Products and Services
Cremation:The roots of cremation can be traced back to the early Stone Age, approximately 3000 B.C. However, modern cremation as we know it actually began only a little over a century ago. After years of experimentation into the development of a dependable chamber Professor Brunetti of Italy finally perfected his model and displayed it at the 1873 Vienna Exposition. The cremation movement started almost simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic. Park Lawn Limited Partnership opened its first crematorium in 1965 at Riverside Cemetery. Forest Lawn followed by opening in 1980. Cremation has grown in popularity over the years and Toronto’s cremation rate is now well over 50%. Along with the growth in Cremation, choices for the consumer have grown as well.
On the following pages we list several of the options open to the consumer with Park
Lawn LP.
Ground burial for cremation:
Many people choose ground burial for cremation. Cremated remains (ashes) may be placed in an existing lot (grave or space) owned by a family or in a space specifically designed for cremated remains. The advantage of purchasing a space designed for cremated remains (ashes) is that they are smaller and cost less than a full sized casket space.We offer two sizes of cremation spaces. The standard size is designed so a family may place a flat marker to mark (memorialize) the location. The larger size, called a Cremation Estate Lot, is large enough to accommodate a foundation and an upright memorial (headstone).
Above Ground Burial for cremation:
Though there are many options for above ground cremation burial (inurnment), there are two basic choices; inside a building or in a free-standing structure on the cemetery grounds. The cremated remains are placed in a large wall structure that has several individual compartments (niches) where the urn is placed. A cover (front) is placed on the compartment (niche) to seal the niche. For exterior niches the cover is granite and for interior niches glass is mainly used but granite and marble fronts are also available.
Full casket ground burial:
When the choice of a final resting place is ground burial, the location of the burial site is an inevitable responsibility. For generations to come, family and friends will return to the grave as a place of comfort, to show tribute to a loved one, and renew cherished memories. Some families prefer to be close to a road for convenience while others prefer the privacy of being further away from the road. The size of your grave space is often determined by your choice of memorialization (how large you wish the monument to be).
Often, families choose to purchase a large number of adjoining spaces for themselves and future generations. Since land in Toronto cemeteries is limited, many families want to assure that their loved ones can be buried close to each other for generations to come.
Burial Vaults:
A well-designed burial vault plays an important role at the cemetery as the final resting place for the casket. The purpose of the burial vault is to protect the casket from the outside elements, the pressure from maintenance equipment, and settling of the earth.
Mausoleum:
Historically, the word mausoleum comes from the large temple-like structure which was erected by Queen Artemisia as the final resting place for her late husband, King Mausolus ‐ from which the word mausoleum is derived ‐ ruled over Caria in Asia Minor and died in 353 B.C. His mausoleum is now regarded as the fifth of the Seven Wonders of the World. A sharp earthquake in 1402 resulted in the large chariot on top of the mausoleum, in which statues of the king and queen were placed, crashing to the ground. The rest of the structure was demolished later that same year by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem who then used the stones to construct the fortress of St. Peter.
A community mausoleum is simply a large building designed to provide above-ground interment or entombment for a number of unrelated people. Sharing the cost of the mausoleum with other individuals has made it more affordable.
Crypts are chambers designed to hold caskets. Following a casket entombment, the crypt is sealed and a granite or marble front is attached.
Mausoleum crypts offer a viable alternative for those who simply have an aversion to being interred in the ground. Furthermore, with the growing shortage of available land for cemetery use, mausoleum allow for a maximum number of entombments in a minimum amount of space. Mausoleum buildings have changed significantly over the past hundred years. They are now bright airy structures which are heated and air conditioned; many have water features and background music.