Columbarium and Mausoleums

The funeral or memorial isn’t over once you leave the funeral home in Rock Falls, IL, since you still have to deal with the final internment of the body or cremated remains. There are many different options for both, such as in the ground or in a permanent above ground resting place such as a columbarium or mausoleum. Do you know the difference between the two? Keep reading to find out.  

Both columbarium and mausoleums are defined as permanent, above ground resting places for human remains, but they have a few key differences between them. For starters, as per the National Funeral Directors Association, a mausoleum is defined as, “a building designed for above-ground placement of a casket. The casket is placed into a crypt that may be designed for one or two persons.” If you’ve ever been walking in, through or past a cemetery, you’ve most likely noticed the ornate but small buildings scattered around the grounds amidst the tombstones. These buildings are mausoleums, columbarium, or even sometimes a combination of the two.  

Mausoleums can come in many different forms. For example, they can have one crypt, or a chamber designed to hold one body, or a larger space made to hold a few people like a family or a couple. Some mausoleums have more than one room for different parts of a family. These buildings are often decorated with exterior markers to denote who is resting inside. Some even have glass windows that allow those on the outside to view the coffins. Mausoleums can be found in different variations and designs all around the world.  

In fact, one of the original Seven Wonders of the World was a mausoleum. Built in 353 BC near what is now known as Turkey, The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was the final resting place of a famous Persian king named Mausolus. This king was so rich that he commissioned one of the finest mausoleums ever built. This is where the term “mausoleum” came from.   

But how do columbarium fit in? Unlike mausoleums that generally hold bodies, columbarium are designed to house cremated remains. The term columbarium comes from the Latin word “columba” which means dove. In the past, doves and pigeons were housed in buildings with niches on the walls for their nests. This design is very similar to how columbarium are made, as they have compartments built into the walls to house and display cremation urns.  

There are lots of different columbarium designs. Some are indoor and some are outside, while others are simple and more still are decorated and elaborate. You can choose whatever kind of columbarium you like for your lost loved one.  

Are you interested in learning more about post funeral or cremation options, or would you like more information on Rock Falls, IL funeral homes? Just reach out to Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation. You can stop by and visit us at 702 1st Ave Sterling, IL 61081, or give us a call at (815) 626-1131 today.