# Why are family tombs individually sealed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 9, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-family-tombs-individually-sealed/425737 "2007-11-09T01:24:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-family-tombs-individually-sealed/425737/1 "2007-11-09T01:24:22Z")
I went to a funeral today and the casket was laid in an above ground crypt. The casket was pushed to the back of the crypt presumably to make space for the next family member. Before sealing the crypt, a separate barrier was installed to completely seal off the first casket. The barrier looked to be a piece of plywood and it was not only screwed in place, it was caulked airtight. The question is, why go to this bother? Why does each individual need to be sealed into their very own space? If its a question of smell 1. wouldn’t the smell find its way out anyway? 2. could not the casket be sealed? 3. does an embalmed body smell anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-family-tombs-individually-sealed/425737/2 "2007-11-09T03:39:44Z")
I don’t have the answer, but I just thought I’d chime in and say that’s an interesting question… ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-family-tombs-individually-sealed/425737/3 "2007-11-09T06:51:04Z")
At least in New Orleans, they don’t have to provide space for all the coffins. From [here](http://www.experienceneworleans.com/deadcity.html): > [@](#): > > Here is a question for you – how can you bury more than one family member in each vault? How can a tomb hold all of those coffins? According to a local ordinance, as long as the previously deceased family member has been dead for at least two years, the remains of that person is moved to a specially made burial bag and put to the side or back of the vault. That coffin is then destroyed and the vault is now ready for the newly deceased family member. > > What happens if a family member dies within that two year time restriction? Generally, local cemeteries are equipped with temporary holding vaults and the newly deceased family member is moved into their final resting place when the time restriction is met. Funny you should bring this up - I’ve been doing research for a Staff Report (which will be published next week) on a very similar topic. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-family-tombs-individually-sealed/425737/4 "2007-11-09T13:29:42Z")
Separate bedrooms, to keep the kids from scrapping? 😃 Ooooh– **so** going to Hell for that… ---
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-family-tombs-individually-sealed/425737/5 "2007-11-10T03:44:36Z")
Giving this one more try. Any morticians out there?