A sacred resting place for the ones you love.

First imagined by a group of dedicated members, the Memorial Garden Columbarium is a shared, sacred part of Milford First UMC. With its granite cross at the center, the three marble structures, housing 120 niches, along with marble benches and landscaping that changes with the seasons, the Memorial Garden is a beautiful and peaceful place to securely house earthly cremains. It is also licensed and registered with the State of Ohio as a perpetual burial ground.

Your Guide to Getting Started

Once you’ve made the decision to be cremated and to have your cremains located at the Milford First Memorial Garden, we recommend that you:

1. Discuss your decision with family members or friends (if you have not already done so) and make your decision known. Cremation is typically done shortly after death, so your personal wish needs to be documented for loved ones.

2. Contact the church office for a copy of the application and the complete rules and regulations.

3. Choose a niche location. A location will be temporarily reserved in your name. The reservation will be confirmed once full payment is received by the church.

Cost Breakdown

Pricing & Items included and excluded:

Columbarium niches:
Members of MFUMC: $3,000
Current or Previous Clergy: $3,000
Non-Members*: $4,000

*Non-members are subject to approval by MFUMC Board of Trustees

Each niche can be reserved for the cremains of up to two persons.

A total of 120 niches are available within three columbarium structures, each containing 40 niches. All niches will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

Location

Milford First Memorial Gardens is located on the Maple Street side of the church in front of the three large stained glass windows. It is fully fenced with access from two gates and is fully handicap accessible. The gardens are available from dawn to dusk for serene prayerful visiting. The area has 24-hour camera surveillance and appropriate lighting for security.

This is an important personal decision. If you have questions, you may contact the church office and leave your name and phone number, and a member of the Memorial Garden Committee will be in contact with you as soon as possible to assist in your decision-making process.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We suggest you start with an online search regarding this topic. The materials provided by the Memorial Garden Committee will answer many of your questions. You can also contact your local funeral home for assistance.

  • In 2016, our committee asked a local funeral home for input on this topic. They offered three cremation packages ranging from $1,900 to $3,890. Additional costs may include urns, a visitor registry, memorial folders, cards, flowers, clergy and death certificates. The average combined total is approximately $5,050. The average cost of a traditional burial is $7,500.

    We suggest you speak with a local funeral home and gather more information about these costs. Cremation and inurnment in a columbarium is typically significantly less expensive than a traditional burial

  • The niches in our columbarium are 12’ x 12” x 7”, and two urns can fit into this space. Urns come in different sizes, so be specific when ordering.

  • The niche is the burial compartment in a columbaria. Ours has three colmbaria, each holding 40 niches. The niche cost is $3,000 for Milford First members and $4,000 for non-members. The niche can accommodate two urns, so if two family members are inurned in the same niche, the cost is $1,500 each for members.

    Inscriptions, including name, birth and death years, are included in the price of the nice for the first inurnment. The inscription cost for the second inurnment is not covered in the price but will be charged based on the current cost at the time.

    An urn is the burial container for the deceased’s cremains. The manufacturer of our columbaria has a complete line of burial urns. The Sheet Bronze Urn is $65 plus shipping; Satin Urns range from $75 to $100 plus shipping. Embroidered inscriptions are an additional $35. You can contact Eickhof directly for detailed information at (800) 253-0457 or visit their website eickhofcolumbaria.com. (prices quoted as of 1/2/19) Local funeral homes can also provide you with helpful information and offer a good choice of various types of urns.

  • Yes, the expense for mailing the marble front to and from Eickhof for inscription each time is the family’s expense.

  • No. The principle of respect for the cremated remains of a Christian embraces the deeper belief in the individuality of each baptized person before God. Throughout history, the mingling of remains has never been an accepted practice.

  • Flowers are permitted during inurnment only. For special occasions and dates thereafter, we suggest you donate memorial flowers to be placed on the church altar during Sunday worship services in memory of your loved one.

  • The Memorial Garden Committee is in charge of maintenance and care of the space and is committed to this responsibility now and in the future. The area is monitored by 24-hour video surveillance and enclosed by a tall metal fence.

  • No. Due to identity theft concerns, we only list the name, birth and death years on the niche.

  • You may contract with the funeral home to transport the urn, with the remains, to the church for services. Some may choose to have a family member pick up the urn and take it to the church.

  • No.

  • Contact the church office to be put in touch with a member of the Memorial Garden Committee to discuss next steps.

  • We prefer you pay the full amount when you reserve the space. If it would be helpful, you can pay 50% down and the balance within one year.

  • The niche space will be assigned in order as they are purchased.

  • The cost for the niche includes one opening and closing. Additional openings and closings have a cost of $150 each.

  • Contact the facility where you have made the previous arrangements to learn how you can terminate the agreement.

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55 & 57)

Memorial Gift Options

The Memorial Garden is a shared, sacred part of our church community made possible through the financial support of generous donors. If you’re interested in making a donation to increase the beauty of this garden, we’d love to hear from you. You can contribute to the general upkeep, or give to a specific need: landscaping, seating enhancements, additional lighting, security, etc.

Give online to the “Memorial Garden Fund” or contact the church office if you’d like more info about how to make a financial contribution!