How to Select the Right Cemetery for Burial Needs in Surrey, BC

Selecting the final resting place for yourself or a loved one is an important and emotional decision. Since you can find multiple options, selecting the right one out of them can be an overwhelming process. That’s where this guide can help you. Take a look at the most important factors outlined here and locate the right cemetery in Surrey out of the options you have. 

Assess Your Burial Preferences

Before touring cemeteries, think carefully about your burial needs and preferences:

• Tradition – Do you prefer traditional burial or cremation? Cemeteries offer options for casket and urn burials. Decide based on personal, cultural, or religious traditions.
• Gravesite options – Consider a private family plot for multiple burials over time versus side-by-side single plots. Also, choose between in-ground and above-ground spaces like mausoleums or columbaria.
• Gravesite features – Determine if specific features are important like memorial benches, trees, and flowers. Cemeteries such as Bakerview Memorial Cemetery offer customization options.
• Budget – Cemetery costs vary greatly for the purchase of plots and interment services. Have a budget in mind before selecting a cemetery near me. 

Research Cemeteries in Surrey 

With your preferences in mind, research cemeteries located in Surrey or neighboring communities. You can find a few options outside Surrey as well. 

• City-operated – Surrey has two city-owned and operated cemeteries at Ocean View Burial Park and Valley View Memorial Gardens. These cemeteries might look affordable at a glance. However, public cemeteries typically have less space, long wait times, and other restrictions which might not be ideal.  
• Private cemeteries – If you are looking for a hassle-free experience when working with an Aldergrove cemetery, you should pick a private cemetery. That’s where Bakerview Memorial Cemetery can help you. The team at Bakerview can listen to your specific needs and deliver the best possible experience. 
• Cultural and religious – Specialty cemeteries cater to particular cultural groups and religious faiths. For example, the Bakerview Memorial Cemetery is a great option available for anyone seeking a Muslim cemetery near me.
• Online listings – Websites like Surrey.ca and CemeteriesBC.ca let you browse and compare Surrey area cemeteries. Listings contain key details like prices, burial options, and photos. You can visit a Find a Grave Website and do your own research to find the best option. 

Consider Location and Convenience

You should never ignore the location and accessibility of the cemetery when selecting one. Here are some factors to consider when locating an easy-to-access graveyard near me. 

• Distant relatives – If out-of-town relatives visit the gravesite, consider proximity to major routes and airports.
• Local access – For frequent local visits, prioritize short travel times from your Surrey home. Measure distance to cemeteries using online maps.
• Transportation access – Check if cemeteries have parking lots and are accessible by public transit. This allows ease of access for visitors without vehicles.
• Future relocation – If anyone might relocate out-of-province later, pick a cemetery they can return to visit with reasonable travel arrangements.

Evaluate On-Site Options and Services

It would be a good option to tour the cemetery and take a look at the offered services before selecting one. Then you will not end up with disappointment. 

Burial Options:

• Graves and plots – View available traditional and cremation gravesite options. You should take some time to inspect the burial plots for sale. Measure plot dimensions to meet your space needs allowing for multiple burials if needed.
• Mausoleums and columbaria – View the design, size, and pricing for individual and family sites in above-ground options. Availability is limited.
• Scattering gardens – For cremated remains, specialized gardens provide legal scattering places with memorialization.

Site Features:

• Landscaping and views – Walk the grounds to judge ambiance, natural scenery, and photo opportunities. Peaceful surroundings should facilitate reflection.
• Memorialization – Inspect options for headstones, plaques, benches, and other memorials. Measure consistency with tradition and budget.
• Flowers and decorations – Review rules regarding grave decorations and what’s permitted. Also, observe well-maintained decor on existing sites.

On-Site Services:

• Interment services- Ask about the end-to-end burial process offered on-site like graveside services, funeral processions, and memorial events.
• Maintenance services – Well-kept cemetery grounds facilitate respectful remembrance when visiting. Ask about perpetual care funds to cover groundskeeping costs in the long term.
• Administrative services – Choosing a cemetery with on-site offices provide convenience for administrative needs when adding memorials in future years or arranging additional burials over time.

Compare Costs and Payment Options

With many cemeteries to evaluate across a range of prices, cost often plays a key role in selecting the right burial site. Make sure that you pay attention to both immediate costs as well as future expenses. 

One-time fees:

• Plot purchase – Price for the physical grave site itself. Double plots may be needed for couples. However, double plots are available in a few cemeteries in Surrey. Bakerview Memorial Cemetery is one of them. 
• Interment fee – The opening and closing of the grave for burial.
• Memorial installation – Headstones, plaques, and other memorial markers involve an additional cost.

Ongoing costs:

• Perpetual care – Funds regular cemetery maintenance like groundskeeping and landscaping over the long term.
• Administrative fees – Charges for records management, transferring deeds between families, etc.

Additional services:

• Burial service – Funeral processions, clergy services, and music involve customized add-on costs.
• Disinterment – Potential future relocation of remains to a new cemetery incurs exhuming costs.

Financing options:

• Pre-planning – Set aside funds or pre-pay part of the costs prior to the need to ease the financial burden on loved ones later.
• Payment plans – Many cemeteries offer monthly installment payments for large purchases instead of lump-sum payments.
• Insurance – Life insurance payouts often help cover final burial expenses. Discuss options with your insurance advisor.

Do a Price Comparison

With quotes in hand for preferred cemetery plots and services, compare alternatives across Surrey area facilities both large and small. City-run cemeteries offer the most budget-friendly options while the cost of private facilities are higher but offer an overall easier process. Comparing quotes in detail allows you to balance personal preferences with budget realities when choosing the optimal burial site for your needs.

Understand Cemetery Ownership, Operations, and Sustainability

While assessing specific cemetery options, it’s helpful to understand cemetery ownership, operations, and sustainability practices to gauge the provider’s stability and longevity. This ensures your final resting place will be properly maintained for generations to come.

Cemetery classification:

• Public cemeteries are owned and operated by municipal governments like Surrey’s city-run burial parks.
• Private cemeteries are run as commercial businesses overseen by the Bereavement Authority of BC. These aim to be self-sustaining by selling goods and services on the open market.

Operational funding:

• Tax subsidies – Public cemeteries funded partially through local taxes ensure affordability/ They also offer continued maintenance regardless of sales volumes.
• Perpetual care funds – Private facilities must contribute a legislated portion of sales to these funds to finance long-term care in case of business discontinuation.

Sustainability measures:

• Conservation burial – Practices like not requiring concrete grave liners and allowing shrouds reduce environmental impact.
• Business continuity – Transferring cemetery ownership to community-based societies provides ongoing local administration if corporate owners ever dissolve their businesses.

By spotting stable ownership and intelligent sustainability practices, you can more confidently select a final resting place that will endure over the long term.

Seek Out Muslim Cemetery Options

As Surrey’s Muslim population grows, special consideration has been made to accommodate Islamic burial traditions. If Muslim practices are important to your family, research cemetery options that cater to these specific needs.

Islamic Burial Traditions

Key requirements often include:

• Body positioning – Bodies are buried on their right side facing Mecca.
• Shrouding – The body gets wrapped in plain cloth without a casket.
• Modesty – Burials follow rules of modesty with same-gender washers and gravediggers.
• Simplicity – Markers like headstones are often avoided in favor of a mound of dirt or small plaque.
• Perpetuity – Graves stay untouched forever, so mausoleums and buildings overtop are prohibited.

Muslim Sections in Surrey

When touring cemetery options, inquire about sections reserved and designed for those of the Islamic faith. This thoughtful accommodation provides comfort, and traditions can be respected at your final resting place. With Surrey’s growing Muslim population, expect more of these options to open up over the coming years.

If you are looking for a Muslim graveyard in Surrey, Bakerview Memorial Cemetery will be a good option to consider. They offer Muslim burial services while respecting all cultural traditions. You can select Bakerview even if you are on the lookout for a Jewish cemetery. 

Make the Final Selection 

Align your observations with original preferences and budget to make your Surrey cemetery selection. Accepting the final resting place decision brings comfort and closure to the process. Use the customer service team of the cemetery to address outstanding questions and initiate required paperwork. Revisit the grounds over the years to reminisce and remember your departed loved one.

If you are seeking a recommendation for the best Aldergrove cemetery, get in touch with Bakerview Memorial Cemetery today. With over 100 years of combined experience, they will provide a top-notch service to you at all times.