The Columbarium Niche for Cremated Remains

For cremains, a columbarium niche is often the first choice for internment. It's not uncommon for loved ones to feel a little uncomfortable having cremains in the home and in many places scattering ashes, even into bodies of water, is illegal. Having a place within a cemetery to house the remains is essential to finding that final resting place.

Why is a Columbarium Niche a Good Idea for Cremated Remains?

When a loved one is cremated you might not be sure what you should do with the urn and the remains. If you're feeling as though a place in the home is somehow inappropriate for you or other family members, you are not alone. Many people find that this is not their first choice and would like to commence with a full funeral service despite the cremation. This is what a columbarium niche is used for.

While it is quite romantic to think about possibly spreading your loved one's remains in their favorite place or out at sea, it is almost always illegal to do so. In some cases of service in the military an exception is made because the ashes can be sprinkled well off of the legal zones. For individual vessels this zone can take days or even a week to reach depending on the starting location. Leaving human cremains in the desert, in the ocean, and on the mountains is also generally illegal. Thus, many families have turned toward the legal option of interning the urn in a cemetery. This is what the niche is for.

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What is a Columbarium Niche?

A columbarium niche is a structure that is built indoors or outdoors that hold urns for internment. Many are beautifully crafted and can be made of marble or other hard, fine stone to prevent accidental or intentional breakage. Each structure is designed with individual spaces that are appropriately sized to hold an urn.

The urn is placed inside the niche and the door to that specific area is then sealed. Many cemeteries will open it upon request should you prefer to visit directly with the urn on return visits.

Some niches are built into walls while others are freestanding units that are found throughout the cemetery grounds. Each unit is secured against any type of potential grave vandalism through sealed doors and the use of hard stone that is often reinforced with steel. If you have questions regarding the safety of the structure the age of the niche will give you a great deal of information about how it was made. In many of today's cemeteries, a columbarium niche built prior to the 1990s is often not reinforced.

Can You Still Have a Complete Service Using a Columbarium Niche?

There really is no reason why you can't have a traditional service like that of a ground burial using a columbarium niche. The urn can be transported from the funeral home to a church if you like before moving on to the cemetery. At the cemetery, a ceremony can be held at the niche. Depending on your budget, you can have the staff intern the urn as part of the final ceremony and have the door sealed before leaving the area. This is helpful to those who wish to have a funeral rather than a memorial service for a loved one that has been cremated.

If the niche is indoors be sure to ask about arrangements for a funeral service. While most cemeteries can accommodate the request, a few are built with a narrow walkway and will not be able to host a full service. You can select a different cemetery if the service is important to you.

* A columbarium niche is a safe and secure location to inter the remains of a loved one who has been cremated without giving up the full funeral service.