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Crypts: Entombment
Crypt Considerations

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee operates seven mausoleums comprising of over 60,000 crypts and niches. (Click here for in-depth information about placing regarding cremated remains in niches.) Our mausoleums are built using construction materials and engineering principles that insure permanence. There are inside climate-controlled crypt areas with nearby chapels, religious art (statuary, mosaics, paintings and stained-glass windows) and meditation areas. There are outside crypt areas in malls, patios and courtyards with beautiful gardens consisting of perennial and seasonal plantings and sacred shrines with religious statuary.

Although part of our experience within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee only since the early 1970s, entombment in a crypt is an established burial practice around the world. It has become a strong preference in the Milwaukee area for various reasons —

  Availability
Your Catholic Cemeteries have an ongoing mausoleum building program to insure the continuing burial of our Christian faithful in cemeteries where land for traditional in-ground burial has become scarce.
  Equivalent cost to in-ground burial
Products necessary for in-ground interment are not necessary for above-ground entombment. A crypt itself serves as the permanent burial vault, so it need not be purchased. The marble or granite crypt front serves as the memorial. Lettering, either bronze or engraved, is included in the price of the crypt.
  Insurance Protection
In the unfortunate event of vandalism, unlike a personal marker, monument or vase used to memorialize an in-ground burial, the insurance carriers of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee cover crypt memorialization items placed to memorialize an above-ground entombment.
  Secured environment
After mausoleum hours, our interior crypts and several courtyards are protected by very sophisticated security and lighting systems.
  Protection from the elements of the earth
Interior crypts in chapels and corridors remain comfortable for visitation regardless of the weather.
  Proximity to chapels and other meditation areas
Crypts can be within or near beautiful chapels appointed with the rich symbolism of the Catholic Christian Faith.
  Memorialization
Many crypts include an "Eternal Light". Other crypt memorialization options include patron saints, religious symbols, emblems, photo ceramics and floral vases. All are optional and available at additional expense.
  Assured Heritage
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Catholic Cemeteries reserves a portion of every crypt sale, even beyond state requirements, in a special endowment (perpetual) care fund to assure the preservation of these sacred burial grounds and maintain their continued operation.

Purchasing
We have eight different cemeteries each with many crypt locations and options, you can inquire about mausoleum entombment or initiate a purchase of a crypt by calling or visiting any of our cemeteries to talk with a Family Service Counselor. You can request more information here. However you approach us, we wish to make a full disclosure of all your options and their costs.

In This Area —
Crypts: Background Crypt Considerations
Crypt Configurations Crypt Configurations Illustrated

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