PEACE LUTHERAN CEMETERY POLICIES
Peace Lutheran Cemetery encourages families, friends and the community, to visit the cemetery. The policies listed below are intended to help respect the memories of those buried in the cemetery and bring consolation to their families and friends. The enforcement of these policies assists in protecting the cemetery, creating and preserving its beauty, and assuring that the interests of all concerned parties are addressed equally. Our cemetery policies are under constant review by the Cemetery Board with the goal of balancing the need to care for the grounds efficiently with families’ need to express their grief. The Cemetery Board reserves the right to amend or change any of these policies to conform with newly developed cemetery practices.
GRAVE SITE POLICIES
Peace Lutheran Cemetery encourages families, friends and the community, to visit the cemetery. The policies listed below are intended to help respect the memories of those buried in the cemetery and bring consolation to their families and friends. The enforcement of these policies assists in protecting the cemetery, creating and preserving its beauty, and assuring that the interests of all concerned parties are addressed equally. Our cemetery policies are under constant review by the Cemetery Board with the goal of balancing the need to care for the grounds efficiently with families’ need to express their grief. The Cemetery Board reserves the right to amend or change any of these policies to conform with newly developed cemetery practices.
GRAVE SITE POLICIES
- All monuments, headstones, and markers shall be set on solid concrete foundations of sufficient size and depth for the structure. The foundation must be level with the ground and at least six inches wider on all sides than the monument base. All foundations that are replaced must conform to these rules. Work shall be done under the sexton’s supervision.
- All headstones and markers shall be placed at the head end of graves. No headstones or markers will be allowed on the foot end of graves.
- No curbing, platforms, steps, fences, or other enclosures will be allowed on/around grave sites.
- No planting of flowers, trees, shrubs, or bushes is allowed on grave sites.
- No lawn mowing is allowed.
- No filling of grave sites is allowed.
- All digging and planting on any grave site will be done by cemetery personnel.
- The Cemetery reserves the right to trim all existing trees, shrubs and bushes.
- Picking flowers, wild or cultivated, breaking or injuring any tree, shrub, or plant, and writing upon, defacing or damaging any memorial, fence, or other structure within the Cemetery grounds is prohibited.
- The Cemetery Board desires to leave the improvement of grave sites to the taste of the families of those interred. However, in fairness to all, the Board reserves the right to exclude or remove from grave sites any markers, monuments, structures, trees, plants, or other objects which conflict with these policies, or that it considers detrimental to the general appearance of the grounds.
- The Cemetery is not responsible for damage to grave markers or other personal property, regardless of by whom, when, where, or how damage or theft occurs.
GRAVE DECORATION POLICIES
Peace Lutheran Cemetery strives to be “loved-one friendly.” So, policies related to grave decorations are a very difficult area for us. We must weigh the desires and needs of family and friends to express grief in their own way, with our responsibility to mow, trim, clear leaves, and dig graves without having to move items left on grave sites. Sometimes in our effort to achieve a “middle ground,” we don't satisfy either side, but we try. We don't make policies to be difficult, but to provide the best care for the entire cemetery. And, we welcome your constructive feedback.
Peace Lutheran Cemetery strives to be “loved-one friendly.” So, policies related to grave decorations are a very difficult area for us. We must weigh the desires and needs of family and friends to express grief in their own way, with our responsibility to mow, trim, clear leaves, and dig graves without having to move items left on grave sites. Sometimes in our effort to achieve a “middle ground,” we don't satisfy either side, but we try. We don't make policies to be difficult, but to provide the best care for the entire cemetery. And, we welcome your constructive feedback.
- We allow the use of ceramic, metal, and plastic vases and pots.
- o Glass containers are not to be used for safety reasons.
- The cemetery can become very windy. Vases and pots should be heavy enough to remain upright and in place during a stiff wind.
- Plastic vases and pots become brittle over time and are easily damaged during lawn care.
- All vases and pots are to be placed on the grave marker’s foundation.
- Fresh-cut flowers may be used anytime. They may remain until they become wilted or unsightly.
- Funeral and floral pieces placed on a grave after burial will be left a minimum of three days.
- Flowers or vines that injure the grass or interfere with lawn care can be removed at the discretion of the groundskeepers.
- Funeral and floral pieces placed on a grave after burial will be left a minimum of three days.
- Artificial flowers are treated the same way as fresh-cut flowers.
- Decorations designed to be driven into the ground (shepherd’s hooks, crosses, flags, etc.) may be used. They are to be placed to the side of monuments to avoid interference with maintenance.
- Boxes, sea-shells, toys, cans, balloons, cards, figurines, etc. while discouraged, are allowed.
- Glass items are not to be used for safety reasons.
- All such items must be placed on a grave marker’s foundation. If not, they will be removed without notice.
- Glass items are not to be used for safety reasons.
- As groundskeepers care for the cemetery, they may remove live or artificial funeral arrangements, floral decorations, or any other items that have deteriorated or that interfere with cemetery maintenance. This helps keep the grounds clean and attractive.
- Cemetery clean-up weeks are scheduled twice each year.
- Winter decorations and wreaths families wish to save must be removed from grave sites before April 15. Items may be placed back on grave sites after April 22.
- Summer decorations and wreaths families wish to save must be removed from grave sites before October 15. Items may be placed back on grave sites after October 22.
- All arrangements, including flags, left on grave sites during the clean-up weeks will be removed and disposed of during the clean-up.
- Winter decorations and wreaths families wish to save must be removed from grave sites before April 15. Items may be placed back on grave sites after April 22.
