St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CEMETERY RULES AND REGULATIONS

AMENDMENTS

     The St. Joseph Cemetery Board of Directors shall be the final determinant regarding any question, disputes or controversy regarding any of the following rules and regulations.  In addition the Board of Directors also maintains the right and duty to add to, delete from, or modify in any way any of the  rules and regulations to meet any changing future needs of the cemetery.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

1.  Visitors are reminded that the grounds of St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery are the sacred and final resting place of deceased members of the Catholic Community in Evansville.  Accordingly, the proper decorum and respect which should characterize such a place is expected of all visitors.  

 2.  Cemetery gates will be open for admission of visitors every day of the year from 6:30 am to 5 pm during the winter months and 6:30 am to dusk during the summer months.  In case of inclement weather conditions, the Superintendent reserves the right to close the cemetery to visitors.

 3.  Tour buses and sightseeing buses should check with the Cemetery Office to obtain permission prior to entering the cemetery.

 4.  For the safety of all concerned, the speed limit in the cemetery shall not exceed 25 miles per hour.

 5.  Heavy Construction vehicles, large trucks and construction equipment will not be permitted in the cemetery unless by permission of the Superintendent.

 6.  Entering and exiting the cemetery must be through the main entrance on Mesker Park Drive.  Driving across the cemetery grounds to enter or exit is not permitted.

 7.  Cemetery Personnel shall not accept any gratuity or reward of any kind for work done or personal assistance given to any lot owner or visitor to the Cemetery. 

 8.  Anyone disturbing the solitude or orderliness of the Cemetery or engages in other improper conduct violating the rules and regulations of the Cemetery shall be asked to leave the Cemetery. 

 9.  Visitors to the cemetery are not permitted to distribute literature of any kind to other visitors in the cemetery.  Anyone engaging in this or any other form of solicitation will be asked to leave the cemetery.

 10.  Except for the purpose of a military salute, firearms are not permitted on the cemetery grounds.

 11.  Defacing or breaking in any way any monument, statue or other property belonging to the cemetery or any other lot owner is prohibited.

 12   Only in case of an emergency or with the permission of the Superintendent, shall anyone be permitted to work in the cemetery grounds during any other times than the open hours of the cemetery. 

 13.  There will be no work done in the cemetery on Sundays.

 14.  Working on monuments, markers, or headstones is prohibited without the written permission of the owner or owners of said lot.  All such work must be reported to the Superintendent before such work is started.

15.  Receptacles are provided along the cemetery roads for disposition of rubbish, flowers or any other trash that needs to be discarded.

 16.  The Superintendent is charged with the execution of all cemetery rules and regulations.  Any infraction, abuse, error, carelessness or impropriety of any of these rules should be reported to the superintendent immediately.  The superintendent will investigate and then report the infraction to the Board of Directors who shall make the decision regarding the infraction or complaint.

 17.  Any complaint regarding any employee of the cemetery shall be reported to the superintendent immediately.  An investigation shall be done regarding the complaint and the employee shall be disciplined if necessary.  The Board of Directors shall be informed of any complaint regarding any employee of the cemetery and shall note such complaint in the employee’s personnel file and make any decision needed regarding the complaint and the employee.

 18.  Visitors to the cemetery may be accompanied by their pets but all pets (especially dogs) but must on a leash. 

INTERMENTS AND ENTOMBMENTS

1.  The funeral home conducting the funeral must supply a burial permit to the cemetery prior to the interment (in-ground burial) or entombment (mausoleum burial).  Each interment, whether a body or cremains, must be in a vault that is approved by the Superintendent.

 2.  The cemetery will not open a grave or crypt or have an interment or entombment on Sunday or national holidays except in cases of extreme emergency or by approval of the Superintendent. 

 3.  All funerals must be scheduled during the normal working hours of the cemetery unless special arrangements are made with the Cemetery office.  An additional charge for each hour of overtime will be made for these arrangements.  In special circumstances, the Superintendent may waive the extra charges.      

4.  All funerals shall be under the direction of the Superintendent while on the cemetery grounds.

 5.  Only an employee of the cemetery shall dig a grave or open a crypt.

 6.  Multiple interments in one grave, crypt, or niche are prohibited, unless otherwise indicated.

 7.  Disinterment and re-interment must be arranged in advance with the Superintendent.  When a removal from St. Joseph Cemetery to another cemetery is to be made, a permit from the Board of Health must accompany the application.

 8.  Before the removal of the body of any person buried or entombed in the cemetery, written consent from the owner or owners of the lot must be given to the Superintendent.  The cemetery office has a copy of such a consent form available for your use.

 9.  It is understood that the normal venue for the funeral liturgy is in the church of the deceased member.  For pastoral reasons, St. Joseph Cemetery has given permissions to celebrate the funeral liturgy in the mausoleum chapel.  In such incidents, if circumstances warrant it, the cemetery reserves the right to charge a fee for the use of the mausoleum chapel. 

LEGAL DESCENT OF BURIAL RIGHTS

      Inasmuch as questions have sometimes arisen as to the rights of descedents of the original purchases of a lot, after his or her death, to burial upon said lot, to make these rights more certain and definite, the follow rules are established.

 1.  That the surviving spouse shall have the first right of interment or entombment to the exclusion of all other persons.

 2.  That the original purchaser may, either at the time of the purchase or at any time thereafter, execute over his or her hand and duly acknowledged before any person authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds, an instrument directing who shall be interred upon said lot and depositing said instrument with the cemetery.  If said purchaser shall desire to designate any other person than those of his or her immediate family or kindred, they shall first obtain the permission of the Superintendent. In the event such designation is so made, no person other than the person or persons so designated shall be interred upon said lot.  However, if any person or persons so designated do not avail themselves of such right for burial for any reason whatsoever, then the descendents of said purchaser, in order of kindred can have the right of interment on said lot. 

 3.  In the event that the original purchaser shall not in his/her lifetime have made such designation as to the persons to be buried thereon, the heirs of said purchaser may, by acknowledgement in writing amongst themselves, duly signed and acknowledged before some person authorized to take acknowledgements of deeds, and deposited with the cemetery, determine who among them shall have the right of burial upon said lot.  Such agreement shall be accomplished with satisfactory evidence in writing that the persons signing the same are all the heirs of the original purchaser.

 4.  In the event that the original purchaser shall not have made such designation and the heirs shall not have consummated such agreement, then the direct lineal descendents of such purchaser shall, in the order of their death, be entitled to interment thereon, until all unoccupied space shall be filled.  In such cases if there are no lineal descendants, then the collateral kindred in the nearest and equal degree of consanguinity in the order of their death shall be thus entitled to interment thereon until said lot shall have been duly occupied. 

 5.  In the absence of a designation by the original owner or agreement among his or her heirs as above provided, the lot of a deceased owner shall, as to the power of voting (except as to the right of burial) pass to the surviving spouse, as the case may be.  If there is no surviving spouse, then the oldest heir-at-law and in succession, so that it shall always be vested in the oldest heir-at-law; but the person having the present right may renounce the same n favor of the one next in succession provided such renunciation be made in writing and filed with the cemetery office.  In case the person having such right of voting and control is an infant, his or her right is to be exercised by the statutory guardian.  This in not to change the right of burial.

 6.  In the event of a dispute or controversy, the determination and decision as to any and all rights of burial or the order thereof, the decision of the Superintendent and the Board of Directors shall be final and conclusive. 

 LOTS AND GRAVES

1.  A person desiring to purchase a lot can do so by contacting the cemetery office.  After the selection of the lot and payment in full has been made, a certificate for the rite of burial will be issued to the purchaser.

 2.  All graves will be dug and filled by the cemetery employees.  The sod will be replaced or grass sown and the grave made level with the lawn.

 3.  All cornerstones forming the landmarks of the lots shall be set in place by employees of the cemetery and be level with the ground.

 4.  The lot owner shall have the right to erect proper head stones or monuments, strictly subject to the regulations of the cemetery.

 5.  If any tree or shrub situated on any lot that shall, by means of its roots or branches, become detrimental to the adjacent lots, avenues or inconvenient to passersby, the cemetery shall have the right, and it shall be its duty, to enter such lot and remove such tree or shrub or whatever part is dangerous, detrimental or inconvenient.

 6.  If any monument or any structure or object whatever, or any inscription be placed in or upon any monument or structure on any lot which shall be determined by the Superintendent and Board of Directors to be offensive, improper or injurious to the appearance of the surround lots or grounds, the superintendent, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall have the right and it shall be their duty to correct the object or remove it from the lot.

 7.  Payment must be made to the cemetery for any improvement or repair work needed on any lot or grave, monument or stone at the time the work is ordered.

 8.  All certificates for the right of burial, when executed by the cemetery, shall be construed as simply granting to the lot owner, being the original purchaser of the lot conveyed, the right to use said lot for burial purposes for the interment of himself or herself, his or her family, his or her relatives or descendants and such other persons as in his or her lifetime he shall have procured the permission of the superintendent to bury thereon.  Such burial rights shall not be transferable, either by voluntary or involuntary conveyance or by descent, to any other persons or persons without the consent of the superintendent.    

 9.  Lot owners shall not allow interments to be made on their lots for remuneration.  All interments on the lots shall be restricted to the members of the family and relations of the lot owners, except if special permission to be contrary is obtained in writing from the superintendent. 

 10.  All lot owners are prohibited from selling their lots in whole or in part, or transferring the same without the permission of the superintendent. 

MONUMENTS AND HEADSTONES

1.  Before ordering a monument or headstone, lot owners are requested to consult with the Superintendent to ascertain if there is enough space on the lot for the desired monument or headstone.

 2.  No person will be permitted to erect a monument or headstone on a lot without the consent of the lot owner and complying with the rules of the cemetery.

 3.  Plans for all monument work must be submitted to the superintendent for approval before contracting for the work.

 4.  Foundations for all stone and monument work must be constructed by employees sof the cemetery and must be ordered and paid for at the cemetery office at least two weeks in advance of the arrival of the stone or monument work.

 5.  All monuments and headstones must be of good quality granite, marble or other stone adaptable for such purposes.

 6.  Only one monument will be permitted on a lot and the monument must be placed as near as possible in the upper center of the lot.  However a flat military marker or flat bronze marker may be attached to the back side of the monument or the fornt side, depending on the size of the marker. 

 7.  Monuments less than four (4) feet in height will not be permitted on any lot except on lots platted for two (2) and three (3) interments or larger lots where side grave markers are used.  Where the monument base is not over five (5) feet in length, fourteen 14) inches in width and eight (8) inches above ground level, the overall height of  the  monument,  including  the  base, shall  not  be  over three (3) feet.

 8.  Monuments will not be permitted on lots platted for two interments if the lot is less than eighty (80) inches in width and ten (10) feet in length and on lots platted for three (3) interments if the lost is less than one hundred and twenty (120) inches in width and ten (10) feet in length.

 9.  Monuments, headstones, grave markers or ornaments constructed of metallic substances other than standard bronze or aluminum will not be permitted.

 10.   No monument or headstone shall be erected in the cemetery unless it is firmly placed on a suitable foundation of solid masonry constructed only by cemetery personnel.

 11.  Foundations for all monuments shall be of the same size as the lower base of the superstructure.  The depth of the foundation shall be three (3) feet.

 12.  In the erection of monuments or other structures a place will be designated by the superintendent for the deposit of all building material, which shall not remain on the cemetery grounds longer than is actually necessary for the completion of the work.

 13.  Foundations will be finished true and level within two (2) inches of the surface of the ground at the lowest point.  All stonework shall have the surface net to the foundation bedded off sufficiently true and level to allow every part of the surface to be in contact with the foundation. The use of wedge between the base stone and the foundation or the removal of any part of the foundation to accommodate irregularities or other defective workmanship in the base stone will not be permitted  Dealers or manufacture’s cards or advertisements will not be cut into or marked on any stone or placed anywhere in the cemetery enclosure.

 14.  All workers employed in the erection of any monument or other structure will be subject to the control and direction of the superintendent.  Any worker failing to conform to this regulation will not be permitted to work on the cemetery grounds.

 15.  Headstones must not be over twelve (12) inches high at the highest point, twenty (20) inches long and twelve (12) inches wide at the base.  The stone will be set three (3) to four (4) inches into the ground.

 16.  Headstones must be of one piece of stone and be placed at the head of the grave.

 17.  Double headstones on one grave will not be permitted,

 18.  Raised letters on the vertical sides of headstones will not be permitted.

 19.  All contractors doing construction work on any and all monuments, ledgers, or headstones must carry all necessary workers’ compensation, public liability and automobile and truck insurance and provide proof of such insurance to the cemetery office.

 20.  The placement of monuments or headstones is a contract between the lot owner and the monument company.  The cemetery is not responsible for any arrangements made thereby.

 21.  Each lot owner shall keep In good repair all stone or monumental work upon his or her lot.  In case of failure to do so, the cemetery may either repair or move the same at the lot owner’s expense.

 22.  When a monument, headstone or ledger is to be removed from the cemetery, representatives must have a written order from the lot owners giving permission to do so. 

MAUSOLEUM CRYPTS

1.  The body must be embalmed and entombment must be made in an approved coffin that complies with the regulations of the cemetery and the Department of Health.

 2.  “Special Care” means the general maintenance and upkeep of the mausoleum complex as may become reasonably necessary due to ordinary wear and tear.

 3.  Cremains may be entombed in a crypt or placed in an urn niche in the mausoleum.  Unless otherwise specified, only one cremains is permitted to be entombed in one crypt or one niche.

 4.  The cemetery reserves the right to issue additional detailed regulations concerning the use of the mausoleum. Such regulations may include, but are not limited to:  the decoration of crypts and niches, the size, quantity, type and placement of lettering on crypts and niches and the use or non use of flowers, vigil lights, pictures and other decorations.

 CREMAINS BURIAL

1.  Special areas in the cemetery have been developed for cremains only.  These graves are smaller and less expensive than regular size graves.  These graves were laid out so the smaller (20x12x12) headstones will be used to mark the graves.  Specials areas in the mausoleum have also been developed for cremains.

 2.  Cremains may also be buried in other sections of the cemetery.  If the cremains are buried in any of these sections, all the regulations regarding size and number of monuments and/or headstones for that particular section must be followed.

 3.  Cremains must be placed into an urn or other container approved by the Superintendent prior to burial or entombment.  Urns must be in an urn vault or concrete vault which can be purchased from the cemetery.  These vaults help to prevent the ground from sinking. 

4.   Cremains may not be “scattered” on the ground anywhere in the cemetery.

PERPETUAL CARE FUND

1.  A perpetual care fund was established on April 1, 1923 to perpetuate the entire cemetery grounds and buildings.  Since that date, a designated percentage of the sale price of graves, crypts and niches as well as a number of donations and bequests from lot owners and graves purchased prior to that date, have been placed into this fund.  The cemetery welcomes future donations and/or bequests to increase this fund.  The cemetery established this special fund to prevent devastation to the cemetery grounds from lack of care.  By this system the lot, grave, crypt or niche owner is assured that, regardless of his/her circumstances or that of his/her heirs, the cemetery will be cared for unnumbered years into the future.

 2.  “Perpetual Care” shall mean the cutting of the grass upon the lot and grave at reasonable intervals, raking and cleaning of the lot and grave, pruning shrubs and trees and such work as may be necessary to keep the grounds in a good and neat condition.  The cemetery hereby agrees to keep in good repair and maintain in good condition, the enclosures, buildings, drives, walks and borders in the cemetery.

 3.  The cemetery does not bind itself to maintain, repair, or replace any headstones, markers or monument structures or anything whatsoever attached thereto or placed upon lots or graves.  The cemetery also does not bind itself to plant flowers or ornamental plants, to maintain mounds upon graves or to do any special or unusual work. 

 4.  The percentage of payments into the Perpetual Care Fund may be increased or decreased when deemed advisable by the cemetery Board of Directors.  All monies paid into said fund shall be invested in a separate fund.  Currently that money is invested in the Evansville Diocesan Development and Loan Fund.  The cemetery Board of Directors shall periodically review these investments and make any changes deemed necessary.

GRAVE DECORATIONS

         It is a good and holy thing to honor the graves and crypts of our loved ones with flowers and decorations.  While we realize that there are many different ideas as to what are beautiful and appropriate decorations, the following guidelines have been established for the common good so that the beauty of our cemetery can be maintained.  These guidelines try to strike an appropriate balance between the necessary regard for the safety of the cemetery staff  and visitors and the needs of the families whose loved ones are buried in our cemetery. 

 GENERAL POLICIES

1.   Fresh cut and artificial flowers placed in floral containers attached to the monument are always welcome decorations. Floral “saddles” may be placed on top of upright monuments. Lot owners should be aware of the fact that artificial flowers tend to fade and disintegrate over time due to the effects of weather.    The cemetery reserves the right to remove and/or dispose of any floral decorations (fresh cut and/or artificial) when they become wilted, discolored, damaged or unsightly.   It is also not permissible to stick artificial flowers in the ground in front of or in the area around headstones or monuments. All flowers must be placed in and attached firmly to permanently installed flower vases.  Permanently installed flower vases must be approved by the superintendent and installed by either cemetery employees or an approved monument dealer.   

 2.  Flowers, trees, and other plants may not be planted on the grave site.

 3.  Flowers brought to the cemetery following a funeral will be removed from the grave three days following the burial.  Any person wishing to retain floral designs or decorations must remove them within 48 hours following the funeral service.

 4.  Stepping stones and benches are not permitted on the lots.

 5.  Wooden fences, trellises, headboards, or any other enclosures around lots or graves are not permitted.

 6.  If any monument, structure, object or inscription placed in or upon any monument or structure on any lot which shall be determined to be offensive, improper, or injurious to the surrounding lots or grounds, it shall be the right and duty of the Superintendent or Board of Directors to correct the object or remove it from the monument and/or lot.

 7.  It is not permissible to hang items in trees, and/or shrubbery near grave sites, including but not limited to bird feeders, bird houses, balloons, whirly gigs, wind chimes, solar lights, wooden signs, banners, or other decorations.   The Superintendent maintains the authority to remove and disposal of such items

 8.  Items placed in or on the ground, or on monuments, including but not limited to: shepherd’s hooks, statues, glass objects/containers, rocks, shells, toys, stuffed animals, solar lights, balloons, wreaths, wooden or metal crosses, candles, or other ornamental objects are strictly prohibited. The Superintendent maintains the authority to remove any object from the Cemetery that does not comply with these regulations. Removed items can be retrieved from the Cemetery maintenance department.  All removed items will be disposed of after 60 days.

 9.  While every effort will be made to care for decorations, the cemetery regrets that it cannot be responsible for any grave decorations which are lost, stolen, or damaged.

 10.  Receptacles for waste materials are located at convenient locations in the Cemetery.  Disposal of rubbish on the drives or any part of the grounds is prohibited.

 REGULATIONS DURING MOWING SEASON

MARCH 1 – OCTOBER 31

1.  MARCH 1 – MARCH 15. All decorations placed on the grave over the winter will be removed and discarded in preparation for the growing season.  Lot owners should retrieve any items they wish to keep before this date.  Lot owners are asked not to place any decorations during this time.

 2.  During mowing season, no decorations are allowed to be placed on the ground.  All decorations must be placed in vases attached to monument or approved in-ground vases.

 3.  Any item found on the ground, lot, or grave which interferes with mowing and trimming of the cemetery grounds will be removed without notice.

 4.  All floral decorations must be placed on the monument in a permanently installed vase.

REGULATIONS DURING NON-MOWING SEASON-

NOVEMBER 1 – MARCH 1.

 1.  Grave blankets or grave coverings are permitted; however, they may not be secured with metal stakes driven into the ground.

 2.  Artificial wreaths less than 30 inches high placed on stands are permitted. 

HOLIDAYS/SPECIAL OCCASIONS  EASTER, MEMORIAL DAY,

MOTHER’S DAY, FATHER’S DAY

1.   In addition to artificial and fresh flowers, the following may be placed on grave sites three days prior to the holiday until three days following the holiday:  potted plants, wreaths, and American flags.

MAUSOLEUM DECORATION POLICY

 1.  Only artificial flowers are allowed in the mausoleum.  They may be placed only in authorized vases permanently attached to the crypt or niche.

 2.  Use of tape, wires or glue to attach items to the front of the crypt or niche is strictly prohibited.

 3.  Nothing can be placed on the floors inside the mausoleum or on the sidewalks outside the mausoleum.  Decorations placed in these locations will be removed.

 4.  A device is kept inside the mausoleum to assist you with decoration of upper level crypts.

 5.  All decorations on the exterior of the mausoleum will be removed when they become unsightly.

GARDEN OF THE LAMBS DECORATION GUIDELINES

          The Garden of the Lambs is a special section of the cemetery that is set aside for early pregnancy losses.  Because of the special nature of these graves and with due regard to the families whose love ones are buried here, the cemetery has allowed families to place flowers and decorations on the grave markers of their loved ones.   However, the cemetery reserves the right to remove any  items from this area if and when  they become broken, faded, or discolored.