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The Columbarium Garden |
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In response to a strong expression of interest from members of the congregation, we are pleased to present the columbarium garden at Good Shepherd. It is presently under construction. The columbarium unit has been installed, with the concrete pad around it. The garden is under development.
Click here for the Columbarium Reservation Application. Click here for the Columbarium Rules and Regulations.
What is a columbarium? A columbarium is a vault with niches that hold urns containing the cremains (ashes) of our loved ones who have died. Cremation and inurnment are the choice of many people, and are accepted as being both dignified and respectful. Just as the church is our spiritual home, a church columbarium is a suitable resting place for our cremains.
Our columbarium is a free standing octagonal structure of granite. It will contain spaces for 144 urns in a combination of single and double niches. Each niche containing an urn will have a bronze nameplate indentifying the deceased along with the dates of his/her life span.
Who can be inurned? Niches in the columbarium may be reserved for the use of members of the church and their families. In certain cases niches may also be reserved for other people who have a relationship to Good Shepherd. This would be done only with the approval of the Pastor and the committee that administers the columbarium.
What does it cost to reserve a niche? Double niches may be reserved for $3000 and a single niche for $1500. There will also be a fee at the time of inurnment which initially will be $300 and adjusted periodically according to the cost of the bronze nameplates.
Can a person reserve a specific niche of his/her choosing? People who have reserved niches may work with the columbarium administrator to choose a particular niche location. Anyone purchasing a niche after construction will be able to choose a niche location at the time of purchase.
The design of the octagonal columbarium offers a number of options in choosing a niche. On four sides of the structure the niches are deep enough for two cremains in a deep double niche. Niches on the other four sides are deep enough for only a single cremain. These sides are well designed for people wishing to purchase a single niche or for couples who prefer to be inurned in adjoining niches, side-by-side.
If you have questions about the columbarium, please contact the committee via the church office: Carl Koch (chair), Ann Bogda, Nancy Sheatler, Linda Sauerbrunn, Nancy Griffith, Kevin Loney, and Pastor Kathy Ierien.
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Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd |
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Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
