Introducing Beechwood Cemetery’s shared memories lot

It’s not uncommon to wind up with an urn containing the mortal remains of a family member or friend. In the whirlwind of activity that accompanies the loss of a loved one, urns can often wind up being entrusted to the care of someone with no immediate plans for what do with them.

Eventually, the question of how best to honour the enduring legacy of the urn’s occupant will require answering. That’s where Beechwood Cemetery’s new Shared Memories Lot comes in.

“The whole impetus behind this new space at Beechwood is there are a lot of people who now or in the future have loved ones that need dignified burials,” said Nick McCarthy, Director of Marketing, Communications and Community Outreach with the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation.

“It could be a loved one they placed on a mantel or that someone in the family may have tucked away. The concept behind the Shared Memories Lot is to provide a place where we can place our loved ones and provide them with a dignified burial service.”

In the spirit of unity, the Shared Memories Lot allows for the placement of a single urn, adorned with the individual’s name, on a shared monument. This ensures that each person’s memory is honored with the dignity and respect they deserve.

This new area is not tucked away in some isolated, hard to find corner of Beechwood Cemetery. Instead, McCarthy said the Shared Memories Lot will be a highly sought-after location for families or friends looking for an affordable but respectful final burial ground

“This is a brand-new section with a lot specifically designated for this purpose,” said McCarthy. “It’s part of the Botanical Garden, with beautifully landscaped gardens, 35,000 tulips, a view of Parliament. The idea was to plant something new and provide a solution to family and friends who are caretakers of urns. How many urns are sitting in homes or cottages, parent or grandparent homes that are being sold, where they wind up being given to kids or someone who doesn’t know what to do with it, nor do they have a family plot where it can be buried.”

According to McCarthy, direct cremation services means there are a lot of urns that are brought home. Sentimental attachment to the deceased is an initial reason people would want to keep the urn in their possession.

Eventually, those urns may become part of the belongings from which people want to divest themselves. However, they don’t want to see them discarded in an undignified manner or to spread the ashes in an area that may not be part of the wishes of the deceased. The new lot at Beechwood Cemetery provides a welcome alternative.

“It’s all about choice, and this is just another choice we’re providing,” said McCarthy. “It’s for family or friends of people who may have been forgotten. You don’t want to discard the urns , but you need to make a decision. This is our most cost-effective burial option. We think it is a really nice option for people. It will allow them to access one of the most cherished parts of our grounds.”

Owned and operated by the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation and named as the National Cemetery of Canada through an Act of Parliament, Beechwood Cemetery is a full-service funeral home that offers a “one-stop-shop” for families looking for everything from funeral cremation to cemetery burials. Dealing with one full-service company is a key factor for people who are suddenly faced with organizing a funeral, especially when given the number of important choices that need to be addressed in the planning.

Internment in the Shared Memories Lot is now available at Beechwood Cemetery. For more information, visit Beechwood Cemetery online.

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