About Westwood 
Columbarium
Columbarium
Westwood Lutheran Church has established a columbarium to provide a permanent place on the church premises for the inurnment of the creamted remains of Westwood members and their families. The Westwood Columbarium is located in the small chapel between the sanctuary and the commons. The chapel provides a private, quiet place to pray, meditate, and remember.
What is a columbarium?
A columbarium is a liturgically proper and aesthetically pleasing group of niches that contain the cremated remains of the departed. A columbarium provides a safe, theologically correct and ecologically sound way to honor the dead. It also provides a private place for family and friends to come and pray and to remember those who have passed on to eternal life.
Who can be inurned in Westwood's columbarium?
Members and families of Westwood Lutheran church, along with former members and friends of the congregation are eligible to be inurned at Westwood. The pastoral staff at Westwood is authorized to decided on other eligibility issues.
What is the cost of each niche?
The cost, which may hold one or two urns, is $1100. This includes the brass urn(s) and brass identification plate(s) that are fastened to the granite stone on the front of each niche. Cremation expenses are not included in this cost.
$500 of the cost is a tax-deductible contribution to Westwood Lutheran Church. Niches may be purchased in installments, with an intial payment of at least $400, with the balance paid in two installments of $350 withint 2 years.
Are niches still available at Westwood?
The initial construction phase included 65 niches, of which over two-thirds were sold as of mid-2007. Please call the church office to detemine if niches are still available today. The design allows for expansion for a total of 115 niches at the current location in the Chapel.
How is an inurnment conducted?
Remains may not be inurned in the Westwood Columbarium without a committal service conducted according to the Lutheran Order of Service. The inurnment usually takes place immediately following a memorial service, but may be scheduled at a later time if desired.
If you would like addtional information contact the Westwood office or call 952-545-5623.
