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.

Historically, the word mausoleum comes from the large temple-like structure which was erected by Queen Artemisia in the ancient of Halicarnassus as the final resting place for her late husband, King Mausolus. Mausolus, from which the word mausoleum is derived, ruled over Caria in Asia Minor and died in 353 B.C. His mausoleum is now regarded as the fifth of the Seven Wonders of the World. A sharp earthquake in 1402 resulted in the large chariot on top of the mausoleum, in which statues of the king and queen were placed, crashing to the ground. The rest of the structure was demolished later that same year by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem who then used the stones to construct the fortress of St. Peter.

Mausoleum crypts are both clean and dry. They offer a viable alternative for those who simply have an aversion to being interred in the ground. Furthermore, with the growing shortage of available land for cemetery use, mausolea allow for a maximum number of entombments in a minimum amount of space.

No. There are indoor community mausolea, such as those in Cloisters, Pacifica & Parkview Terrace, and outdoor or garden community mausolea such as those found in Faith, Hope, Dawn, Cypress Garden of Reflection and Court of Devotion. There are also family mausolea, which are relatively small, privately owned structures designed to house the remains of individual families. There are several fine examples of family mausolea at Green Hills Memorial Park.

Granite is a harder and far more durable material then marble. As beautiful as marble is, it is not suited to a climate with harsh winters, or today's airborne pollutants such as smoke, smog and industrial gases, to say nothing of acid rain.

A columbarium, often located within a mausoleum or chapel, sometimes free-standing, either indoor or outdoor, is constructed of numerous small compartments (niches) designed to hold urns containing cremated remains.

When you purchase interment rights you in fact purchase the right to designate who may be entombed or interred in the space, rather than purchasing the crypt/niche/grave or urn space itself, which remains the property - and the responsibility - of the cemetery. Interment rights include the right to place a memorial where permitted, in the case of a crypt or niche an inscription on the crypt or niche front. A portion of the purchase price of all interment rights is contributed to an irrevocable fund _ The Endowment Care Fund. Income from this fund is used to provide regular care and maintenance activities at the cemeteries. All interment rights are subject to the Cemetery Rules and Regulations, copies of which are available at the cemetery office.

Green Hills Memorial Park first introduced the concept of Endowment Care in 1948 to ensure that there would be monies available to maintain the cemetery in the future. It is our objective to care for and maintain our cemetery in a manner in which you and the community can take pride. To that end we set aside substantially more than the minimum required by law, to ensure that essential services are provided at the standards you expect and to which you are entitled. Regular care and maintenance activities include: cutting grass, re-grading of graves and lots, planting and caring for trees, maintenance of community mausolea, water supply systems, roads, drainage, etc.

An interment rights holder is the person(s) who owns interment rights in a cemetery, mausoleum, or columbarium. The interment rights holder has the right to specify who may be entombed or interred in the crypt/niche/grave or urn space. Written permission from the interment rights holder(s) is required prior to each entombment or interment.

Yes. Single crypts are designed for one entombment only. There are three kinds of double crypts: tandem crypts permit two entombments lengthwise in a crypt; companion crypts permit two entombments side-by-side; westminster crypts permit two entombments, the first below floor level, and the second above it. Most mausolea are built four, five and sometimes six crypts high. The price of the crypt will depend on its location and type of crypt. For example: upper level crypts are less expensive than those located at eye level. Most of Green Hills Memorial Park mausolea offer a selection of crypts from which to choose, priced to meet all wishes and budgets.

An inscription on the crypt front is the form of memorial most often chosen with entombment. The same is true of niches, although niche fronts are more widely varied and include bronze and glass. A memorial, in some way, celebrates a life which has been lived. It can take many forms. Some people choose memorial scholarships or charitable gifts. At Green Hills Memorial Park we generally allow only memorials that lie flat for a regular ground interment. A Service Counselor would be pleased to discuss the many options available.

Yes. Ceramic or photoplex pictures may be placed on crypt fronts. Please consult the cemetery office for specifications.

A number of urns containing cremated remains may be placed in a crypt. All that is required is the permission of the interment rights holder(s). The size of the crypt front may limit the number of memorial inscriptions.

The entombment fee includes administration and permanent record-keeping (determining ownership, obtaining permission and the completion of other documentation which may be required, entering entombment particulars in the interment register, maintaining all legal files); opening and closing the crypt or niche, and replacing the marble or granite front. Any other supplies and /or services which may be required at the time of an entombment would be at an additional cost.

No. These days, embalming is largely a matter of choice. However, if you are planning a funeral service which might include several days of visitation with an open casket, embalming is probably advisable. Furthermore, if the body is to be transported any great distance, and particularly outside the state, it may be necessary. Certain states, provinces and countries have very stringent regulations for transporting human remains.

This need not be a problem. One solution is to purchase a crypt which would allow for the entombment of a casket or container, as well as an urn containing cremated remains.

Yes. Interment rights can be owned by one person, or by more than one person as joint tenants or as tenants-in-common.

Sole ownership means one individual, the interment rights holder, owns the interment rights. Upon the death of the interment rights holder, his/her estate retains ownership of the interment rights. Any future entombments, transfers, inscriptions, etc., would require legal documentation to be filed with Green Hills Memorial Park.

Yes. Anyone may be entombed in any crypt or niche with the permission of the interment rights holder(s).

Yes. You can take the advantage of our flexible payment plans which enable you to purchase interment rights and some services in advance. Interment rights must be paid for before they can be used.

Certainly. You may allocate for the future use of both the entombment space and the inscription space. Allocations may be changed or cancelled at any time by the current interment rights holder(s).

Yes. You may transfer your interment rights to a third party. This would require you to surrender your property deed to Green Hills Memorial Park so that the transfer of ownership may be recorded.

Interment rights held by a person who dies become part of the estate of the deceased. It is, therefore, important to contact the Business Office of Green Hills Memorial Park as soon as possible following the death of the interment rights holder(s) to establish signing authority relative to the future use of the interment rights. Certain documentation will be required, and since these vary according to the type of ownership and whether or not a will exists, a call to Green Hills Memorial Park is of utmost importance.

Yes. All arrangements may be made in advance. By planning ahead, you have the opportunity to consider the many options available to commemorate a life. You can make an informed decision about your funeral and cemetery arrangements and the form of memorial you prefer, in ways which are meaningful to you and your family. You will gain peace of mind, knowing your family and friends will be relieved of the emotional and financial burden often associated with making arrangements when a death occurs. If you pre-arrange your cemetery and funeral services, you benefit by purchasing at today's prices, free from inflationary pressures in the future. Whether you choose to purchase in advance or not, we recommend that you discuss your preferences with your family before you finalize them. Not doing so can cause anxiety if your wishes conflict with what your family or survivors feel is appropriate.

Clear, written instructions should be given to the person(s) who will be responsible for your funeral and cemetery arrangements. Under current law, the final decision will rest with your executor(s), even taking precedence over the nearest relatives' choices. It is important, therefore, to select a person whom you trust to carry out your wishes.

No. In fact, California law permits people to look after all arrangements themselves, provided all legal requirements (permits, certificates, etc.) are met. Some organizations known as transfer services will provide a simple, dignified interment, entombment, cremation or memorial service. This would include the completion of all necessary documents to carry out the interment, entombment or cremation provision of a simple container to enclose the body, removal of the deceased from the place of death and transportation to the cemetery, mausoleum or crematorium. The provision of more traditional funeral services (such as embalming, visitation, and the rental of vehicles for a procession to the cemetery, mausoleum or crematorium) is only available from funeral homes.