Funeral services for all beliefs

Funeral services are available at Vantaa cemeteries for people of different faiths and for those without religious affiliation.

Funeral arrangements for people of other faiths and for those with no religious affiliation

The list below outlines the maximum permitted dimensions for gravestones. Smaller gravestones are also allowed. The list also includes the contact details and addresses to which the gravestone plan should be sent.

Muslim burial sections at cemeteries

Grave plots designated for Muslims are always coffin graves, meaning that the deceased is buried in a coffin.

Helsinki
Honkanummi Cemetery (grave plots available only to residents of Helsinki)

Espoo
Kellonummi Cemetery (grave plots available only to residents of Espoo)

Vantaa
Ruskeasanta Cemetery (grave plots available only to residents of Vantaa or if the deceased lived in Vantaa during their lifetime)

Burial permit and booking a burial time

A burial permit is required for burial. The burial permit is issued by a doctor who determines the cause of death. The doctor issues the burial permit to the person who has stated that they will take responsibility for arranging the burial.

The burial permit may also be issued to a private funeral home if the next of kin give their consent. The deceased’s relatives or the private funeral home must submit the burial permit to the cemetery management before the burial.

The burial permit can be sent by email or delivered to the Grave Office. The burial time is booked with the parish that owns the cemetery.

Booking a burial time usually takes about three working days. If the deceased passed away during a weekend or public holiday, it may take 5–7 working days to obtain a burial time.

Burial times are booked through the Grave Office.

Grave Office

Coffin and transportation of the deceased

The next of kin purchase the coffin and transportation services for the deceased from a private funeral home. Funeral homes can be found, for example, through the website of the Finnish Association of Funeral Directors.

Find a funeral home

Funeral prayer

A funeral prayer may be held for the deceased before the burial takes place. The funeral prayer can be conducted at the cemetery or, for example, in a mosque or a hospital. The funeral prayer is performed by the family themselves or by an imam from their own religious community.

Burial and covering of the grave

On the day of the burial, a sexton from the parish will be present at the agreed time. The sexton guides the funeral procession to the grave site.

The sexton brings lowering straps, which are used to lower the coffin into the grave. The grave is dug in an east–west direction. In Muslim burials, the coffin is placed so that the deceased faces Mecca. It is recommended to mark the side of the coffin where the face is.

Shovels are available at the graveside so that the family may cover the grave themselves if they wish. If the grave is supported with shoring frames, it is covered so that the coffin is fully covered. Cemetery staff remove the shoring frames and complete the covering of the grave after the burial.

For the burial of a child, ladders are also provided at the grave. Usually, a family member lowers the child’s coffin into the grave using the ladders.

Burial fees

Fees are charged in accordance with the current price list. The burial services send an invoice for the grave plot and the burial to the person who ordered the burial. The person ordering the burial is responsible for paying the burial fees.

The costs of the coffin and transportation are paid directly to the private funeral home.

Fees in Vantaa Fees in Espoo Fees in Helsinki

If the deceased does not have sufficient funds to cover the burial fees, it is possible to inquire about a payment commitment from the social services of the deceased’s municipality of residence.

Gravestone

After the burial has taken place and the burial fees have been paid, a gravestone may be erected on the grave. Installing a gravestone is optional. A design plan for the gravestone must be submitted to the parish for approval before installation.

Vantaa

Ruskeasanta Cemetery:

Maximum dimensions of the gravestone: width 80 cm, height 90 cm, thickness 20 cm
The gravestone may be smaller than the maximum dimensions
A base stone must be installed under the gravestone; maximum dimensions of the base stone are 90 × 30 × 30 cm
A written gravestone plan must be submitted for approval to
hautausmaat.vantaa@evl.fi

Helsinki

Honkanummi Cemetery:

When the grave width is 1 m, maximum dimensions of the gravestone: width 80 cm, height 75 cm, thickness 20 cm
When the grave width is 0.7 m, maximum dimensions of the gravestone: width 40 cm, height 50 cm, thickness 15 cm
The gravestone may be smaller than the maximum dimensions
In section 77, a base stone must be installed under the gravestone; in section 76, a support beam is used
A written gravestone plan must be submitted for approval by email to
kiviluvat.honkahsrky@evl.fi or delivered to the cemetery office

Espoo

Kellonummi Cemetery:

Maximum dimensions of the gravestone: width 100 cm, height 100 cm, thickness 15 cm
The volume of the gravestone must not exceed 150 litres
The gravestone may be smaller than the maximum dimensions
The base stone must extend at least 5 cm beyond the gravestone base on all sides
A written gravestone plan must be submitted for approval to
hautatoimisto.espoo@evl.fi

Holder of the right of burial

The next of kin choose one person among themselves to act as the holder of the right of burial. The holder is usually the deceased’s spouse, child, or parent. The holder of the right of burial is the person responsible for matters related to the burial and the grave.

The holder of the right of burial:

acts as the contact person between the family and the parish,
is responsible for payments related to the grave, and
is responsible for the care and maintenance of the grave.

Grave tenure

If the family chooses not to extend the grave tenure period, the grave plot is returned to the parish for reuse, and another burial may take place there.

A grave plot has space for two coffins. According to the law, a grave may be reused after 20 years have passed since the burial.

The grave tenure period (right of use) is valid for 25 years. When the tenure period expires, the family may either relinquish the grave or extend the tenure period.

A fee is charged for extending the tenure period in accordance with the current price list. When the tenure period is nearing its end, the parish sends a notification to the holder of the right of burial. If the parish does not have the contact details of the holder, a notice of the expiry is placed at the grave.

Grave care

The grave must be kept tidy. If the family wishes, flowers and candles may be placed on the grave. Responsibility for the care and maintenance of the grave always lies with the holder of the right of burial.