What is grave renewal?

Grave renewal allows a burial plot to be used again—after many decades—once the body has naturally returned to the earth.

Why does Reflection Park offer grave renewal?

Grave renewal allows families the opportunity to reuse burial spaces for their descendants at reduced cost or return the grave plot for use by others. It reflects our values of harmony, equity, and care by honoring the land as a precious and limited resource.

How does it work at Reflection Park?

Grave renewal consists of two components: renewal of an interment right and reuse of the grave plot. (Recall that an interment right is the exclusive right to burial in a grave plot).

After 50 years, the Owner may renew the interment right at no cost, first for 20 years and then for recurrent 10-year periods. At any time during a renewal period, the Owner can reuse the grave plot to bury any beneficiary they choose, which then resets the 50-year period. Only the interment fee is required at any time before the subsequent burial.

After an interment right is renewed, the Owner may choose not to bury anyone in the grave plot. The Owner may also choose to release the plot back to Reflection Park.

If a grave plot is reused, what happens to the body that was previously buried there?

After 50 years, the soft tissues of the body will have completely returned to the earth while many of the bones will likely remain. We will dig the subsequent grave a little less deeply than the previous grave so we don’t disturb any remaining bones.

After an initial burial, can the grave remain unused indefinitely?

Yes. The Owner and subsequent Owners can forego reuse of the grave plot for as long as they own the interment right and choose to renew it.

What needs to happen to renew an interment right?

The Owner must simply request in writing to Reflection Park that the interment right be renewed during the last year that the interment right period is open (that is, 50 years after burial, then one 20-year period, then 10-year periods thereafter).

Why do you require the Owner to request renewal of an interment right in writing?

We want to ensure that there is an actual descendant or other authorized person in charge of the grave plot who is interested in using or maintaining it.

What if you aren’t able to contact the Owner?

We will make diligent efforts to contact the Owner on record within the last year of the Interment Right period (if they have not contacted us already). If we do not receive a written request to renew within this period, the Interment Right ends and the space becomes available for others.

What happens to the memorial marker?

If the grave is reused, the memorial marker is respectfully relocated to one of our memorial walkways for permanent commemoration. The Owner may also request the memorial marker to be shifted in its place to remain associated with the grave plot (e.g., when a relative is buried in the same space).

Is grave renewal something new?

Not at all. Grave renewal is normal elsewhere in the world including Europe, South America, Australia, and many other countries. It is also available in several natural burial grounds in the US.

Reflection Park’s approach to grave renewal is actually similar to a common practice in US cemeteries called a second right of interment. This is where a subsequent burial takes place on top of an existing interment rather than in place of it.