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Our Counselors are here to guide you through your options to find the right memorial property for your needs.

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(310) 831-0311 or register online for more information.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Memorial Properties

back to listWhat 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 marble for indoor crypts.

What types of crypts do you offer?

We offer a variety of crypts for the entombment of caskets. These include:

  • Single crypts designed for one entombment only
  • Tandem crypts permitting two entombments lengthwise in a crypt
  • Companion crypts permitting two entombments side-by-side
  • Westminster crypts permitting two entombments, the first below floor level, and the second above it

We also offer crypts designed to hold urns containing cremated remains.

back to listWhat is a mausoleum?

Mausoleums are indoor or outdoor structures that house crypts containing caskets and urns, as well as niches containing urns that hold cremated remains. Historically, the word mausoleum comes from the large temple-like structure, which was erected by Queen Artemisia as the final resting place for her husband King Mausolus, who died in 353 B.C. His mausoleum is now regarded as the fifth of the Seven Wonders of the World.

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.

back to listWhat is interment?

Most commonly, interment refers to the burial of a casket or other container in 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.

What interment options do you offer?

For those who prefer interment, we offer a wide range of options including:

Single Grave: A single grave can, in most cases accommodate two casket interments, one at extra depth and the other at standard depth.

Urn Space: Urn spaces are available for those who have chosen cremation, but still prefer the traditional interment of cremated remains. Most spaces will accommodate at least two urns.

Family Estates, Private and Semi-Private Properties: For those seeking more privacy for their families, we offer interment in these "cemetery within a cemetery" properties.

Is a casket required for interment?

No. What is required is an enclosed, rigid container to allow for the dignified handling of human remains.

back to listWhat 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 expect to take place; will any of these interments 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 a 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 a Counselor at (310) 831-0311.

back to listWill 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.

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

Cremation is only one step in the journey of commemorating a life. 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.

back to listIf 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. For more information on these and other options, please visit our Cremation section.

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 are the requirements for embalming?

Embalming is not a requirement in California for those who chose interment, entombment or cremation. It is entirely your choice, and may depend on such factors as whether or not there will be an open casket with viewing of the body; if the body is to be transported by air or rail; the length of time prior to interment, etc.

back to listWhat 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 a ground burial or entombment, but my spouse prefers cremation. 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 that provides enough room for multiple inscriptions. If space permits, 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.

back to listDo you have properties that accommodate more than one person?

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

  • Ground interment for two individuals
  • A variety of double crypts
  • Crypts that accommodate both a casket or container and an urn containing cremated remains
  • Family mausoleums designated for individual families
  • Mausoleum family room with 15 crypts
  • Private and semi-private family estates and gardens for traditional ground burial

For more information, please visit our Memorial Properties.

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

Your choice of memorial or marker depends on many factors, including the type of cemetery property selected; the number of individuals interred, entombed or inurned; and your family's personal preferences. Here are just some examples of the memorials and markers available at Green Hills Memorial Park.

Ground Interment: The most common form of memorial is a granite or bronze marker set flush with the ground. To preserve the uniform look, flush markers are normally set at Green Hills Memorial Park.

Crypt Entombment: Most people chose to place an inscription on the crypt front as a memorial. Ceramic or photoplex pictures may be also placed on crypt fronts.

Niches: Niche fronts are more widely varied and include bronze and glass, but many also choose to place an inscription on the niche front.

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

No. Interment rights include the right to a memorial or 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.

back to listDo 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 dusk. You are welcome to visit us any day of the week.

What are the price ranges for memorial properties?

Prices vary with the type of property selected, whether or not burial containers are included and where the memorial site is situated. We offer a wide range of pricing for cremation and memorial properties at Green Hills Memorial Park. 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 memorial properties. Our Counselor will be happy to go over any payment plan and financing options with you. Please contact us at (310) 831-0311.

back to listI'm looking for something special for myself and my family. What are my options?

We have a range of exceptional private settings for families seeking 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.

back to listDo you have a chapel?

Yes. 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.