by Penni Cannova
The Harvester recently spoke with Dan Tobin, Director of Administration, and “Knower” of many wonderful aspects of our parish.
Our topic was one that many folks might shy away from, but a necessary one for peace of mind: planning for our eventual passing from this earth. The Harvester wished to ask some of the questions that may be on the minds of many to help each of us move forward with planning.
Surprisingly to this Harvester member, Dan explained that our cemetery is effectively at full capacity, either sold or occupied. The parish owns a few plots, and these were purchased from families who had moved out of state and no longer needed the plots. Our columbarium, designed by architects and the parish, opened in 2012, allows St. Isidore to commit the cremated remains of their loved ones in a setting on church grounds, as the cemetery has provided in the past.
Interestingly, the Catholic Church began allowing cremation post-Vatican II, offering this choice to all
Catholics for more than fifty years now. A columbarium inurns all cremains in an above-ground setting. Our columbarium offers three options for internment: Single, Single Shared, and Companion niches. The
Single Shared is the same size as the Single, but allows two urns to be placed in the opening. The
Companion niche is roomier, allowing for broader choice of urns, the addition of a favored artifact
or item such as a medal or pair of signature glasses, for instance, or a note to be tucked in.
Our parish website actually has specific information on our Columbarium listed under “About Us”. The tab for Columbarium shows a map with specific diagrams of each quadrant, showing each spot, and exact pricing. One could peruse the map, pricing chart and read further about the columbarium at one’s own pace, and email right from that webpage, or phone, with further inquiries. Dan said that pricing includes all openings and closings of the niches.
When cremains are inurned, prayers, a reading and a blessing always accompany the ceremony. Afterward, a nameplate is placed on the niche that includes name, year of birth and year of death. If it is a Shared or Companion spot, it can be opened later for the inurnment of a spouse or loved one. After the cremains are placed, the next loved one’s nameplate is finalized with the year of death. Dan Tobin encourages all parishioners to take care of this eventual need before it is needed, as a gift to one’s children and family.
