Planning a funeral service for the passing of a loved one is never a simple affair. You will want to honour the departed and ensure the remains are placed in a respectable final resting place.
Depending on your loved one’s final wishes and religious beliefs, they might prefer a cremation over a burial upon their passing, meaning you need to choose a columbarium to store their ashes.
However, choosing the appropriate columbarium is not always a straightforward affair, given the various options available in Singapore. Let us share the essential factors to consider to simplify the selection process.
Factor #1: Public or private columbarium
The first question to discuss among your family members is, “Should you opt for a public or private columbarium?”. There are two options for the former – Choa Chu Kang and Mandai Columbarium – and both are managed by the government. For those working on a budget, a public columbarium is more wallet-friendly. However, niche slots are limited due to higher demand.
Conversely, you have more flexibility with the niche location if you opt for a private columbarium. With around 61 private columbaria islandwide, more space is available to accommodate individual preferences. As a result, you have more options regarding personalisation, allowing you to better plan ahead for your funeral needs. Naturally, this comes with a caveat, as private columbaria are generally more expensive.
Factor #2: Budget
While we understand the desire to give your loved one a respectable final resting place, it is vital to have a budget and stick to it to avoid spending beyond your means. As mentioned, a public columbarium is less costly, and the prices are standardised. You can expect to pay around S$500 for a standard niche and around S$900 for a family niche. Please note that these prices do not include the marble plaque and the slot is allocated sequentially. If you wish to choose a different location, there will be an additional S$250 selection fee.
As for private columbaria, the prices could range anywhere from S$2,000 to S$40,000 across single, double, and family suites. Other factors like the services you engaged, the type of niche and level you choose, and additional customisation options will also affect the costs. Most private columbaria offer the option of paying via instalments, so you do not need to worry about settling the entire sum immediately.
Factor #3: Lease period
The lease period is another essential matter to consider when choosing a columbarium in Singapore. Generally, you have three lease periods to choose from – 30 years, 40 years, or 99 years. The length is dependable on two factors – the internment of the funerary urns and the land lease period of the columbarium.
There is no right or wrong answer when deciding the lease period. You may select a shorter or longer term based on your preferences. What matters most is that you can fulfil your filial piety and provide your loved one with a respectable final resting place. Once the lease period is up, a religious ceremony will be arranged to scatter the ashes at sea.
Factor #4: Niche and urn
After cremation, you will require a funeral urn to store your loved one’s ashes in a columbarium. We recommend selecting one that is made with durable materials such as stone or marble so that it will last for several decades.
If you opt for a private columbarium, you must also decide on the niche level, with the prices varying according to your desired niche level. The most popular choice is generally the one conveniently located at eye level since you need not squat, kneel, or look up while praying. As such, it is also the most expensive.
Choosing the appropriate columbarium in Singapore is a decision that requires careful thought and consideration. We hope what we shared can help you make an informed decision, allowing you to honour and pay your respect to the departed. However, feel free to consult our team at Excellence Funeral Services if you find the entire process overwhelming and confusing.
Our team of professional funeral directors has decades of experience arranging funerals of various faiths. We can assist you in handling every aspect of your loved one’s funeral service, from the logistics of the memorial and the cremation arrangement to the post-funeral affairs. Contact us today to learn more about our funeral packages.
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