Why are burial vaults or grave liners required for in-ground burials?

For traditional in-ground burials, we require a concrete grave liner or vault. This is necessary to support the weight of the earth and heavy maintenance equipment, preventing the ground from sinking or collapsing over time. This keeps the cemetery safe, level, and easy to maintain for everyone.

What are the rules regarding cremation and cremated remains?

The Catholic Church permits cremation as long as it does not express a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body. However, Church tradition and guidelines require that cremated remains be treated with the same dignity and respect as a full body. This means ashes must be reverently buried in a grave, entombed in a mausoleum, or placed in a columbarium niche. Scattering ashes, dividing them among family members, or keeping them at home is not permitted (Code of Canon Law, Can. 1176 §3; Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2300-2301)

Can a burial plot or crypt be transferred or returned to the cemetery?

Burial rights are designated for specific family members, but circumstances can change. If you need to transfer rights or inquire about returning an unused plot to the association, please contact our office directly. All transfers or resales must be processed and approved through the cemetery office to ensure our records and legal files remain accurate.

Does your cemetery offer marker ordering and design services?

Yes, our office staff would be glad to assist you with designing your marker. We can guide you through the process using an interactive layout program, allowing you to see a digital preview of how your finished marker will look before you place your order, ensuring everything is fully compliant with cemetery regulations.

Can I purchase and install my own marker or monument, and are there height limits?

Families cannot independently install markers or monuments, and all outside purchases require formal pre-approval from our office before any orders are finalized. All items are subject to strict dimension guidelines, including a maximum height limit of 42 inches. Outside-sourced items also require design approval, a standard marking fee, and professional foundation preparation completed by our crew. Please contact our office for complete guidelines before making any commitments with an outside vendor.

Are temporary markers allowed after a burial?

Temporary markers must be approved by our staff. They are allowed for up to one year following a burial and cannot be taller than 36 inches, which gives you enough time to order and set a permanent headstone.

Why are certain items, decorations, or landscaping features restricted?

We have these guidelines to keep the grounds peaceful, neat, and respectful for all families. These rules also protect the safety of visitors and our workers, prevent accidental damage to our mowing equipment, and make sure the property stays clean and easy to walk around.

Why are stones, gravel, and mulch prohibited around markers and planting areas?

Placing stones, gravel, mulch, or similar loose materials in planting areas or around markers creates a serious safety hazard. During mowing and trimming, these hard items can become dangerous projectiles that threaten the safety of our staff and visitors. To prevent injury to personnel and damage to property, these materials are strictly prohibited.

 If your loved one's grave currently has these materials, we kindly ask that you take time to remove them so we can keep the grounds safe for everyone. Any remaining materials will be cleared by our grounds team during our ongoing property maintenance.

What items and activities are restricted on the grounds?

The cemetery is sacred ground and must be treated with the same reverence and respect as a Church. To preserve this environment, the following are strictly prohibited:

1. Inappropriate activities: Alcohol, drugs, parties, loud music, food, and any other activities that detract from the solemnity of the cemetery.
2. Firearms: Strictly prohibited, except for official military honors during a service.
3. Power equipment: Personal lawn mowers or power equipment are not allowed. Any requests for additional grounds work must be directed to our office, and our grounds crew will handle the completion of the work.
4. Pets: Not allowed on the grounds at any time, though trained service animals are always welcome.

Please be aware that violations, including the consumption of alcohol or drugs, unauthorized gatherings, or other disrespectful behavior, will not be tolerated. 

The Catholic Cemetery Association of Racine reserves the right to impose cleanup fees for the restoration of the site and if necessary, involve law enforcement in order to maintain the peace and sanctity of our grounds.

Is the cemetery responsible for property damage or theft?

The cemetery is not responsible for items that are lost, stolen, damaged by severe weather, or vandalized. We always encourage families to choose durable items that follow our guidelines.

Can I plant trees, bushes, or flowers of any kind on or around the gravesite?

• You cannot plant trees, bushes, or shrubs of any kind because their roots can damage underground utility pipes and nearby headstones, and we need to keep the landscape even.
• You are welcome to plant flowers, but only in the designated planting area that extends up to 12 inches directly in front of the headstone and is no wider than the headstone itself.

What are the rules and maintenance responsibilities for planting areas and flower beds?

 Mulch, decorative stone, and rocks are not allowed in planting areas because they pose projectile and safety hazards during routine mowing and trimming.

 Planting areas are entirely the responsibility of the grave owner to maintain. If you choose to add an approved border around your planting area, you are fully responsible for keeping up with everything inside it, including grass, weeds, and authorized plantings.

What happens if my flowers or plants get damaged?

While our grounds crew works carefully, accidental contact from weed whips and mowing can occasionally happen, especially if plants spill outside the designated bed. Keeping your plantings strictly within your approved area helps prevent this. 

Additionally, local wildlife has been known to graze and eat flowers with no regard for the setting. While we completely understand how frustrating it is when a plant is damaged, the cemetery cannot replace or cover the cost of items affected by wildlife, weather, or routine maintenance.

Are fences, borders, or landscaping edging allowed around individual plots?

Fences and pickets are not allowed because we need to keep the landscape open and safe for our lawn care equipment.

Landscape edging is allowed only around your approved flower bed, and it must be installed completely level and flush with the ground.

What decorations are permitted or prohibited at the gravesites?

To keep the cemetery peaceful and respectful, we do not allow things like shepherd's hooks, hanging baskets, balloons, breakable items, or clutter that covers up the headstones.

Seasonal holiday wreaths are welcome from November 15 through March 15.

Religious statues or figurines are allowed only if they are under 24 inches tall, made of resin or unbreakable material, and kept inside your approved flower bed.

Why are solar lights prohibited?

Solar lights are not allowed because they break easily and leave sharp pieces of glass or plastic in the grass as they age. 

Since the cemetery closes at night and visitors are not on the grounds after dark, these lights are not needed and only create safety hazards for our workers and mowers.

What are the specific rules regarding mausoleums?

To keep mausoleums looking uniform and structurally sound, photo ceramic portraits, vases, and emblems must be purchased through and installed directly by the cemetery.

Fresh cut flowers are not allowed inside or around mausoleums except during a service.

Silk flowers are welcome as long as they are securely placed in proper installed vases.

You cannot attach items to the fronts of crypts or niches, put things on the floor, or leave items outside, except in designated garden areas.

How do regulations apply to green burial sites?

Green burial areas are kept completely natural to protect the environment. Because of this, individual headstones and personal plantings are not allowed in the green burial section

When are the scheduled cemetery cleanup periods?

We clear out all summer and patriotic decorations on November 15 to make room for winter holiday items.

We clear out all winter and holiday decorations on March 15 to get the grounds ready for the spring and summer seasons.

Note: We kindly ask families to retrieve any personal or seasonal decorations they wish to keep prior to these dates. Any items left behind after the cleanup deadlines will be respectfully removed by our grounds crew. We keep many items removed from gravesites in a designated storage area located behind the main office; if your item was removed, you can generally assume it has been stored for pickup, unless it was damaged or harmed in some way and is unretrievable.

Who should I contact if I have questions or concerns about these policies?

Our office team is here to assist you with any questions. If you have specific concerns regarding these policies or our operations, please bring them to the attention of our General Manager. We are committed to transparency and open communication with all the families we serve.

Why does the cemetery place such a strong emphasis on these guidelines?

At its core, the Catholic Cemetery Association of Racine is not merely a business, but a vital ministry of the Catholic Church and a direct service to Jesus Christ and the Body of Christ. Burying the dead and caring for their final resting places is a sacred corporal work of mercy. Our grounds staff pour their energy, dedication, and care into this holy work because these grounds are blessed. We strive to maintain them as a peaceful, sacred, and secure final resting place for all families and visitors, honoring the faithful departed who await the resurrection.

Why enforce these rules now when things have been like this for years?

Applying these guidelines fairly and consistently across the entire property is a matter of faithful stewardship. While enforcement has varied in the past, we are now ensuring these rules are applied evenly as an expression of our ministry to the entire community. As part of the Body of Christ, we are called to treat every family and every gravesite with equal dignity, ensuring that no single plot receives preferential treatment over another. Bringing the cemetery into full compliance is an ongoing, step-by-step process rooted in love for our community and respect for our sacred mission.

 We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. God Bless you!