St. Anne Columbarium

It is an 18th century Latin word for dovecote or dove nest. Today, it is a place where urns holding cremains (ashes) may be inurned (reposed) in individual niches.

The Vatican has allowed cremations since 1963.  You have the option to choose traditional in-ground burial (interment) or cremation and burial of ashes (inurnment).
There has been a growing trend over the past many years showing that our families are choosing cremation.  Creating a sacred space on our church campus where their cremains may be placed is another way of honoring them and allowing them to rest in their own faith community.
Cemeteries are not often visited, especially when they are not located nearby.  A columbarium at St. Anne Chapel will make it convenient for family and friends to visit their loved one’s final resting place as well as continue the churchyard burial tradition.

Prices vary widely.  Because it does not entail the often forgotten expenses such as opening and closing of a burial plot, caskets, hearse and service cars and so forth, the costs are approximately one third.  A niche may hold up to two (2) urns depending on the size. 

The outdoor columbarium will replace the fence at the east end of the Memorial Garden next to the cemetery.  It will be 24 feet long and two niches high.  It has been designed to ensure the view of the river remains visible. 
Each niche has its own 11.5” square granite facing stone. Names and dates of birth and death will be affixed in bronze lettering. 
The niches in the columbarium inside St. Anne Chapel has glass fronts.  A plaque will be mounted on the wall identifying the location and names and dates.

The wall provides space for up to 40 niches. Additional phases may be built in the future.

Inside Dimensions of Wall Niches: 1' 13/16" High, 1' 13/16" Tall, 1' 13/16" Deep (2 urns maximum)

The Columbarium will have 12 – Single (accomodates one urn), 16 double  (accomodates two urns) and 3 family niches (accomodated three urns)

Yes, you may select the niche.  Niche assignments are offered according to the wishes of each applicant on a first come basis at the time they complete a paid-in-full Right of Inurnment contract with Sacred Heart.  In other words, they are assigned in the order in which they are purchased.
When possible, arrangements for the purchase of a niche should be made well in advance of need in order that decisions can be made without a sense of emergency.

The purchaser receives a right-to-use the niche per the Right of Inurnment contract with Sacred Heart Legal title remains with Sacred Heart Church.

Please note: If paying by credit or debit card, a service fee of 3% will be added.

Columbarium Niche Prices:

$3,500 per Single niche. Includes opening and closing and lettering for a single urn.

$4,000 per Double niche. Includes two opening and closings and two letterings for two urns.


Chapel Columbarium with glass front niches:

$4,325 per Single Niche. Includes opening and closing for one urn, and one name plaque in the wall frame.

$4,758 per Single Niche in rows C and E. Includes opening and closing for one urn, and one name plaque in the wall frame.

$7,136 per Double Niche. Includes opening and closings for two urns, and two name plaques in the wall frame.

$7,850 per Double Niche in rows C, D, and E. Includes opening and closings for two urns, and two name plaques in the wall frame.

$8,800 per Family Niche. Includes opening and closings for three urns, and three name plaques in the wall frame.

At this time, those persons who are current or former registered parishioners of Sacred Heart, their spouse, their children and spouses of children, parents, grandparents, siblings, Catholic clergy and religious, or other persons that the Pastor approves in writing.

Yes, spouses are eligible to occupy the same niche.

The Rite of Committal is used at the time of inurnment.  It is similar to a graveside service.  All rites are in keeping with Roman Catholic forms of worship.

An additional fee will be assessed for a second opening and each closing.  The columbarium will be maintained in perpetuity and there will be no further fees. 

Due to practical and aesthetic considerations, memorializations are limited to names and dates.  Bronze lettering will be used on all face plates.

The date and location within the columbarium of each niche that is purchased will be recorded on a master chart held in the Sacred Heart offices.  Further, information pertinent to each inurnment within said niche will be maintained.

Please send an inquiry to [email protected] or contact Mary Podczervinski at 734-676-1378.

Yes. The information needed on the purchase form is the name, address, phone, and email of the purchaser, along with their alternative contact’s name, phone, and email address. Niches are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The purchaser needs to select a niche in either the columbarium wall, or a niche within St. Anne Chapel. It is highly recommended that the purchaser has a few alternative niche locations in mind if their first choice of niche has already been sold.

Sacred Heart will accept checks, credit, and debit cards. If paying by credit or debit, a 3% service fee will be added.

Yes. The amount you paid for an unused plot(s) in the Memorial Garden can be applied to the purchase price of a niche.

No. Payment is due in full at the time of purchase.

Memorial Identification – Columbarium Wall: At the time of inurnment, the name(s) of the deceased shall be provided to the Parish on the Authorization of Memorial Identification form. The name(s) of the inurned will be shown on the niche front with bronze letters. This will include the family (last) name, first name and middle initial, year of birth, and year of death. A small cross will separate the dates. To maintain a dignified memorial appearance, more extensive lettering or information cannot be accommodated.

Memorial Identification - Glass front niches within St. Anne Chapel: At the time of inurnment, the name(s) of the deceased shall be provided to the Parish on the Authorization of Memorial Identification form. A plaque will be ordered. This plaque will include the family (last) name, first name and middle initial, year of birth, and year of death. The names in the format listed and the location of the niche will be placed on a plaque on the nearby wall. More extensive lettering or information cannot be accommodated on the plaque.

The holder of a Right of Inurnment Agreement may relinquish the Right of Inurnment to the Parish by submitting a Relinquishment of Inurnment Right form to the Parish. Upon receipt of this form, the Parish will terminate the Right of Inurnment Agreement and will provide a refund to the holder in the amount of eighty percent (80%) of the Right of Inurnment fee that was paid.