This article was originally published in American Cemetery & Cremation in their March 2025 issue, click the link below to see the original article.
It was a warm autumn day in Wisconsin. The birds were chirping, and the leaves rustled gently in the breeze. Despite the beauty of the day, I braced myself for a challenging experience: the burial of a young father of two small children in our cremation nature trail. When I first met the man’s wife, she spoke of his love for the woods and his fondness for cutting down trees. The forest had been his sanctuary. I knew instantly that she would find solace in our nature trail, a serene path winding along the boundaries of our cemetery.
She chose a spot at the bottom of a small hill, where a clearing made the perfect place for a memorial boulder. It felt as though the area had been waiting for him. When the day of the service arrived, a motorcycle procession led the family onto the cemetery grounds, where roughly 100 of his closest friends and family gathered to pay their respects. As they walked to the trail, admiring the surroundings, voices echoed sentiments like, “This is perfect.”A blank boulder stood about 2 feet high, marking the location of his eternal rest. With Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” playing softly in the background, his children came forward with heartfelt mementos. His son placed a cross made from sticks and twine, while his daughter carefully arranged 10 rocks in the shape of a heart. The scene was profoundly moving, and I instinctively knew those rocks held deep meaning. After everyone had departed, I took a photo of the arrangement to ensure I could preserve its integrity during my future walks along the trail.
The Power of Personalized Memorialization
Months later, his wife reached out, still uncertain about what to engrave on the boulder. We exchanged emails, trying to identify the perfect words and imagery to honor his memory. I couldn’t shake the image of those rocks. Sharing the photo with her, I suggested engraving the heart-shaped design on the boulder, preserving the children’s gesture forever. It was as though a light had been switched on; she immediately knew this was the right choice. Today, the textured engraving of the heart sits above his name, capturing the love and creativity of his family in a timeless tribute.
This story is just one of many that underscore the power of offering unique and meaningful placement options. Cremation allows for an almost limitless range of memorialization opportunities, tailored to the individual’s life and passions. By providing families with creative and personalized choices, cemeteries can become places not just of rest, but of connection and storytelling.The Role of Variety in Attracting Families
Families often find themselves drawn to cemeteries that offer a variety of permanent placement options. Memorialization is no longer a one-size-fits-all experience. Today, cemeteries are embracing innovative solutions that reflect the evolving needs and desires of families, including:
Cremation Trails and Gardens
Trails like the one described above offer a peaceful, natural setting where loved ones can feel connected to the environment. Gardens and pathways can be designed with niches, boulders, or other customizable options to reflect the individuality of those being memorialized. Those that are deeply connected to nature feel that these types of areas draw them in and have a special energy.
Columbaria
Modern columbaria offer a blend of architectural beauty and functionality, providing families with above-ground options for urn placement. Designs can range from traditional to contemporary, appealing across a wide demographic. Many people comment on the fact that “they do not want to be in the ground,” and columbaria offer a solution for those choosing cremation who have this feeling.
Custom Memorials
From engraved boulders to statues, plaques, and etchings, custom memorials allow families to commemorate their loved ones in ways that feel deeply personal. These options cater to families seeking to celebrate unique stories and legacies. If we can find ways to personalize, regardless of how “simple of a person” they are, this tells a story which is the entire point of a memorial in the future. Encourage families to capture some essence about them that will live on through their memorial. Family Estates
Offering family estates within cemetery grounds gives relatives a shared, meaningful place to visit. These can include ground burial private gardens or mausoleums, creating a sense of legacy and unity. Estates can also combine traditional full-body burials with cremation options, providing flexibility for multiple family members’ wishes. It’s important to have these available immediately for sale as well as to train your sales staff to be sure to present these to every family, not just to certain ones that they feel these will apply to.
In-Ground Placements
For some reason, many families are not aware of the in-ground options available for cremated remains. Cemeteries can offer traditional burial plots for cremated remains, often with smaller grave sizes or shared family spaces. This option provides a tangible place for loved ones to visit and pay their respects, whether it is for one person or within a family lot.
Why Diversity Matters in Cemetery Offerings
A variety of permanent placement options allows cemeteries to appeal to diverse groups within their communities. Families today are looking for spaces that not only honor the departed but also reflect their beliefs, cultures, and lifestyles. By expanding offerings, cemeteries can:
Enhance Community Engagement: Unique options, such as trails and gardens, encourage families to spend more time on cemetery grounds, fostering a sense of belonging and connection.
Promote Sustainability: Natural burial and cremation gardens align with the growing demand for eco-friendly practices, attracting environmentally conscious families. Increase Accessibility: Providing a range of price points ensures that families from all walks of life can find an option that suits their needs.
Building a Connection Through Storytelling
Each placement option tells a story, transforming cemeteries into spaces of remembrance and celebration. For example, the young father’s story illustrates how a thoughtfully chosen location can bring comfort and healing to grieving families. By listening to the needs and desires of the bereaved, cemetery professionals can guide them toward choices that resonate deeply.
Storytelling also plays a key role in marketing these options. Sharing real-life examples of meaningful memorialization – through social media, brochures, or events – can inspire families and highlight the unique opportunities your cemetery provides.
Encourage Families
Drawing families to your cemetery grounds requires more than traditional offerings. By providing a variety of permanent placement options, you can create spaces that honor individual stories, foster community connections, and meet the evolving needs of modern families. Whether through a serene nature trail, a custom-engraved boulder, or a state-of-the-art columbarium, each option represents an opportunity to create lasting memories.
For families, these choices mean the world. For cemeteries, they represent a path forward, ensuring that your grounds remain places of comfort, beauty, and meaning for generations to come.
It’s so important to remind people that the strong pull to remember or visit someone who has passed away may come years later. Without a permanent resting place, we are creating a void for this curiosity and need to remember for someone else in the future. •
Matt Pagel serves as the sales manager for Pinelawn Memorial Park and The Gardens of StoneBank in Wisconsin, where he is committed to delivering exceptional service and building meaningful relationships with families. With a strong belief in hard work and helping others, He approaches his role with dedication and the belief that laughter is the best medicine. He can be reached at mattp@pinelawn.net.
