If you haven’t selected one yet, you may want to contact your favorite university.  Because this blog is about change…AND…I dug this up while researching another book…I’m sure you’ll want to know…

Campuses are constructing columbaria—Walls which will hold cremains.

The first one was built on the University of Virginia over 24 years ago. When alumnus Leigh Middleditch, Jr. couldn’t get into the university’s cemetery because it had run out of room, some of his friends helped finance a memorial wall with 180 niches.  Sorry, there’s no more room in the wall now. All of the niches have been sold (in case you were getting your hopes up) $1800 each. Maybe you can get in on phase 2.

For universities, these final resting places can build strong bonds of committment. The main hope is that people will also  remember their favorite school in their wills and estate planning.

The columbarium at Richmond circles a garden near the chapel. Students can be seen there, taking a thoughtful moment away from the noise and hurry of the campus.

Schools with Existing or Planned Columbaria include

Centre College in Kentucky,
Notre Dame
The Citadel
University of Richmond
Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas
University of Virginia

Like a stadium, sometimes the vaults get cheaper the higher up you go. Room at the bottom can go for around $5,000, the top $2500.

It’s just another way to show your school spirit with the “Final Homecoming.”

Happy Halloween Wherever You Rest

by Helmutt Wattrott