Frequently Asked Questions

How do I place an order?

To place an order for an immediate need, contact us at 888-433-6934. Immediate need shipments are pulled from inventory and go out right away. If you would like to purchase a Trappist Casket for future use (one year or more into the future) fill out and submit a Pre-Need Order Form.
Pre-Need orders are shipped as they are needed in the future.

How long does it take to get a casket or urn?

All caskets and urns are kept in stock for immediate shipment. Depending on when the casket is needed and where it’s going, it usually takes 1 or 2 business days to get a casket delivered. We can expedite shipment for next day delivery if necessary. Please refer to our Shipping Estimator for approximate transit times and shipping costs.

How does Shipping and Delivery work?

Caskets and urns are shipped directly from our woodworking shop, located on the monastery grounds in Peosta, Iowa. We ship the product for on-time delivery to the address provided by you, usually a funeral home.  Depending on transit time and destination, the casket  could be delivered either by us, by a commercial over the road carrier, or by air freight.

What are the payment options?

We accept Visa, MasterCard, personal checks, or money orders. For Pre-Need purchases, we do offer an installment plan.

Will a funeral home accept a Trappist Casket?

Yes, all funeral homes in the United States will accept the Trappist Casket you select. The Federal Trade Commission protects the consumer’s right to provide their own casket or urn. We will work with your funeral director in making any necessary arrangements.

Can I purchase a Trappist Casket through my funeral home?

Many funeral homes do offer Trappist Caskets to the families they serve. However, if your funeral home does not yet offer Trappist Caskets, please call us and place your order directly with the monastery.

Do Trappist Caskets meet industry standards and fit inside a standard vault?

Yes, all of our caskets – even the oversize – fit inside a standard vault. Trappist Caskets meet or exceed all industry standards for size, strength, durability, etc.

Do Trappist monks make the caskets?

Yes. Monks, along with hired workers, make all of the caskets and urns. The casket business allows us to be self-sufficient. Each casket and urn is blessed by a monk.

How long does it take to make a casket?

Because each casket is hand-crafted, our casket making is not a hurried process. Depending on the model, it takes anywhere from 8 to 18 hours to craft a casket.

How long have the monks been making caskets?

At New Melleray Abbey we’ve been making caskets for our own members for over 150 years. In 1999 we decided to offer our distinctive caskets to the general public. Trappist Caskets is owned and operated by the monks of New Melleray Abbey.

Who are the Trappist monks?

Trappists are an order of Cistercian monks in the Catholic Church. Our disciplined life is wholly ordered toward contemplation, beginning with morning prayers at 3:30 a.m. We are located in rural Iowa, about 12 miles outside of Dubuque. New Melleray Abbey was founded in 1849, by monks from Ireland. Our lives are dedicated to knowing God through prayer. To learn more about New Melleray Abbey and our way of life, please visit www.newmelleray.org/.