Helping you plan ahead

TRINITY CHURCH CEMETERY & MAUSOLEUM
Helping you
plan ahead
Planning
for Tomorrow
Since its charter in 1697, Trinity Wall Street has served the people
of New York – at Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel in Lower
Manhattan, and at Trinity Church Cemetery & Mausoleum in
northern Manhattan. As the only remaining active cemetery
in the New York City, Trinity Cemetery offers a peaceful and
historic setting for above-ground interment and memorials.
Planning for our eventual burial needs involves personal
decisions. Making them while we have time to consider our
choices can ease the burden on family and friends when
death occurs. This planning guide was created to describe the
interment and memorial options available at Trinity Church
Cemetery & Mausoleum. It also provides guidance on gathering important personal information and deciding memorial
preferences in advance.
Our professional staff is ready to provide advice and assist you
a Rich History in New York City
The Trinity Church Cemetery & Mausoleum
was formally established in 1842 on land near
the John James Audubon estate. During the
Revolutionary War, the Battle of Fort Washington occurred here. Listed in the National
Register of Historic Places, the Cemetery is an
outreach ministry of Trinity Church in Lower
Manhattan, and is non-denominational.
in making your plans. We look forward to serving you.
Sincerely,
The Rev. Dr. James H. Cooper
Rector, Trinity Wall Street
Why Plan Now?
Mausoleums – an affordable choice
Planning ahead for our needs affords time to think carefully about
Mausoleums are free-standing buildings with space for caskets
memorial options. Most people say that advance funeral planning
or urns. The name comes from Maussollos, whose above-ground
is an enormous emotional relief. Families acknowledge that a pre-
tomb was so grand it was considered one of the seven wonders of
planned funeral is a final gift they are grateful to receive.
the ancient world when built in 351 BCE (Before the Common
Era). Previously, mausoleums were an expensive choice, and a
Trinity Church Cemetery & Mausoleum is experienced in helping
number were built by well-to-do families in the 19th century. One
people understand all of the options available.
of the most dramatic examples of a mausoleum in New York is
Grant’s Tomb.
The Importance of Memorializing
When someone dies, it is important to celebrate and remember a
These days, above-ground mausoleums are an affordable option be-
person’s unique life. Funerals and memorial services provide the
cause a number of entombments are contained in a single building.
bereaved with a chance to understand they are not alone in their
And it is easy to reserve a space, or crypt, in a mausoleum in advance.
grief. These gatherings also offer a chance to share stories –
especially happy ones – of their loved one’s life.
Trinity Cemetery’s mausoleums have crypt spaces for individuals and companions, or can accommodate three to five entomb-
Trinity Church Cemetery & Mausoleum can help you plan for
ments for families. The mausoleums are modern buildings that are
services and memorials. The onsite Chapel of the Resurrection is
landscaped to blend seamlessly with the historic surroundings of
a serene and comfortable place for reflection and prayer. It can be
Trinity Cemetery.
used for services, memorials, and gatherings after an interment.
The Chapel also contains space for cenotaphs, which are memorials
to people whose remains are interred elsewhere.
- Receive us...
into the blessed rest
of everlasting peace
Cremation – Simple and Dignified
Making Your Preferences Known
Although cremation is an increasingly popular option, it is far
A large part of pre-planning is organizing important information
from new. In fact, cremation is an ancient tradition, dating from
and documenting your personal memorial preferences. This infor-
around 3000 BCE in Europe and the Near East. Today many
mation is vital in helping people know where information is, who
choose cremation for reasons ranging from environmental to
to contact, and what choices you have made.
financial, and because it is simple and dignified.
Following are several forms that will help you in determining the
Cremation is a simple process of exposing the body to extreme
most important information you need. These include: name, date,
heat, reducing it to bone fragments (or “basic elements”). Remains
place of birth, family and friends to notify, and location of impor-
are often contained in urns. To maintain health and safety standards,
tant legal documents. There’s also space to indicate whether you
as well as respect and dignity for the deceased, cremation can only
have chosen above-ground entombment, burial, or cremation, and
be performed by a licensed and registered cemetery, crematory, or
what type of service you would prefer.
funeral director, depending on state laws. Trinity Church Cemetery
and Mausoleum does not perform cremations.
At Trinity Cemetery, cremated remains can be placed in mausoleums
or niches, which are recessed chambers.
Most religious traditions permit cremation, including Anglican,
Protestant, Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and Hindu. Typically, Jewish,
Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mormons, Muslims, and Bahais do
not allow cremation.
- Give Rest, O Christ
...to your servants
with your saints
-Book of Common Prayer
Personal Information
Preferences for Funeral/Memorial Service
Be sure to keep this form in a secure place. Before completing it, you may want to make a copy for
your spouse or partner to fill out.
p Above-Ground Entombment
p Cremation
p Burial
Date Filled Out ____________________
Pre-arrangements made with: _______________________________________________________________________
Your Name _______________________________________________________________________________________
Contact: __________________________________________________________________________________________
(first) (middle)
(last)
Street Address ____________________________________________________________________________________
City _____________________________ State _____________________________ Zip Code _________________
Date of Birth _______________ Place of Birth ___________________________________ Citizenship ________
Social Security Number _____________________________________________________________________________
Name on contracts: ________________________________________________________________________________
I have no pre-arrangements but prefer to be interred at: _________________________________________________
Type of casket preferred or selected: ________________________ Type of urn preferred or selected: __________
Where would you like the service to be held? (place of worship, funeral home, graveside only) ______________
Mother’s Maiden Name _____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fathers Name _____________________________________________________________________________________
Contact: __________________________________________________________________________________________
If Veteran, Dates of Service __________________ Branch of Service and Rank _____________________________
Funeral Service: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Spouse’s Name _____________________________________________________________________________________
Religious tradition: ________________________________________________________________________________
(first) (middle)
(last)
Communion: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Rite: _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Contact Information Family and Friends to Notify
Readings: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Name _________________________________________________________ Relationship ______________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone ______________________________ Email __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name _________________________________________________________ Relationship ______________________
Hymns/Music: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone ______________________________ Email __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name _________________________________________________________ Relationship ______________________
Telephone ______________________________ Email __________________________________________________
Preferred clergy: ___________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name _________________________________________________________ Relationship ______________________
Telephone ______________________________ Email __________________________________________________
Name _________________________________________________________ Relationship ______________________
Telephone ______________________________ Email __________________________________________________
Pallbearers: _______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Other Preferences: __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
GW
Bridge
__ _ Bank records
__ _ Deeds to property
__ _ Car ownership certificate
__ _ Investment and stock records
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
To help family and friends, please list the names and contact information (phone, email, address) for
the following.
By Subway:
Attorney(s) _________________________________________________________________________________________
Take the C subway line to the 155th Street
station stop. Walk west on 155th Street
toward Riverside Drive.
Take the #1 subway line to the 157th Street
station stop. Walk south to 155th Street
and west to Riverside Drive.
Accountant(s) ______________________________________________________________________________________
By Bus:
Physician(s) ________________________________________________________________________________________
InsuranceAgent(s) ___________________________________________________________________________________
Take the M4 or M5 to Broadway
and West 153rd Street.
Executor of estate ____________________________________________________________________________________
Children ___________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Other relatives ______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Funeral Director ____________________________________________________________________________________
Cemetery Counselor _________________________________________________________________________________
Parking:
The cemetery entrance gate is on 153rd Street
between Broadway and Riverside Drive,
in the middle of the block. Make a right turn
into the cemetery and follow the road
to the parking spaces on the left.
If all the spaces are taken,
please park on the left side of the road
and leave room for other vehicles to pass.
Trinity Church Cemetery & Mausoleum
770 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032
Contact us at 212.368.1600 or
cemetery @ trinitywallstreet.org
Open daily from 9am – 4pm
Cromwell Ave
Harlem River Dr
e
Tra
in
Av
e
Other Documents:
C
7th
__ _ Insurance policies (Life, Health and Accident, Property)
RY
Av
e
__ _ Citizenship paper
TE
s Av
__ _ Mausoleum certificate of ownerships
ME
hola
__ _ Marriage license
South from the George Washington Bridge,
take exit 1 for the Henry Hudson Parkway (9A),
follow signs for Riverside Drive/Downtown.
Continue on Riverside Drive.
Turn left at 165th Street, right on Broadway,
and right at 153rd Street.
Y C
E
St
8t
h
__ _ Pension and disability insurance claims
IT
3rd
th
St
Tra
in
Av
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__ _ Social Security Card or number
15
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7
1
St
Am
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__ _ Veteran’s discharge certificate
W
IN
5th
ay
__ _ Birth certificate or legal proof of age
TR
15
Bro
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__ _ Income tax returns, receipts, cancelled checks
Hen
__ _ Will
W
W
Dr
(A) Attorney
ers
ide
(O) Office
Riv
(D) Safe Deposit
North on the Henry Hudson Parkway (9A),
take exit 13 toward West 158th Street.
Continue on 158th Street.
Turn right on Broadway and right at 153rd Street.
Hudson
River
By Car:
Use the codes listed below to indicate where to find these important documents. Keep documents in a
safe and secure location.
(H) Home
MANHATTAN
Directions
St. N
ic
Important Documents and Contacts
TEXT
OUTLINE
for a world of good
for a world of good
74 trinity place
new york, ny 10006
212.602.0800
Printed on 100% recycled paper
TRINITYWALLSTREET.ORG