THE EDUCATION / CEMETERIES IN AUSTIN
Cemeteries in Austin
Let’s start with the basics
Types of cemeteries
Traditional Cemeteries: Often affiliated with religious organizations or operated independently, these cemeteries provide conventional burial plots and sometimes mausoleums. They may have specific rules and traditions related to burial practices.
Memorial Parks: These cemeteries often feature landscaped gardens and may offer a more park-like setting. They might include options like flat grave markers and are typically less formal.
Natural or Green Cemeteries: Focused on eco-friendly burial practices, these cemeteries use biodegradable materials for caskets and avoid traditional embalming fluids, aiming to minimize environmental impact.
Veterans’ Cemeteries: Dedicated to the burial of military veterans and their families, these cemeteries often provide specific benefits and honors, such as government-funded plots and military honors.
Burial Options
Ground Burial: This is the most common form, where a body is placed in a casket and interred in a grave.
Mausoleums: Above-ground structures that house caskets in sealed compartments or crypts. These are often used for those who prefer not to be buried in the ground. Not all cemeteries have mausoleums.
Columbariums: Structures designed to store cremated remains in niches. They offer a dignified and often aesthetically pleasing way to handle ashes. Not all cemeteries have columbariums.
Private Family Cemeteries: Owned by individuals or families, these are private burial sites that may have unique features and restrictions.
Public Cemeteries
Onion Creek Memorial Park - South Austin/Manchaca
Live Oak Cemetery - South Austin/Manchaca - Limited availability
Assumption Cemetery - Central near IH-35
Austin Memorial Park - Central near MoPac
Greenwood Cemetery - Central/right near the airport
Oakwood Cemetery - Central/Downtown
Our Lady of the Rosary - Georgetown
Forest Oaks Memorial Park (corporate) - Sunset Valley/Oak Hill area
Memorial Hill Cemetery (corporate) - North Austin/Pflugerville
Capital Memorial Park (corporate) - North Austin/Pflugerville
Private Cemeteries
Phillips Cemetery - Must live within the school district
Fitzhugh Cemetery - Must live within the school district
Driftwood Cemetery - Must be within the 78619 zip code
Masonic Cemetery - Must be a part of the Freemasons
Veteran Cemeteries
Must be a United States veteran with an honorable discharge
Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery Killeen
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery - San Antonio
Dallas Ft. Worth National Cemetery
Houston National Cemetery
Kerrville National Cemetery
Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery Corpus Christi
Texas State Veterans Cemetery Abilene
What should I know?
There are a lot of different cemeteries everywhere, choosing the right one is not an easy choice.
Some things to consider when searching
Location
You want to choose somewhere you will want to visit. Think about holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries will be spent there. Proximity to family and friends can be important for visitation. Consider accessibility and convenience.
Setting
When thinking about location don’t just think about geographic location but also physical location of the grave in the cemetery. Are there trees around? Is it more dirt than grass? How do the other monuments look? Is the cemetery upkept? Look into how well the cemetery is maintained and the policies for upkeep.
Cost
Understand the costs associated with plots, maintenance fees, and additional services. One thing to keep in mind - any corporate owned cemetery will most likely be more expensive.
Atmosphere
Visit the cemetery to assess its ambiance and ensure it feels respectful and comforting.
Requirements
Most cemeteries will require an outer burial container, which is an additional cost. Some of the smaller cemeteries might not require one.
Every cemetery is different and has different prices
