparing human remains for burial or interment. Throughout the cremation process, the human remains are handled with respect and dignity.



I'm considering cremation. Why should I consider a cremation property?

Cremation is only one step in the journey of commemorating a life lived. Cremation properties allow you to provide a respectful and lasting place for family and friends to visit and remember a loved one. We offer an expanded choice of exceptional properties for those considering cremation, as well as for families currently in possession of cremated remains. Learn more.

I am currently in possession of a loved ones cremated remains, and are unsure what to do with them. What are my options?

Many people may not realize that cremation opens your options, rather than limits them. While some choose to keep cremated remains at home, or scatter them in a place of special meaning, these options do not easily allow other family members and loved ones the opportunity to honor and remember the individual who has passed on.

Cremation properties allow those who prefer cremation to provide a lasting, dignified and respectful final resting place, as well as a way for family and friends to visit and remember a loved one. Being able to visit a physical location where a loved one is laid to rest often provides a sense of peace, acceptance and closure.

Green Hills Memorial Park offers individuals who choose cremation, or who currently posses cremated remains, a wide array of cremation properties in scenic locations throughout the park. Learn more.

back to list What is a niche?

Niches are small compartments designed to accommodate urns containing cremated remains.

What type of niches do you offer?

We offer niches with a variety of fronts, including granite, marble, bronze, wood or glass. Depending on the location of the niche, it may have an open front protected by glass where the urn remains visible, or a closed-front faced with granite or marble where an inscription is placed on the niche front. A vase may be placed on some closed-front niches for the placement of flowers by those who care to commemorate special occasions.

What is a crypt?

Crypts are designed to hold casketed remains as well as urns containing cremated remains. Following a casket entombment or inurnment, the crypt is sealed, and a granite or marble front is attached. At Green Hills Memorial Park, we use granite, a harder and more durable material, for outdoor crypts and marbles for indoor crypts.

What is a mausoleum?

Green Hills Memorial Park offers an exceptional selection of mausoleums, including indoor, outdoor, private family and community mausoleums. Learn more.

What types of mausoleums do you offer?

Green Hills Memorial Park offers an exceptional selection of mausoleums, including indoor, outdoor, private family and community mausoleums. Learn more.

What is a columbarium?

A columbarium, often located within a mausoleum or chapel, and sometimes freestanding, is constructed of numerous small compartments (niches) designed to hold urns containing cremated remains. Columbariums can be indoor or outdoor.

What types of columbariums do you offer?

Green Hills Memorial Park offers a large variety of columbariums from which to choose. These include freestanding structures located outdoors in picturesque settings, for example, overlooking a pond. Others are located indoors in either a chapel or a mausoleum, often as a bank of niches along a corridor or a series of special alcoves.

What is interment?

Most commonly, interment refers the burial of a casket or other container, including urns containing cremated remains, into the ground. Most ground interments are single graves, and lots composed of two or more graves. Wall interment, where a casket or container is placed within a wall, is another option.

If I chose cremation, can I still have a traditional ground burial?

Yes. Among the many options available to those who prefer cremation, is traditional ground interment including wide range of urn spaces throughout the park. Most spaces will accommodate at least two urns. For more information on these and other options, please visit our Cremation section. [link to Cremation Options Internal Page]

What are interment rights?

Interment rights designate who may be interred or entombed in the space itself. Interment rights also include the right to place a memorial. An interment right holder is the person(s) who own interment rights in a cemetery, mausoleum, or columbarium. Anyone may be interred in any grave or lot with the permission of the interment rights holder(s). Written permission from the interment rights holder(s) is required prior to each interment or entombment.

When choosing your interment rights, there are a number of factors to consider including, your preference of memorial; the number of interments you expected to take place; will any of these interment be cremated remains; and your budget. We also strongly recommend seeing the site before buying any interment rights.

Types of interment right ownership include:

Sole Ownership: Where one individual owns the interment rights. Upon the death of the interment rights holder, his/her estate retains ownership of the interment rights.

Joint Tenants: where two or more individuals own interment rights. Upon the death of an interment rights holder, the surviving interment rights holder(s) retains the ownership of the interment rights.

Tenants-in-Common: Where two or more individuals own interment rights. Upon the death of an interment rights holder, his/her estate retains ownership of the interment rights together with the surviving interment rights holder(s).

Transfer of Ownership: You may transfer your interment rights to third party.

Green Hills Memorial Park provides interment rights for all wishes and budgets. A complete list, with specific price information, is available upon request. Please call us at (310) 831-0311.

If I choose traditional ground burial for my cremated remains, will my family have to pay for the upkeep of my memorial property?

No. All the costs of maintaining the park and your memorial property, including landscaping, physical structures and roadways, are covered by the Endowment Care Fund. All property owners contribute to the Endowment Care Fund at the time of purchase.

Can I put flowers, candles and other objects on my grave?

Either natural or artificial flowers may be placed on graves providing appropriate containers are used. We respectfully request that you do not use glass or pottery containers. You are welcome to light a candle while you are visiting the grave-site, provided you extinguish it and take it away with you. We also allow the temporary placement of personal items and decorations for holidays and other special occasions. For more information, please call us at (310) 831-0311.

What is inurnment?

Inurnment refers to the respectful placement of cremated remains within an urn, which is then interred or entombed in a final resting place, such as a grave, a niche or a crypt.

What type of urn do I need?

A simple, fiber container is typically provided by the crematorium, free of charge. However, you may prefer an urn which reflects your personal tastes as well as where the urn will be placed Ñ whether it is seen or concealed. For your convenience, a selection of urns is on display in our office. Urns come in variety of sizes, styles and materials include cast bronze, hard woods, ceramic, marble or granite. Urns range in size, from single to multiple capacity, and in styling, from traditional to modern. Some urns are square or rectangular, others are octagonal or cylindrical. If you cannot find an available urn that meets your requirements, you can also have one custom designed.

What is entombment?

Entombment is the interment of human remains in a tomb or crypt, and today is most often referred to as above-ground interment. It involves placing a casket or cremation urn in a crypt or niche (individual compartment within a mausoleum or columbarium), which is then sealed.

I prefer cremation, but my spouse prefers a ground burial or entombment. Can we still be interred together?

Yes. Cremated remains may be interred in a grave. One grave can accommodate many cremated remains. Even graves, which no longer have room for casket interments, can accommodate the interment of one or more urns. If you plan on interring cremated remains in a grave, be sure to choose a memorial or marker that provides enough room for multiple inscriptions. If space permits on the marker, and with the permission of the interment rights holder(s), you may be able to add an additional inscription on an existing marker. We also provide crypts that allow for the entombment of a casket or container, as well as an urn containing cremated remains.

Do you have cremation properties that accommodate more than one person?

Yes. We offer a wide range of cremation properties that can accommodate multiple family members. These include:

  • Ground interment for multiple cremated remains
  • Crypts that hold multiple cremated remains
  • Crypts that accommodate both a casket or container and an urn containing cremated remains
  • Companion niches and lawn properties
  • Family mausoleums designated for individual families
  • Mausoleum family room with 15 crypts
  • Private and semi-private family estates and gardens for traditional ground burial of cremated remains
  • Large urn sizes that accommodate multiple cremated remains

What types of memorial marker can I choose for my burial property?

Your choice of memorial or marker depends on many factors, including the type of cemetery property; the number of individuals interred, entombed or inurned; and your family's personal preferences. We offer a wide selection of markers to choose from in both granite and bronze and will help you select a memorial that best commemorates the life you wish to honor.

Do I have to choose a memorial or marker on my grave?

No. Your interment rights include the right to a memorial marker, but you are not required to purchase one. For identification each grave or lot is marked with a permanent number marker.

What is pre-planning?

Pre-planning allows families to make important decisions about where and how loved ones will be memorialized, commemorated and laid to rest, before the time of need arises. Pre-planning includes pre-selecting a memorial or cremation property to serve as a final resting place, as well as location, markers, urns, and other options for memorialization. During the pre-planning process, you will also determine the budget you wish to spend on your memorial property, and establish the terms for purchasing the memorial property in advance. This allows your family to secure today's prices, and protect against inflation and overspending.

Green Hills Memorial Park offers no-cost pre-planning services to guide you through your options, make the best selection for your needs, and secure the most favorable financial terms for you. Learn more.

Do I have to make an appointment to tour your properties?

We do encourage you to schedule a no-obligation tour with one of our knowledgeable counselors who can explain the different features and benefits of each type of memorial property. [link to registration form] However, Green Hills Memorial Park is open to the public every day of the year, from 7 AM to 6 PM. You are welcome to visit us any day of the week.

What are the price ranges for cremation properties?

Prices vary with the type of property selected [link to cremation price page], whether or not burial containers are included and where the memorial site is situated. Our Counselors are happy to discuss pricing you in further detail. Please contact us at (310) 831-0311.

Do you offer payment plans?

Yes, we offer a range of flexible and convenient payment plans, including payment plans for certain pre-purchased cemetery properties. Our Counselors will be happy to go over any payment plan and financing options with you at no cost and no obligation. Please contact us at (310) 831-0311.

I'm looking for something special for myself and my family. What are my options?

We have a range of exceptional private settings for families who prefer cremation and seek more seclusion. These include:

  • Private family mausoleums
  • Private walled estates with benches
  • Private and semi-private gardens
  • Courtyard settings with sidewalk access, shrubbery beds and year-round flowers

For more information, please visit our Memorial Properties. [link to Memorial Properties landing page]

Do you have a chapel?

Yes. The Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel is available for committal, funeral or memorial services for a nominal fee. You are welcome to visit the chapel to decide if it meets your requirements. To make arrangements, please call (310) 831-0311.