The demise of a loved one can be considered as one of the worst ordeals a human being goes through in life. When you do undergo this trauma, it would be helpful to be knowledgeable on local burial practices.

Cemeteries in Malta

Several public cemeteries are scattered around the Maltese Islands, but Addolorata Cemetery in Paola remains the largest cemetery in Malta. Although it's dominantly Christian, it's a multi-faith cemetery, and anyone can apply to be buried in it.

Burial Options in Malta

If you want to get buried in Malta, you have several burial options you can consider. If you want a specific type of burial, make sure you make a written declaration addressed to a close relative, in order for your wishes to be granted with as few disputes as possible. The two most common burial options are private and Government graves:

Private Graves in Cemeteries

Burying your loved ones in private graves is desired by many families, and they have been in demand for many years now. They are difficult to find and very expensive nowadays. Families which do own one have most probably inherited it from their ancestors and are still using it. You can apply for a private grave, but the waiting list is known to be very long and you can expect to wait years for your application to be processed. In 2018, the Government had promised the construction of 3000 new graves by 2020, but they were sold, before even being constructed.

Certain undertakers may also offer burial spaces in shared private graves within their funeral packages and you may find graves for sale by estate agents.

Common Graves in Cemeteries

A private grave is now a luxury which cannot be owned by every family in Malta and Gozo. If a private grave is too expensive or not available in any cemetery, your other traditional option is to opt for a burial in a common grave. A common grave is free of charge and it generally fits four people. When it's full, the grave is sealed, and after 2 years or so (giving time for all bodies to decompose), it's reopened, cleaned and reused for new burials. When it's opened, the remains are placed in a wooden box and relocated to an ossuary within the cemetery.

Why is a Private Grave preferred over a Common Grave?

A private grave is a preferred burial method over a state owned grave, because of a variety of reasons:

• All family remains would be stowed away together
• It's a permanent resting place, in comparison with a common grave, where remains are moved after 2 years
• It's more looked after and maintained
• Permanent monuments can be erected, in contrast to the temporary memorial plaques which can be placed in common graves

If neither of these traditional burial methods in cemeteries are appealing, due to the cemeteries being overcrowded, and private graves being expensive to buy and hard to find, here are other burial alternatives you can take into consideration:

Cremation in Malta

Up until May 2019, cremation in Malta was still illegal and anyone wishing to be cremated, had to do so overseas. This ended up to be a very costly procedure. As from May 2019, the cremation bill was passed into law and ashes can now be kept or scattered according to the former wishes of the deceased or those of the family. However, you still need to wait until an official crematorium is constructed in Malta. A national registry is planned to be set up, in an endeavour to keep a record of people's wishes after their death.

Burial at sea

Although not a popular burial method, burial at sea is possible. A professional undertaker will guide you in preparing the body, applying for all permissions, chartering a boat and conforming with all regulations.

Organ donation

Want to assist science in its ongoing research after you die? Why not consider organ donation? If you're interested, you can register on Transplant Support Group Malta or make a written statement.

Repatriation

If you want to repatriate a body, the undertaker and embassy in question will guide you accordingly in order to acquire all the necessary permits, arrange all flight logistics, prepare travel insurance and respect all current regulations.

Burial Logistics in Malta

Experiencing the death of a close relative is a calamity which you'll unfortunately experience one day or another. What would you need to do? Upon the demise of a family member, the death must be certified by a doctor, who will in turn issue a medical certificate. In case of a sudden death, an autopsy would need to be carried out. You would need to collect a death certificate from one of the police stations around Malta and Gozo, who will consequently provide you with a burial permit. Following this, contact the selected cemetery, register the demise with the Public Registry, and determine the burial location- be it in a Government or a private grave.

Do choose one of the professional undertakers on Yellow to manage the whole funeral and burial process with no hiccups. The undertaker of your choice will guide you throughout the whole process in this time of despair. From funeral flower arrangements, to the funeral cars, coffin, tombstone, embalming, obituary and memorial cards, an undertaker will manage all the funeral planning and the paperwork which comes with it.