Burial plots
A deceased resident of Espoo has the right to purchase a burial plot at any of the five cemeteries managed by the Espoo Parish Union, provided there are available plots. New burial plots are only allocated upon death and cannot be purchased in advance.
Non-residents may purchase a new urn burial plot at Kellonummi Cemetery or use the memorial grove or scattering area at any of the cemeteries.
Coffin burial
If the family already has an existing family grave and the deceased has the right to be buried there, the burial can take place in that grave, provided there are free coffin spaces.
New coffin burial plots can be purchased at Kellonummi and Chapel Cemeteries. At Kellonummi Cemetery, there is also the option to bury a coffin in the memorial grove.
Urns can also be buried in a coffin grave.
Ash burial
Ashes can be buried in an urn, in a biodegradable covering, or simply as ashes and can also be scattered.
Possible burial places for ashes include:
- family graves
- memorial groves
- scattering areas
- columbarium
- non-denominational area
- sea
- private land
- other land with written permission from the landowner.
In Espoo, new urn burial plots are available at Kellonummi and Funeral Chapel Cemeteries and in the Gräsa and Tapiola urn groves. Memorial groves are located at Church and Kellonummi Cemeteries and in the Gräsa and Tapiola urn groves. Scattering areas are available in the non-denominational section of Kellonummi Cemetery, Funeral Chapel Cemetery, and the Gräsa urn grove.
The columbarium, or urn vault, is a storage space for cremation urns. Urns and ashes do not decompose in a columbarium. A columbarium burial plot can be purchased in the Gräsa and Tapiola urn groves. Urns placed in a columbarium must be non-biodegradable.
Relatives may participate in the burial or scattering of ashes. Memorial groves have a shared area for cut flowers in the summer and candles in the winter.
Veteran Burial
Espoo war veterans with a veteran identification receive a free burial plot at the cemetery of their choice. Cremation and the installation of foundation beams and memorials or nameplates installed by the parish are always charged. The Funeral Chapel Cemetery has a dedicated section for veterans where new coffin or urn burial plots can be purchased.
Non-denominational section
The non-denominational section is in the northwest corner of Kellonummi Cemetery. This section includes coffin and urn burial plots, a memorial grove, and a scattering area. Anyone can purchase a burial plot in the non-denominational section.
Burial in another municipality
The deceased can also be buried elsewhere, for example, in a grave in their place of birth. In this case, you must make arrangements for the burial plot with the parish of that location.
