Garden of Life

Garden of Life
Their posterity will live forever
And their glory
Will not be blotted out.
Their bodies were buried in peace.
And their names live to all generations.

The Garden of Life affords Colonial members, families and friends:

  • The privilege of the interment of cremains or the scattering of ashes
  • The opportunity to memorialize a loved one
  • The perfect setting for quiet meditation and prayer

All within the shadow of the church.

The challenge we all face is finding comfort for family members who often live widely separated. Where will you call "home" - an anonymous cemetery or would you prefer a spiritual home at Colonial Church? The Garden of Life provides all our members and friends a "home" - a site where one can have a final resting place or where the family can honor someone who is interred elsewhere, a place of comfort and serenity.

Cremation

Cremation is consistent with the view that the physical body disintegrates and that a new spiritual body is given to us by God in the resurrection. Cremation is a reverent method of disposition of our earthly remains - "dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return."

Cremation may be accomplished at one of a number of crematories in the area. One of our Garden of Life representatives can assist you.

Arrangements

Garden of Life dedication

Planning for interment is made through one of our Garden of Life representatives. When possible, this should be done well in advance of need so that decisions can be made prior to the time of bereavement.

Services

A memorial service or funeral, depending on the wishes of the family, may be held in the church sanctuary or at the funeral home. For interment in the Garden, a private service conducted by a member of the ministerial staff may be held in the Garden. Memorial services are not to be held in the Garden. A Garden of Life coordinator will assist during the private interment service.

Interment

Interment can be accomplished by placement in a niche or by inhuming in the Scattering Garden. Each niche holds a single person. You may select a grouping of niches for the entire family. Your Garden representative can assist you with the location and spaces that are available. The church will provide the approved container to the mortuary or other facility at the time of death.

Memorial Markers

No memorial markers, other than those supplied by the church, are to be placed in the Garden. The choices are:

  • Niche Plaque - 1" by 4" brass name plate with name and year of birth and death (included in the cost of the niche).
  • Memorial Plaque - Available to those whose ashes are scattered in the Garden, or interred elsewhere. A 3" by 6" brass plaque with name and year of birth and death.
  • Paver Stone - Available to those whose ashes are scattered in the Garden, or interred elsewhere. A 3 1/2*" by 7" inscribed red paver will accomodate name and year of birth and death.
  • Memory Book - For all who are interred or memorialized, we request completion of a page in our Memory Book for personal remembrances that will be available for visitors to view (included in the cost of any memorial).

Costs

All costs shown below do not include the cost of cremation or any other costs for materials or services not described below:

  • Niche - The fee to use a single individual's niche is $1,100.00. The fee includes the approved urn, engraving of the niche plaque and costs directly associated with the interment.
  • Scattering of the ashes - The fee to scatter cremated remains in the Garden is $500.00 per individual. The fee includes the engraving of a memorial plaque or inscribing of a prayer and costs directly associated with the interment.
  • Memorial plaque - The fee to place a single memorial plaque is $500.00 per individual plaque. The fee includes the engraving of the plaque and costs directly associated with the interment.

Memorials and cremains may be relocated if necessary. The church will maintain accurate records of the Garden of Life showing interments and memorials, and reservations for future use.

Terms and Conditions

Contact a Garden representative or the church office (paulinea@colonialucc.org) to complete an application for the Colonial Church Garden of Life. This will include a copy of all rules and regulations governing the Garden of Life. All financial responsibilities with regard to the Garden of Life fees and reservations must be completed prior to use.

Garden of Life Representatives