Memorial Garden
The Memorial Garden at
West Side United Methodist Church was established in 1994 as an alternative
burial site for church members after cremation. In our Memorial Garden,
we seek a living way to remember our loved ones and to provide a place
of serenity, beauty, and meditation. The garden also serves our congregation
as a place to hold celebrations of life.
Placement of Ashes
Families who choose to use the garden for burial attend a short prayer service
called the Placement Ceremony. During this ceremony, the ashes are poured
directly into a prepared hole in the ground. No container is used. The ashes
become a part of the soil, giving life to the garden's many perennial and
woody plants. The location of the burial site is not marked and is therefore
known only to those present at the placement service. After placement, a
small brass plate with the interred person's name, year of birth, and year
of death is added to the Memorial Plaque. This plaque is fixed to an exterior
wall of the church, located in a secluded part of the garden.
Why choose this form of burial?
Placement in the Memorial Garden may be preferred as an alternative to cemetery
burial for many reasons. It is a living tribute to the life of a loved one.
For those who have been active in the life of our church, burial on church
grounds is like "coming home." Cremation and interment in the Memorial
Garden is less expensive than conventional funeral and burial procedures.
Cemeteries consume precious environmental resources for a single purpose.
For many, the return of the physical self to dust and incorporation into
the Earth seems natural.
How to arrange a placement
To arrange placement of a deceased loved one, the family should talk first
with our pastor to set a date for the Placement Ceremony. The Gardens Committee
Chair and/or Placement Coordinator will then contact the family and send
the necessary paperwork. Placements can be pre-planned with the Gardens Committee
at any time during life.
Fees and Paperwork
There is a modest fee for placement in the Memorial Garden. A Placement Agreement
form must be filled out. After the ceremony, it is signed by the pastor,
the Gardens Committee representative who performed the interment, and the
family member who arranged it. A photo and a short biography are requested
for our Book of Memories.
Garden Maintenance
The Memorial Garden is maintained by volunteers, organized by the Gardens Committee.
Each volunteer is responsible for the care of a designated section of the
garden. Additional help is often recruited for special projects. New volunteers
are always welcome.
Financial Sustainment
Construction and maintenance of the garden is financed by placement fees, donations,
fundraising and a small budget. An Endowment Fund has been set up to ensure
long-term maintenance. Gifts to the Memorial Garden are welcome at any time.
For more information or to arrange a placement, contact our church office.