In life and death and life beyond death, God is with us, we are not alone, we are God's people now and evermore.

At the time of death, these are the traditional words of promise and hope proclaimed by the Church in the midst of grief, sorrow, transition and renewal. These words are the foundation of the promise of the Christian faith, grounded in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These are the words of God's grace and love. Thanks be to God!

What Is a Columbarium?
The word "columbarium" is derived from "Columbra," the Latin word for "dovecote," a compartmented house where doves, the symbol of God's spirit and peace, come to roost.  In modern usage, a columbarium is a consecrated structure created for the interment of the deceased's ashes after cremation.  A columbarium, within his or her church, is a respectful place for the remains of a Christian. Set in the peaceful surroundings of the church property, it is a place for quiet meditation and prayer. 

Historically
Throughout the history of Christianity, the church has provided burial within churchyards or crypts. This ancient tradition is consistent with the church's belief in a decent and reverent burial for all. For family and friends, a measure of comfort may be drawn from internment on consecrated church property.

Sacred Ministries of CUMC
One of the most sacred ministries of CUMC is to provide pastoral care and comfort in times of need, suffering and sorrow. Assisting families at the time of death is essential to this ministry.


A Holy Place
While in modern times the traditional churchyard has virtually disappeared as an actively used place of burial, CUMC is able to provide a consecrated, perpetually maintained columbarium for the secure placement of urns containing the cremated remains of both present and former members and their families.


Cost Associated with Interment in a Columbarium Niche
A niche is the name used to describe the place in a columbarium, where the urn containing the cremated remains of a loved one is properly secured.  All niches in the CUMC columbarium are double niches suitable for holding to urns. The cost of a niche, two urns, and perpetual care is $3000. (The costs associated with cremation, services by a funeral home, or arrangements other than those mentioned above are not included)

To save costs, ask for the standard container furnished by the funeral home.  We will then transfer the remains into the urn provided by us.

Benefits of a Columbarium

• Pre-selecting a site will give church members and their family assurance that Christ United Methodist Church will provide respectful, responsible, and pastoral care for the site in perpetuity. 

• Purchasing a columbarium niche eliminates the pressures of choosing a burial site, casket, vault and monument. There is no need to plan for interment and memorial services at different locations and times.
   
• With a columbarium there are substantial savings because cost is limited to cremation, the niche and the obituary.

For information on memorial services at CUMC, please contact our Director of Pastoral Ministry at 972.596.4303 x 228.

The chart below shows a sampling of reputable funeral homes in the Plano area from which you may wish to select a crematory for you and your family.  Prices shown were in effect on July 8, 2010 and are not guaranteed.  It is important that you be comfortable with the funeral home you select at the time of a death in the family.

After you have studied the list, we suggest you visit / contact several funeral homes before making a final decision. 

Certain services are included in the basic prices quoted by all the funeral homes listed below.  These are:

1)  Direct cremation (by definition: cremation of the remains without viewing or services).

2)  Basic services of the funeral home staff.

3)  Transfer of remains from the place of death (assuming death occurs within the Plano area).

4)  Transfer of cremains to the funeral home.

All funeral homes provide Death Certificates at the price established by the State of Texas: $21.00 for the first certificate, $4.00 for each additional certificate.  This cost is in addition to other charges.  Your needs determine how many certificates you request.

While funeral homes will assist with preparation of obituaries at no charge or a nominal cost, the family bears the cost of publishing the obituary.

There are other services which are necessary to the cremation process but which may or may not be included in basic prices.  On the list you will learn whether the following services are included, and if not, what the cost is.

1)  Refrigeration - Applicable when the remains are being held at the funeral home and cremation is delayed for any reason, i.e. obtaining the death certificate (usually two days minimum).

2)  Alternative cremation container - Since the casket will not be viewed, an inexpensive combustible container is suitable.

3)  Urn for cremation - The urn provided by the CUMC Columbarium at no extra cost must be used for the inurnment,.  Any other urn or container would be used only for transfer of the cremains from the crematory.

4)  Cremation permit - A set fee of $25.00 applies to all cremations for Collin County residents and may or may not be included in the basic price.

While most funeral homes in the Plano area are now owned by two corporations - Service Corporation Internation (SCI) in Houston or Stewart Enterprices (SE) in New Orleans, some on the list are independently owned.

CUMC has made this list available to you as assistance in making arrangements.  CUMC does not endorse any of these funeral homes.

We appreciate the support and interest which you have sown in the Columbarium.  Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

SAMPLING OF FUNERAL HOMES WITH CREMATION SERVICES
In the Plano/Frisco/Allen/Richardson Area as of July 8, 2010