Cemeteries are complicated places with many responsibilities and obligations that must be fulfilled for the sake of loved ones, families, and future generations.
A cemetery is a place of history, culture, and beauty that can be preserved through education, advocacy, and community involvement. The first step is to examine the site and consider its needs.
What Is a Cemetery?
A cemetery, also known as a burial ground or graveyard, is land set aside for the interment of dead people. It differs from a churchyard in that it isn’t affiliated with a specific religious congregation and non-religious people can be buried there.
Burial options include burying in an above-ground tomb or mausoleum crypt, entombment in a sarcophagus, or cremation and inurnment. A tombstone is generally placed on the burial site to mark the location.
Cemeteries may be public or private; not-for-profit or for-profit; and religious or secular. Each has its own ownership structure, financial endowment plan, and staff configuration.
Why Are Cemeteries Important?
Cemeteries are important for people who want to remember their deceased loved ones. The gravestones in a cemetery can tell a great deal about the person who was buried there and allow their relatives to visit them. Modern cemeteries often offer services like genealogy information and flower placement programs.
In the case of natural cemeteries, they may also be able to provide valuable ecosystem services like wildlife habitat. In fact, one of Vienna’s largest green areas, Zentralfriedhof, has a tree register which records the age and species of trees there.
As such, a number of ecological solutions have been developed for cemeteries to enhance their habitat function and biodiversity. However, research in this area is limited. Most studies focus on woody or ornamental plants.
What Are the Different Types of Cemeteries?
There are several different types of cemeteries. Some are run by a local government and are open to all, while others are run by religious organizations or families. A few are also dedicated to specific groups, such as veterans or pets.
Natural or green cemeteries (also called eco-cemeteries) allow the body to decompose naturally in a wild landscape and return to the earth. These sites usually do not have headstones. Instead, they may have exact GPS recordings or the markings of a tree, bush or rock.
District or municipal cemeteries are run by local government bodies and can be a little more restrictive, with regulations on headstone design for example. They may also have a section reserved for those who cannot afford to pay for burial in other types of cemeteries.
What Are the Rules of Cemeteries?
The laws of the state allow cemetery corporations to regulate their own property within limits. The police power may also be used to require a discontinuance of a cemetery where burials are injurious to the public health, but this power must be exercised reasonably and not arbitrarily.
Whenever you visit a cemetery, respect the people who are buried there and the memory of those who have passed on. Avoid littering; place trash in designated receptacles. Keep pets leashed; they may disturb other visitors and cause damage to monuments or graves.
All regulated cemeteries must put 10% of each sale and $35 from every interment in a Permanent Maintenance Fund, which is invested to provide income for future cemetery maintenance. Any requests for service charge increases must be fully documented and approved by the Cemetery Board.
How Can I Visit a Cemetery?
When visiting a cemetery, it’s important to respect the space. This means not yelling, blasting music, or carrying on conversations. Other visitors may be experiencing grief and don’t want to be interrupted. It’s also a good idea to bring a quiet book or journal, as it can be very reflective and soothing.
Most cemeteries have their own rules and regulations, which should be read before going to a graveyard. They may have a specific time of day they are open, or rules about flowers or other items being left at the grave site.
It’s also a good idea to wear comfortable shoes, as you might be walking over uneven ground or in a jungle of trees and shrubs. Bringing a mirror can also be helpful to help read the inscriptions on the grave stones, especially if it’s dark out.