When a cemetery is "full"

I attended a funeral last week, and while waiting outside the chapel, was struck at how full the cemetery appeared to be. The particular cemetery has been around for more than 100 years, and had expanded a few times, even crossing a major road. However, it was clear that this could not go on forever. Housing had come up all around the "park".

What happens when a cemetery is full? Does it just maintain a trust for maintenance in perpetuity? Do they dig up the older remains and move them somewhere to free up space? What happens 1000 years from now when many of the families of the deceased may not even have living decendants, or anyone who remember they were there?

Quote: Ayecarumba

Does it just maintain a trust for maintenance in perpetuity?

yes, however it proves to be inadequate 99% of the time as you can imagine. I don't know what happens next, if it can't be maintained.

1000 years from now, the last thing on our minds will be where we used to bury dead people. There is a reasonable chance that humanity will not survive on Earth the next 1000 years at least as we currently know ourselves. Ways this could happen:

1) We ruin the Earth's ecosystem and perish.
2) We ruin the Earth's ecosystem, board a giant space frigate, and camp out in a nebula until the robots we left behind clean up our mess (Wall-E).
3) We ruin the Earth's ecosystem, build a portal to 85 million years ago, and travel back in time to restart civilization. (Terra Nova).
4) The Rapture happens.
5) We cease to be the dominant life form on the planet through any of a number of ways:
5a) The technological singularity
5b) Extraterrestrial colonization
5c) Virus decimates humanity
5d) Zombie apocalypse

I'm not taking any bets on which is most likely, but I believe that together, one of those is more likely than humanity maintaining the status quo for the next millennium (and therefore, caring about who's buried where).

Quote: MathExtremist

1000 years from now, the last thing on our minds will be where we used to bury dead people. There is a reasonable chance that humanity will not survive the next 1000 years at least as we currently know ourselves.

It would be a bummer to have someone like this guy:




or this guy,



digging you up in the name of "science", especially after you spent significant coin to ensure that your mummified body would ready when Ra came by to pick you up on the way to the afterlife.

Was there some 420 served up at the funeral?

5e) Rise of the Apes

Quote: Ayecarumba

What happens when a cemetery is full? Does it just maintain a trust for maintenance in perpetuity? Do they dig up the older remains and move them somewhere to free up space? What happens 1000 years from now when many of the families of the deceased may not even have living decendants, or anyone who remember they were there?

I have heard of some when the DoD > 100 years they resell the plots.

What happens when it gets full?

To make more room, the old remains get moved into smaller plots and/or stacked. Didn't you see Poltergeist?



But seriously, as space gets in short supply, burial plots go up in price, and cremation becomes more popular. As far as those currently buried, that's what the perpetual endowment is for. Whether or not it really continues to cover the costs once no new burials add to the contributions is a separate question, and why most people look for cemeteries that have plenty of available space.

The Jewish community cemetery in mex City si nearly full. All plots are taken or reserved. I 've heard they bought adjacent land and will expand as needed. Currrently there are houses in the blocks next to it. I know it's expanded in the past.

But there's another cemetery operated by a Conservative synagogue which opened only a few years ago, I think less than 20 years ago. That one's almost empty, with lots of plots yet to be sold and occupied.

A parking garage for the dead would be a good idea. Up. That's where the future is.

Quote: rxwine

A parking garage for the dead would be a good idea. Up. That's where the future is.

Creamation seems to be gaining in popularity. As a whole society seems to care less and less about burying and visiting out dead. As to myself I plan (and need to find out how) to donate my body to a medical school or some other good use. People ask me why and I reply that it always drove me nuts to junk a car with good parts on it, how can I let such value to the future, say in the form of training doctors, go to waste?

I don't think I have ever visited a grave for myself in my life, it was always somebody else bringing me as a child or asking to "be a come with guy" as an adult. Just not a cemetary person I guess. Though I did enjoy seeing Arlington National Cemetary.

I've considered cremation, but then I think it would be just my luck to get to the afterlife and be told "You did what? Sorry dude, you needed to hang on to your body!"