A cemetery is a burial ground or resting place. It can be simple or elaborate, a symbol of the social structure and culture of a town or city.
It’s also a place where family members can gather and share their memories of loved ones who have passed on. This can be a comforting experience and help them through the grieving process.
Location
A cemetery is a place where people are buried after they die. Cemeteries can be categorized based on their geographic location, types of burials and services provided, type of memorialization allowed, religious affiliation, and ownership structure.
Burials are usually recorded in a cemetery’s burial register. These records typically include the name of the person buried, the date and the location of their grave.
Some cemeteries have fences around their grounds to help stop intrusions and to define the boundaries of the cemetery. However, not all cemeteries were enclosed with fences when they were first established.
Design
The design of a cemetery is a critical part of its long-term success and sustainability. It should reflect the primary purpose of the cemetery (mourning and remembering), while also providing a pleasant and accessible environment.
A cemetery is usually a place where many people visit, so it should be easy for them to get around. This is often accomplished by providing sidewalks, handicapped-accessible paths and adequate parking.
The layout of grave plots is also a design consideration. It should be a flowing and uncluttered design that minimizes mowing lines, reduces maintenance costs, enhances aesthetics and promotes wildlife.
Maintenance
Cemeteries are a unique kind of place, one that is both sentimental and important to many people. This is why it’s so important for cemetery maintenance personnel to ensure that the area looks its best and is a safe and clean place for visitors and mourners to visit.
The maintenance of a cemetery includes everything from landscaping to protecting grave plots from vandalism. It also covers preparing new grave sites and providing visitor amenities.
The maintenance of a cemetery can be a difficult task, especially for the grieving family. However, there are a few ways that cemetery managers can help make the process as painless and simple as possible.
Legality
Cemeteries are governed by legislation and regulations that apply to their business, operation, management and use. Pryor Cashman helps cemetery operators understand these laws and the legal issues they impose, enabling them to make wise decisions and provide their services in an efficient manner.
In general, a right to occupy land and maintain it as a cemetery is subject to the reasonable exercise of police power. This means that the legislature has the power to prevent a cemetery from being established or abandoned if it is no longer suitable for such purposes, and also to prohibit interments in the ground, or require removal of bodies buried in such grounds.
However, a cemetery owner may adopt regulations for its burial grounds that do not impair the obligation of a contract, do not violate the constitutional guaranties of due process or equal protection of the laws, or constitute a taking of private property without just compensation. These rules must be printed or typewritten plainly, posted conspicuously, and maintained, subject to inspection by the board or its designee, at the usual place for transacting the regular business of a cemetery.
Symbolism
Symbols are an important part of cemetery design and have long been used to convey the lives and expectations of those buried below. While some symbols are easy to interpret, others require a more detailed look into the stone itself and the person who decorated it with them.
Birds, especially in flight, symbolize the journey to the afterlife. Eagles are often found on military gravestones or those of American patriotic origins.
Sphinxes are also a popular design in cemeteries. A male sphinx, modeled after the Great Sphinx of Giza, and a female sphinx, usually bare breasted, appear in many modern cemeteries.
Angels are the agents of God, and often point towards heaven. They can be depicted in all types of poses, and are commonly identified by their objects: Michael, who bears a sword, and Gabriel, who is depicted with a horn.