Planning for Forever

When it came time to write a story about how to plan for your final resting place, I was the ideal person for the job because I’m an aging Baby Boomer and I knew nothing about the subject. Thankfully, Miles Penn, a horticulturist and one of about two dozen employees at Lexington Cemetery, led me through the process. So here’s what I learned.

First, my generation is changing the way people think about interment. Ten years ago, only 10% of people chose cremation over a traditional burial plot. Now, that number is closer to 40%.

“Because you can set the service whenever you want without the urgency that comes with a burial, cremation is more of a life celebration,” said Penn, who has worked at Lexington Cemetery for 21 years.

“You have time to plan the service so that relatives can attend, and it makes it more convenient for everyone.”

With cremation, people can still have their remains interred, but most opt for a spot in the mausoleum at Lexington Cemetery. You can also have your ashes spread at the Scattering Grounds, which includes identifying plaques. Cremations cost from $500 to $1,300.

Traditional burials are more expensive, especially because 75% are purchased as side-by-side plots by a husband and a wife. Side-by-side plots are 6-foot-8 inches wide by 11 feet long and range from $5,500 to $6,300. The cost includes a poured foundation for a headstone, which is purchased separately. Foundations are guaranteed for perpetuity.

Some people worry about the long-term future of a cemetery, fearing that their gravesite might be neglected over time.

That’s not a concern at Lexington Cemetery, which consists of 170 acres, 25 of which are still undeveloped. The cemetery has enough land for at least 100 years – more if cremations remain popular, Penn said.
Lexington Cemetery also deposits 60% of all revenue into a perpetual care fund. (The state requires only 20%). Lexington Cemetery’s perpetual care fund has climbed to $65 million.

“Even if we took in no more money, with that large of a fund we can care for this cemetery for years and years,” Penn said.

There you have it: Lexington Cemetery, founded in the 19th century (1849), is well positioned to last long into this century and beyond.