Caskets, Shrouds, and Stones

Acceptable Caskets

Materials for a Casket:

  • Plain, untreated, unvarnished wooden caskets, not made of rain forest hardwoods or other nonnative woods -- Jewish burial pine caskets are perfect

  • Cardboard, papier-mache, wicker

Building A Casket:

Acceptable Shrouds

Materials for a shroud:

  • You may use a favorite blanket or quilt, though we ask that you use natural fibers (cotton, wool, silk, hemp). If there is enough time to plan ahead, you can also sew a shroud or body bag, or find a weaver or tailor who will make one for you.

  • The body must be securely wrapped from head to feet.

Sources of shrouds:

Memorial Stone Markers

Acceptable Grave Stones

Stone markers are not required at Greensprings. However, if you would like to have a stone laid at your loved one’s grave, you must contact us to arrange the installation. We use a system that requires a layer of pea gravel to provide a bed of support for the stone and ensure the entire setting is flush with the ground to prevent cracking during changes in weather or from our annual mowing. 

Memorial markers must be native, natural, flat rocks, typically field stones, totaling no more than 400 square inches of surface area and are at least 3, but no more than 5, inches thick.

No cut, machined, or polished markers or monuments are permitted. The local engravers listed below offer stones that meet our requirements. Please be sure to confirm timelines if you have a specific timeframe in which you will need the carving completed.

There is a $225 fee to cover installation and materials costs. This fee is paid at the time of, or after, the burial and in advance of the installation.

Local stone engravers:

Beth Rounds 607-742-5292 (cell) 

Beth carves freehand. She can create simple drawings if you ask for an image, such as a butterfly, bird, flower, canoe, saint, or religious symbol.  Preferred communication is via text.   

Dryden Monument Company 607-844-8161 (office) 

Dryden Monument does very crisp sandblasting to carve the stone; you may provide an image if you want a picture of some kind.  They have Hebrew lettering.  Their website is: drydenmonument.com  

Contact us to arrange installation: 607-564-7577

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