Cemetery

• These regulations are necessary for the mutual protection and benefit of lot owners, the cemetery corporation, the cemetery board and the caretakers. All lot owners, visitors, anyone doing work of any kind within the cemetery boundaries and all lots shall be subject to these regulations which may be amended from time to time.

OWNERSHIP

• St. Anthony Cemetery has been approved by the Bishop of New Ulm and is owned by St. Anthony Parish Corporation and an abstract of title to St. Anthony Cemetery land is kept with the parish Corporation records.

• Minnesota Statues, Chapter 272.02, exempts religious cemeteries from taxation, provided that every fourth year commissioner of Revenue Form PE 75 is filed with the County Assessor. Chapter 307.09 of the same Statue adds the exemption from assessments for such improvements as roads, sewers, water lines, etc., for all land “dedicated” to cemetery use. “Dedication” of cemetery lands is effected by the preparation and registration of a cemetery plot as described in the attached copy of Minnesota Statute 307.01.

The following appendixes are included for easy reference:
Appendix 1 – Costs/Rates for Lots and Cemetery Services
Appendix 2 – Copy of Easement and Perpetual Care Certificate
Appendix 3 – Memorial Information and Regulations
Appendix 4 – Landscaping, Planting and Artificial Floral Regulations
Appendix 5 – Catholic Cemetery Association Guidelines on Cremation
Appendix 6 – Columbarium Policy

DEFINITIONS

• Assign(s) – term used to designate individual(s) who a lot owner selects/assigns responsibility for the lot after the owner’s death, or one who has been assigned the right to burial on the lot by the owner. This is usually done if there are no legal heirs or no heirs in the locality.

• Diocese – Diocese of New Ulm

• Cemetery Funds – Cemetery operating fund and perpetual care fund (see Administration 25a & b).

• Local Ordinary – The bishop or vicar general of the Diocese of New Ulm

• Pastor/PA – Pastor/Pastoral Administrator

• Lot Owner – refers to the person who has purchased the right to burial on the lot and in no way involves ownership or title to the land.

• Local Management – The pastor/pastoral administrator of the parish corporation which owns the cemetery is responsible for the care of the cemetery and cemetery funds. The pastor/pastoral administrator may delegate various responsibilities to the cemetery committee or individuals such as the caretaker.

• Lot, Plot, or Burial Place – shall be used interchangeably and shall apply with the like effect to one or more than one adjoining grave space.

• Interment – shall mean the permanent deposition of the remains of a deceased person by entombment or burial.

• Memorial – shall include a monument, tombstone, marker, tablet, headstone, private mausoleum or tomb for family or individual use. (See Appendix 3 and 4.)

• Committee – shall mean the St. Anthony Cemetery Committee of St. Anthony Parish. This is a committee of the parish finance council whose membership is designated in this document. The cemetery committee is advisory to the pastoral leader and reports to the parish finance council. (See para. 37 & 38.)

• Sale/Purchase of Lots – shall mean the sale/purchase only of the right to burial of the human dead in those lots. The land remains the property of the corporation.

• Perpetual Care – shall mean the cutting of grass at reasonable intervals, the raking and cleaning of the grounds and the pruning of trees and shrubs placed by the management. It shall include the general preservation of the lots and memorials, grounds, walks, roadways, boundaries and structures, to the end that said grounds shall remain and be reasonably cared for as cemetery grounds (forever). (See paragraphs 57 and 58 below.)

PURPOSE OF A CATHOLIC CEMETERY

• St. Anthony Catholic cemetery is intended for the burial of Catholic Christians who are entitled to burial according to the rules and discipline of the Roman Catholic Church. However, burial of individuals who do not profess the Roman Catholic faith and the conduct of their burial service by a minister of religion is permitted in a Catholic Cemetery. This most frequently involves situations of interfaith marriage in which spouses choose to be buried next to each other. Other situations may arise which require the sensitivity and pastoral judgment of the local pastor/PA. Unusual cases, especially those that may cause some scandal to the faithful, may be referred to the local ordinary for advice.

• The burial of pets, other animals, vehicles, or other personal possessions (except what is enclosed with the remains in the casket such as bible, rosary, jewelry, glasses and the like) is not allowed in a Catholic Cemetery.

PROPER CONDUCT IN THE CEMETERY

• There has been a long-standing tradition supporting our respect for the dead and respect for those visiting the cemetery for prayer through our observance of certain courtesies and the avoidance of unbecoming behaviors while in a cemetery. Visitors and workers are expected to refrain from loud or boisterous conversations and unchristian language. Idling, loafing or playing on the grounds is not permitted. Except for designated work crews, no lunches or refreshments should be brought into or consumed on the cemetery grounds. Peddling or soliciting the sale of any commodity within the cemetery is prohibited as well as placing of signs, notices or advertisements of any kind. Dogs and other pets are not allowed in the cemetery. Firearms are not to be brought onto cemetery property except by military escort accompanying a Veteran’s funeral or attending memorial services. Trimmings, dead flowers or refuse from weeding should be removed from the grave areas, placed in trash receptacles, if available, in an area of the cemetery if one has been so designated for this purpose, or should be removed from the cemetery property to be properly disposed of elsewhere.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE CEMETERY

• The administration of St. Anthony Cemetery, including all properties, real and personal, and all funds intended for the benefit of the cemetery shall be exercised by St. Anthony Parish Corporation through the pastor/pastoral administrator who may delegate responsibilities to a cemetery committee or an individual. The cemetery committee is a committee of the parish finance council and reports to it at least on an annual basis.

• According to diocesan policy Administration, Parish 8, the cemetery committee is one of the standing committees of the parish finance council. Meetings are to be held at least one time per year, in addition to submitting an individual report to the parish finance council. All members of the cemetery committee must be notified of the date, time, and agenda of all cemetery committee meetings. Minutes of all meetings are to be kept and shared with the parish finance council. All recommendations regarding cemetery policies must be shared with the parish finance council and be accepted/approved by the pastor/pastoral administrator.

• All action on behalf of the cemetery must be in conformity with the laws, rules and regulations of the St. Anthony Parish Corporation, the Diocese of New Ulm Cemetery Regulations, the Roman Catholic Church and the State of Minnesota.

• All work in or upon the cemetery is to be done only by those authorized by local management.

• Two separate funds are established for the cemetery.

• Cemetery Operating Fund – Gifts to the cemetery fund that are not designated for perpetual care, annual interest from the perpetual care fund and sixty percent of moneys from the sale of lots, make up this fund. This fund is to be used to defray expenses for the general preservation, maintenance or improvement of the lots, grounds, walks, roadways, boundaries and structures, sodding, cutting of grass at reasonable intervals, snow removal, salaries, contract labor/services, insurance, purchase of equipment (tractor, lawn mower, truck, snow blower, landscaping tools/equipment), raking and cleaning of grounds, the planting and pruning of trees, shrubs and flowers placed by local management, care of lights and other electrical needs, flag poles, well and watering systems, cemetery monument centerpieces or cemetery-owned devotional statuary and for the purchase of more land.

• Perpetual Care Fund – Gifts designated for perpetual care of the cemetery and forty percent of moneys from the sale of lots make up this fund. This fund is treated like an endowment fund from which only interest earned may be spent to ensure that cemetery property shall remain and be reasonably cared for as cemetery grounds forever. This fund must continue to be built until the fund has reached the level of $25,000 per acre of land held as cemetery grounds whether the acreage or a portion of it is developed or not. The income generated by the perpetual care fund is spendable and is to be transferred to the operating fund as the income becomes available.

• All moneys and assets belonging to the cemetery are kept separate from other funds of the parish corporation and are used only for cemetery purpose. All sales receipts and fund expenditures will be handled through the Parish Office. Minnesota law prohibits the loan of these funds for any reason.

• Cemetery funds are held in low-risk investments in consultation with and approval of the parish finance council. Acceptable low risk investments include:
• Bank certificates of deposit that are FDIC insured
• US government bonds and notes
• Mutual funds that invest solely in US government obligations
• State and municipal bonds
• Bonds issued by utility companies
• Corporate stocks and bonds “provided such investment shall be made with such prudence, discretion, and intelligence as will protect the safety of the principal of such investments as well as the income to be derived therefrom.” Investments in corporate stocks and bonds are to be limited to 15% of total assets.

• All expenses and charges against the cemetery shall normally be paid from cemetery revenue or other money designated for cemetery purposes.

• No member of the parish corporation or person(s) delegated by the corporation may individually contract liabilities for the cemetery.

• The only member of the parish corporation authorized to contract up to $500.00 in liabilities for the cemetery without corporate board approval is the pastor/PA or person(s) officially delegated by the corporate board. All other expenditures require the corporate board’s or their delegate’s approval.

• A gift for cemetery purposes shall be construed to be a gift for the cemetery operating fund unless the donor specifically designates the perpetual care fund as the recipient, or the cemetery board elects to invest the gift or some portion of it in the perpetual care fund.

• To keep the current value of the perpetual care fund, the cemetery committee may designate that a certain percentage of the earnings of the perpetual care fund (up to the inflation rate) would remain in the perpetual care fund.

• In the diocese, no less than forty percent (40%) of the cost of a lot sold with perpetual care must be deposited into the perpetual care fund, the principal of which may never be expended for any purpose. The balance of the lot sale is to be deposited into the cemetery operating fund. However, if it is necessary to build up the perpetual care fund, the cemetery committee may set a higher percentage to go into the perpetual care fund. Our cemetery at the Church of St. Anthony designates 40% of the cost of the grave to go into the perpetual care fund, and the remainder into the cemetery operating fund.

• Subject to the limitations hereinafter set forth, the Cemetery Committee shall have full and exclusive power to determine the price of lots, grave openings, and the charges for special services rendered to lot owners.

• The Committee shall have full and exclusive power to issue instruments of conveyance (certificates/deeds) for cemetery lots, such instruments to be signed by the pastor or person(s) officially delegated by him.

• Since ownership of the land remains with the Corporation, resale of the right for burial can only be to the Corporation. Persons may not speculate on cemetery property, i.e., buy and sell for a greater amount at a later date. The Corporation will accept lots donated back.

• The St. Anthony Cemetery Committee will consist of five (5) members appointed by the St. Anthony Parish Council. New members will be recommended to the Parish Council by the Cemetery Committee. The Pastor and Corporation Trustees will be invited to St. Anthony Committee meetings. The Committee will organize with a Chairperson, Vice-chairperson and a Recorder.

• All Committee members will be members of St. Anthony Parish and be appointed for three (3) year terms. Members may be appointed for consecutive terms. Vacancies will be filled for the balance of the term by the Parish Council.

• Meetings: The Annual Meeting of the Cemetery Committee will be held in July. Regular and special meetings shall be determined by the Committee. The chairperson will notify the Parish Center of the time and place and the meeting agenda.

• A meeting quorum will consist of three members of the Committee.

• The Committee Recorder will maintain a record of Committee meetings and Policy File for St. Anthony Cemetery. The Policy File will be kept with the cemetery records. It will be reviewed and updated as required by the Committee.

LOT AND LOT OWNERS

• No matter what form of certificate is used, the only right which a lot owner acquires when a lot is conveyed to him/her is the right of burial on the lot. The title of the land does not pass to the individual purchasing the right of burial, but remains vested in the name of the parish cemetery corporation. Therefore, easements are granted, not deeds of title to the property.

• The law expressly forbids the burial of anyone on the lot who, at the time of death, was not the owner of the lot or a relative of the owner by blood or marriage, except by written consent of the cemetery board.

• No cemetery lot or portion thereof is to be sold without perpetual care. Annual care plans are forbidden. However, if lots were sold in the past without perpetual care, efforts should be made to collect the perpetual care for the lot as soon as possible. This is completed by a one-time assessment of $50.00, payable at the time of burial.

• Local management has the full and exclusive power to issue easement certificates for burial rights in cemetery lots: such instruments are to be signed by the pastor/PA or person(s) officially designated by the local management. Names of heirs and assigns at the time of sale are also to be provided to facilitate contracting appropriate persons if memorial repairs are required, if there is a request for purchase of burial rights in an unused grave and other business that may arise in relation to the lot (see Appendix 2 for sample certificate).

• Lot owners are granted only the right of interment in their lots. The pastor/pastoral administrator reserves the right to refuse permission for interment of anyone who, at the time of death, is not the owner of the lot or an authorized relative of the owner by blood or marriage.

• In order to establish a minimum of uniformity in the diocese, no adult burial lot or portion thereof shall be sold for less than one hundred dollars ($200.00) per grave after these regulations are in effect. Grave lots for infants and cremans should be priced at a minimum of $50. Every five years, this amount will be adjusted according to the inflation rate.

• If approved by local management, burial right may be purchased with deferred payments executed in a contract form with local management. When burial rights are purchased on deferred payments, one burial may be made on said lot, provided the purchaser has paid the amount established by the cemetery board as the initial acceptable payment in such cases (see paragraph 61, concerning placement of memorials).

• It remains the right and Christian duty of the cemetery board to make special arrangements and adjust prices to accommodate the poor and destitute, unknown persons or multiple victims of a disaster to ensure the dignity and care of all human remains.

DESCENT OF TITLE AND TRANSFER OF LOTS

• The laws of the State of Minnesota govern the descent of title to cemetery lots as well as other matters pertaining to assignments, conveyances, trust deeds, etc. A copy of the pertinent laws is a part of this document.

• Conveyance of  burial rights by purchase, gift, or any other means must be approved by the St. Anthony Cemetery Committee and a transfer fee of $25.00 on each transfer be paid to the Committee. Burial right owners, if living, or their heir/assigns may transfer burial right in lots/graves back to the cemetery corporation if local management is in agreement. Such transfers are individually negotiated. The original purchase price of the grave/lot should not be exceeded if the cemetery corporation is purchasing a grave/lot back from owner, heirs, or assigns. The cemetery corporation holds the right to sell such a grave/lot at current prices. No lot may be transferred or assigned as long as there is any indebtedness due the cemetery from the burial rights owner, heirs or assigns, unless the indebtedness is taken care of in the transfer transaction which must be approved by the cemetery board.

• The burial rights in old lots where there are several claimants thereto is to vested in the blood descendents who have provided, or will provide perpetual care for the lot, subject to any disposition made by the law of the State of Minnesota to the right in said lot. In the event that all blood descendants agree to payment for perpetual care, they shall all have equal right in said lot. In case of a dispute in regard to title or interment privileges, the decision of the local management shall be final.

• In the order of transfer of burial rights (lots or graves) from the original owners shall be:
• The living spouse
• The eldest living child of the decedent
• The next eldest living child of the decedent, etc.

This order will be followed unless there has been other order stipulated by the owner of the rights or the eligible descendent or his/her guardian has given up the right in writing.

• Information on abandonment of lots can be found in the Cemetery Regulations of the Diocese of New Ulm (see Policy Bulletin: Administration, Parish 2, Appendix 2, Section 306.21).

• Lot owners are granted only the right of interment in their lots. Management reserves the right to refuse to permit the interment of anyone who was not at the time of death the owner of the lot or an authorized relative of the owner by blood or marriage.

PERPETUAL CARE

• No adult grave shall be sold for less than $200.00, for parishioners (March 23, 1995). (See Appendix 1, Cost of Rates.)

• No cemetery lot or portion thereof shall be sold without perpetual care.

• No less than 40% of the cost of a lot sold with perpetual care shall be put into a special Perpetual Care Fund, the principal of which may never be expended for any purpose. The committee may determine that a higher percent of the cost of lots sold be set aside into this Fund.

• Moneys of the “Perpetual Care Fund” are invested in the name of the parish corporation with the notation “Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund”. These are to be non-risk investments and the revenue derived from them are to be used for the general care and upkeep of the cemetery.

MEMORIALS

• The express permission of local management is required before a memorial of any nature may be erected or set in the cemetery. Care should be taken that the symbols and wording on the memorial should be appropriate for a Catholic cemetery. (See Appendix 3 for details on memorials and Appendix 4 for landscaping regulations.)

• Memorials may not be installed on lots purchased on the installment plan until the full purchase price for burial rights has been paid (see paragraph 48 above).

• The responsibility of keeping any memorials, monuments, markers, etc. in a safe and proper state of repair shall be that of the burial rights owner, the heirs or assigns. This information is to be included on any easement certificate used by local management at the time of sale of burial rights. A copy of these regulations will be given along with easement.

• If the burial rights owner, heirs, or assigns cannot be located when a memorial is in need of repair, local management assumes responsibility for returning the memorial to a safe and proper state using cemetery operating funds, but has the right to charge the owner, heirs or assigns with the incurred costs if the owner, heirs or assigns are located at a later time. The local management does not incur any liability should an owner, heirs or assigns come forward after repairs have been done and object to any alterations that were made. Local management has the right to set a reasonable time limit (30-60 days) for repairs to be completed by lot owners, heirs or assigns before the local management assumes responsibility for completing the work unless it is a matter of safety requiring immediate attention.

• If a memorial is not already on a grave at the time of burial, no memorial can be installed until all financial obligations to the cemetery have been paid or arrangements have been made, including opening and closing of the grave cost.

INTERMENT AND DISINTERMENT

• A burial permit as required by Minnesota law must be presented before interment can take place in the cemetery. This is provided by the funeral director.

• The permission of the lot owner is required for interment to take place. When there is a question, such permission should be in writing.

• The interment of cremated remains is permitted in St. Anthony Cemetery, provided the Catholic Cemetery Association Guidelines on Cremation are followed (Appendix 5). When cremants are buried the pastoral leader must be notified to properly record their location in the cemetery.

• The Committee is to assist in any way it can in case of disinterment required by civil courts or authorities. Local management is to have written approval of the person(s) construed to have custody of the body and of the lot owner (if living), heirs or assigns if disinterment is for the purpose of relocation of remains, unless disinterment is required by civil law some reason (relocation of a cemetery, court-ordered autopsy, etc.). The local management may proceed with disinterment once approvals are received or (after a reasonable investigation) it has been determined that no living heir or assign can be located to obtain approval.

• Delay of Interment. The local management will be in no way liable for any delay in the interment of a body when a protest to the interment has been made, or where the rules or regulations have not been complied with; further, the local management reserves the right under such circumstances to place a body in a receiving vault until the full rights have been determined. The management shall be under no duty to recognize any protest of interment unless it be in writing and filed at the local management’s office (parish rectory).

• Mistakes in Interment. The Committee shall not be held responsible for any order given by telephone, or for any mistake occurring for the want of precise and proper instructions as to the particular space, size and location in a lot where the interment is desired. Orders for interment must be given by the owner of the lot or his legal representative. This is often handled by the funeral director. However, when the owner is not readily available, telegraphic permission will be accepted. All funeral processions on reaching the cemetery shall be under the supervision of local management. Once the burial service is completed, the casket cannot be opened without the consent of the legal representative of the deceased, except as noted in paragraph 69 above. When the instructions from the lot owner regarding the location of an interment space in a lot cannot be obtained or are indefinite, or when for any reason the interment space cannot be opened when specified, the Committee may in its discretion open it in such location in the lot as it deems best and proper, so as not to delay the burial, and the Committee shall not be liable for any error so made.

• In order to maintain a right standard of care and to eliminate sunken graves caused by collapse of wooden boxes or other weak materials, it is required that all burials be in outside containers made of natural stone, metal or of reinforced concrete.

• It shall be the duty of the St. Anthony Cemetery Committee to formulate regulations pertaining to the sale of lots, placement of memorials, planting of trees, flowers, or decorative shrubbery, and whatever else pertains to the function and orderly management of a Catholic cemetery. These regulations shall be submitted for the approval of the Parish Council before becoming effective.

• All work in or upon the cemetery shall be done only by those authorized by the Committee or authorized representative.
  

APPENDIX 1

COST OF GRAVES
(Subject to future change)

• Cost of Burial Lot for Member of the Parish $300.00
• Cost of Burial Lot for Non-member of the Parish $800.00
• Cost of Grave Transfer $25.00
• Cost for Staking a Grave at the time of burial $100.00

(These moneys go to the Perpetual Care Fund)

• Cost of Staking Fee at time of setting headstone or footstone $25.00

Please Note: THIS PRICE LIST IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE

Deferred Payment Graves/Lots:
            If only one grave is purchased, 100% of the cost of the grave must be paid before burial can take place in the grave. If two or more graves are bought, the cost of one grave must be paid as a down payment before a burial can take place on the lot, and the balance to be paid within one year.

Cost of Opening and Closing a Grave:
This cost is subject to contractor’s billing and is paid directly to the contractor.

Sale/Transfer of Graves/Lots Back to the Cemetery Corporation, to a Descendent or Another Party:
The sale/transfer must be completed through local management and follow the guidelines in paragraphs 42-48 of these regulations. Any owner, his/her heirs or assigns may convey their rights to burial by gift/bequest only with the approval and knowledge of local management.

Graves for the Destitute, Poor, and Multiple Victims of Disaster: Refer to paragraph 49 of the Parish Cemetery Regulations.

Perpetual Care:
In the Diocese, no less than forty percent of the cost of a lot sold with perpetual care must be deposited into the perpetual care fund, the principal of which may never be expended for any purpose. The balance of the lot sale is to be deposited into the cemetery operating fund. However, if it is necessary to build up the perpetual care fund, the cemetery committee may set a higher percentage to go into the perpetual care fund. Our cemetery at the Church of St. Anthony designates 40% of the cost of the grave to go into the perpetual care fund.

APPENDIX 3

INFORMATION FOR LOT MEMORIAL PURCHASERS

• Memorial work is quite technical. Familiarize yourself with these regulations before ordering any memorial.

• Local management must grant permission for any memorial work to be done in the cemetery. That includes installation of memorials, letter cutting and monument cleaning.

• Select a reputable memorial dealer who understands the cemetery regulations. Often the cemetery board is aware of dealers in the area who have first grade workmanship in their products and in their installations.

• Producers of memorial material as well as retail dealers must agree to use only first grade stone, and must guarantee the memorial to be executed in first grade workmanship, with the agreement that should faults develop within five years due to settling, treatment or handling of the memorial, the memorial will be replaced by producer/dealer at no cost to the cemetery corporation or memorial purchaser. No memorial showing drill or tool marks or staining from removal of rubber mat used for sand engraving is considered first grade workmanship.

• All memorials, markers or tombs are to be constructed of granite, marble or bronze. No artificial stone of any description is permitted. No “K” or “V” shaped monuments are permitted.

• There are two conforming lines in the cemetery. One line is to control and designate the placement of headstones. The second is to control and designate the placement of footstones. Any person authorized to place headstones or footstones must comply strictly with these lines.

• If a footstone has to be removed to open a grave, an extra charge will be made to the lot owner, heirs or assigns.

• Lot corner stones are not permitted. Cross or other grave markers of wood, iron, cement or any like material are prohibited except the standard bronze insignia provided for the graves of veterans or auxiliary members. Enclosures, such as curbs, retaining walls, fences or structures of any kind around lots or graves is not permitted.

• When any headstone has been set in place, it shall not be removed without written permission of the management. Such permission will be granted only upon filing with local management, the lot owner’s or his/her heir’s or assign’s written consent to the removal, unless it has been improperly placed or it is a matter of safety and the cemetery board has decided it must take action. Dealers are cautioned to get in touch with the local management before attempting to make a removal. When headstones or footstones have been placed in violation of any of these rules, the cemetery board reserves the right to remove them or have them removed.

HEADSTONE SPECIFICATIONS AND PLACEMENT

• All die stones are to be finished on front and back and are to be at least 6 inches thick. All bases must have a finished surface and level bottom. All stone is to have the surface next to the foundation bedded off sufficiently true and level to allow every part to be in contact with the foundation.

• The base of the headstone shall be no larger than 14 inches (14”) in width and no longer than 60% of the lot, plus a five inch (5”) cement collar entirely around the base and flush with the ground (taking into consideration any hillside grade). The headstone shall be set on the conforming line in the middle of the lot. If two or more families own a lot, a headstone may be placed over each set of two graves, centered on the conforming line in the middle of each set of graves.

FOOTSTONE SPECIFICATIONS AND PLACEMENT

• Footstones are allowed in all sections of the cemetery. Contact local management for proper measurements. Footstones are usually placed on a grave after burial.

• Normally only one footstone will be permitted on each grave except in the case of an adult and infant, or two infants in the same grave.

• Double footstones are not permitted if they interfere with the opening of a grave. If there is a double footstone, no headstone is permitted unless it is already in place.

• Footstones on individual graves are not to exceed 12 inches (12”) wide and 24 inches (24”) in length, plus a three inch (3”) cement collar and a four inch (4”) foundation, or vice versa. Footstones are to be placed on the conforming line for footstones in the middle of the grave. Raised lettering is not permitted on footstones.

VASES, URNS, PLANTERS AND OTHER MATERIALS

• Small bronze urn/planters/vases are permitted, but these must be set in cement at the same time as the headstone. The cement collar will also extend three inches (3”) around the base of the vase and will be part of the headstone foundation. One vase will be allowed for individual headstone and two for double markers.

• The placing of flower boxes, shells, toys and other miscellaneous items will not be permitted and if so placed will be removed by the management.

FOUNDATION SPECIFICATIONS

• All foundations are to be straight up and down on all sides and the bottom is to be flat. There is to be a five inch (5”) collar/apron extending the width and length of the headstone. The foundations are to be no less than five inches (5”) deep with rods, or can be deeper without rods.

• The cement for a foundation is to be wet mix, mixing the cement, sand and water before it is poured into the foundation hole. The mixture is to be three parts sand to one part cement.

• No post hole auger or other device is to be used to make holes for footings for a headstone or footstone. The entire area needs to be formed into the foundation.

• Precast cement slabs are permitted to serve as foundations for headstones or footstones with six inches (6”) of sand beneath them. Crushed rock/#5 sand will be furnished by the cemetery.

SETTING COMPOUND SPECIFICATIONS

• The monument (die) is to be set to the base with a solid core of compound around the inside perimeter of the die, with lead shims inserted on the corners, no thicker than 1/8”. Color of compound should be matched to the color of the stone. Compound used must be oil based, such as “Joint-Tite”. The granite base is also to be attached to the cement slab or wash with a generous portion of compound on each corner.

VALUTS, TOMBS AND MAUSOLEUMS

• Any plans for vaults, tombs, or mausoleums of special size, or rock face monuments must be submitted to the cemetery board for approval before installation or construction.

USE OF HEAVY MATERIALSEQUIPMENT IN THE CEMETERY

• When heavy material is to be moved down or over paths or grass, planks must be laid for protection. The right is reserved to local management to refuse permission for such work unless the ground is thoroughly settled and in good condition, or arrangements have been made for the workers or cemetery corporation to repair any damage that may be caused.

WORK CREW AND EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS

• Workers placing or erecting memorials, nursery workers or any other workers in the cemetery are under the supervision of the caretaker of the cemetery. Those engaged in work are not to scatter materials on adjoining lots or leave material on the grounds longer than necessary. Damage to the grass, trees and shrubs is to be kept to a minimum. All debris is to be removed, and when a project is completed the grounds and sod are to be restored to their original condition as much as possible.

• Memorial material, machinery and equipment may be brought into the cemetery when required for immediate use, except when a burial service is in process.

HOURS OF OPERATION

• The setting of foundations and memorials, the planting of trees and shrubs and any other work in the cemetery is under the control of the caretaker and, except when permission is obtained, is to be completed during the work week with tools and debris removed by 4:30 PM on Saturday. No such work is to be done on Sunday or holidays. Any work done in the cemetery is to start no sooner than 7:00 AM and is to be completed by 5:00 PM, except on Saturdays as noted above. All work must cease when a burial service is being conducted nearby.

APPENDIX 4

LANDSCAPING

• All landscaping, grading and sodding of graves shall be done under the direction of the cemetery board and caretaker. Mounds over graves are not permitted.

PLANTINGS

• The cemetery board shall have authority to maintain all trees and shrubs as it sees fit whether these were placed by local management or lot owners. The cemetery board/caretaker will remove all floral designs, flowers (natural or artificial), shrubs, plants of herbage or any kind from the cemetery grounds as soon as, in their judgment, these plantings and arrangements have become unsightly, dangerous, detrimental, diseased or do not conform to the regulations.

• Planting of flowers, fruit bearing or other trees and shrubs are not permitted on lots by lot owner.

ARTIFICIAL FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS and OTHER MATERIALS

• Artificial flowers are not to be left on the graves indefinitely. They may be placed on the graves near the headstone or footstone three (3) days before a holiday and be left seven (7) days after a holiday and then removed, unless the flowers are in line with the headstones to facilitate lawn mowing. Any arrangements left beyond this time will be removed by the cemetery caretaker.

• No bouquets or artificial arrangements are to be staked into the grave area except as noted above.

• Local management will not be liable for floral pieces, baskets, misplaced or broken flower vases or flag standards.

RECEPTACLES FOR TRASH

• No debris should be left on any lot by workers of any kind. When receptacles are not available, workers are to remove the debris from cemetery grounds and properly dispose of it elsewhere.

WATERING

• (none.)

APPENDIX 5

The Church, through the centuries, has followed the practice of burial or entombment after the manner of Christ’s own burial – out of respect for the human body as a member of Christ and because of faith in the resurrection. It is still the express will of the Church that this hallowed and traditional practice be maintained. However, recognizing particular circumstances and varying cultures and customs in different parts of the world, the Church issued an instruction in 1963 on Cremation which allows some latitude, under certain conditions, to those Catholics who request that their bodies be cremated.

• Cremation may be requested for hygienic, economic or other reasons of a public or private nature. Some examples would be: transfer of remains to a distant place, possible avoidance of considerable expense, national tradition or custom, a sever psychological or pathological fear of burial in the ground or tomb, etc.

• The selection of cremation generally is the specific choice of the individual before death.

• When cremation has been chosen, the various elements of the funeral rite will be conducted in the usual way and normally with the body present, if practical.

• The rites ordinarily performed in the cemetery chapel or at the grave or tomb may be performed in the crematory building.

• If there is no other suitable place for these committal rites, they may be celebrated in the crematory hall itself, provided always that the danger of scandal or religious indifferentism is avoided.

• A Catholic may not receive the funeral rites of the Church if his request for cremation is motivated by “denial of Christian dogmas, or because of a sectarian spirit, or through hatred of the Catholic religion or the Church”.

• The priest whose responsibility it is to perform the funeral must determine that the reasons for choosing cremation are within those recognized by the Church.

• The faithful who choose creation are presumed to have the proper motives and good intentions.

• When a doubt persists as to the proper motivations of the person who has chosen cremation, the parish priest is to refer the matter to the Chancery Office or Cemetery Office of his diocese before denying the Church’s burial rites.
  

APPENDIX 6

• A Columbarium is a large vault with niches (spaces) to hold urns containing cremated remains. The urns will be honorably preserved for all time within walls of solid granite. Each niche is also lined with a  durable polystyrene liner. One urn can be interred in each niche. Each niche will have a bronze nameplate for the name and dates of the deceased. A bud vase may be purchased to attach to the face of a niche. The Columbarium, located in the northeast corner of the cemetery, has a Cornelian granite face. The top and sides are Moonlight Grey granite.

DESCRIPTION

• The Columbarium has 48 niches: 24 on the west side and 24 on the east side. There are three rows on each side, with the top row being labeled “A”, the middle row labeled “B”, and the bottom row labeled “C”. Each column is numbered, with numbers 1 through 8 on the west side, and columns 9 through 16 on the east side. Therefore, niches will be named 1A, 1B, 1C, and so forth. Column numbering begins with #1 through #8 on the west side, beginning on the north end, and continues with # 9 through #16 on the east side, beginning on the south end. Niches on the West side will be sold first in numerical order, with the choice of row A, B, or C only.

IDENTIFICATION OF NICHE

• The nameplate for each niche is to be bronze and of one design determined by the Cemetery Committee. It should be ordered when purchasing the niche and placed on the columbarium when it arrives.

DECORATION OF NICHE

• A bud vase for artificial flowers for a niche may be purchased and attached at a later date. Design of the vase is determined by the Cemetery Committee. No other vase or attachment may be used on the Columbarium. The bud vase, and the artificial flowers it contains, should not cover any other niche door. Other decorations are not allowed on the Columbarium.

COSTS AND RATES

Niche for parishioner $800.00
Niche for non-parishioner $1,300.00
Bronze nameplate Subject to change. Order from Ertl Funeral Home
Bud Vase Subject to change. Order from Ertl Funeral Home
Perpetual Care Fee $150.00
Perpetual Care Fee is payable at time of interment
Fee to open & close niche $25.00