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Often, the last act of love a family sees
from a loved one is rooted in an uncomfortable decision made
involving memorial arrangements. It is a decision made by forward-thinking
people before it becomes a necessity. Making burial arrangements
is a difficult but helpful ordeal.
Miguel Quinones, the memorial counselor
supervisor of Mount Comfort Cemetery, touts an empowering message
in his work: "Memorial arrangements don't have to be an
uncomfortable decision."
Quinones supervises two departments of
memorial counselors. At-need helps when a family has experienced
a death and must make immediate decisions. Pre-need is the department
that assists an individual or family in determining their options
before-hand. He definitely would rather work with families in
a Pre-need situation.
"Both payment options and personal
preferences are immensely easier when a family talks about them
together," Quinones said. It is also sometimes difficult
for the family to make certain decisions about the funeral arrangements.
"Every day I get a thank you," said Sharon Hopkins-Mitchell,
Pre-need department head.
"Every day I get a thank you,"
said Yolanda Washington, Pre-need department head. "Every
day someone thanks me for helping them avoid the chaos of making
extra decisions after a loss."
"As memorial counselors, our client
families are our first priority," explained Sandra Evans-McNeill,
Mount Comfort Family Service director. "We actually go through
the grieving process with families who suffer a loss." The
director, whose family has lived in Alexandria for five generations,
considers her clients as her own family and friends.
Alexandria's Mount Comfort Cemetery maintains
a well-kept and comfortable memorial park. Rising above the landscape
are historical and religious pieces such as The Lord's Supper,
replicated in polished marble.
The park was established in 1946. Similar
to other historical landmarks, it has an endowment fund that
ensures upkeep indefinitely, long after the park ceases to expand
or sell property.
Making the decision to arrange now for
a mausoleum, lawn crypt or ground burial instills the confidence
of knowing a person has protected his or her family. This selfless
act primarily benefits their family by shielding them from the
pain and problems of delayed memorial planning.
Purchasing memorial arrangements now also
saves thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, just as real estate
prices escalate yearly, costs of cemetery properties do also.
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Memorial Counselor Katrina Grier explained
the cost of waiting. "A family placed a member in a site
they purchased in 1989. Today, the same package would cost four
times as much." He added, "I can't imagine prices in
10 years."
The idea of mausoleums is patterned after
above-ground entombment offered by the Great Pyramids of Egypt
and the Taj Mahal. One myth that sometimes misleads families
is that the cost of above-ground entombment in a mausoleum is
beyond their means. "Mausoleum entombment is comparable,
often less than the cost of traditional ground burial,"
Quinones said. Community mausoleums, offering the clean, dry,
ventilated atmosphere of above-ground entombment, were established
to lower costs for the average citizen. Mount Comfort can offer
an additional discount to people who arrange ahead of time and
opt for a pre-constructed mausoleum space.
The Chapel mausoleum and Garden mausoleum
are centrally located on the 51-acre lush green park. Anyone
who has purchased a site at Mount Comfort can use the chapel
in the Chapel mausoleum building free of charge.
A special candlelight service on December
16, held for all denominations and religions and open to the
public, will hail the memory of lost loved ones. A Sunrise Easter
service, held in conjunction with Bethany Lutheran Church, has
drawn area residents to Mount Comfort for four decades.
The calm beauty of Mount Comfort cannot
bring back family and friends who have passed away. However,
the elegant surroundings of historic and religious features,
along with the natural beauty of the memorial park, make it a
serene and classic place to remember them.
Those who arrange in advance for memorial
services at the cemetery rest their conscience in the arms of
Mount Comfort. By making their plans and telling their families
about their preferences in advance, they are saving their loved
ones from additional trauma during a difficult time.
To learn more about how Mount Comfort Cemetery
can serve your funeral needs, please call (703) 765-3888. Or
you may visit the cemetery at 6600 S. Kings Hwy. in Alexandria.
= = = Pre-Arrangement Talk =
= =
Mount Comfort Cemetery is offering
a free seminar on "The Common Sense of Pre-Arrangement"
every Saturday from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M. which includes a 1/2 hour
overview followed by private consultations.
Seating is limited, so please call
to make reservations.
(703) 765-3888
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