We welcome families and friends to visit their loved ones at our cemeteries. After all, cemeteries not only serve as a resting place for the dead awaiting the Resurrection, but also as a holy place where you may feel connected to the ones gone before us. Through our baptism, our bodies become temples for the Holy Spirit, and as such we are to treat them with honor and respect, including placing the deceased on consecrated grounds. Catholic cemeteries require reverence; and like any gathering, whether it be private or public, a certain behavior is expected. Below are some tips on how to maintain etiquette when visiting the cemetery.
Driving
Like with any journey, it’s important to know where you’re headed! If you’re unsure of your loved one’s grave location, stop in the cemetery office or call ahead to find out. Trying to find your loved one’s monument without knowing exactly where they are laid to rest can be a challenge. Please, drive slowly and safely. Once you get to your loved one’s grave, please park on the road, and be mindful of your surroundings, as some graves are located close to the road.
Visiting with Children
We encourage you to bring children along on cemetery visits, as it gives you a chance to engage and bond. Bringing children to the cemetery is a great opportunity to teach them that cemeteries are not frightening places, but quiet, peaceful resting places for those we love, awaiting the Resurrection. Showing them where their relatives are buried can open up a conversation about your family and encourage them to ask questions about life and death, as well as a learning experience on how to be respectful in a serene, sacred environment. Teach them that cemeteries are unlike any other outdoor space, and more akin to a church than a playground.
Other Mourners
Many visitors come to pay their respects and burials take place throughout the day. Be sure to give fellow visitors plenty of space to mourn. Taking pictures, intruding on services, and staring are all in bad taste. Speak softly when visiting with others, and avoid playing loud music.
Cleaning Up
Sometimes people will stay a while, or have a picnic at their loved one’s gravesite. In some cultures, leaving food at the headstone is customary. We kindly ask you to refrain from doing this at our cemeteries. Leaving food will attract unwanted animals to the grounds. Please clean up all trash and take personal items with you before you leave.
Decorating
Please refer to our cemetery guidelines before adorning your loved one’s resting place to see what is and is not permitted. Keeping with our guidelines helps promote safety and cleanliness of the grounds. We also offer programs like the Floral Program and Garden Permit Program that bring beauty to our cemeteries through personalized memorialization. It is never our intention at South Jersey Catholic Cemeteries to inhibit the way in which our visitors mourn, but it is our top priority to maintain a space that respects our visitors, those interred, and the solemnity of our Catholic Cemetery, all the while upholding the safety of our visitors and employees. Respecting your cemetery’s guidelines is another part of cemetery etiquette.
Walking Through the Cemetery
Step mindfully through the lawns of the cemetery towards your departed loved one. Flat markers are easy to step on if you aren’t careful, and doing so not only presents a possible safety concern for you, but is disrespectful towards the people they memorialize.
Pets
As much as we love our pets, we do not allow them at our cemeteries. Licensed service animals are allowed. Should you bring your service animal, please clean up after him/her.
Be Mindful of Hours
We ask our families to visit between dawn and dusk. This helps to keep you, the visitor, safe. Headstones can be difficult to see in the dark, and even more difficult to find the right one. In the dark, it’s easy to trip, and easier to leave dissatisfied with your visit. Our chapel mausoleums’ hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and weekends/holidays 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Additionally, our cemetery offices are open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. We welcome you to stop in during our hours so we can help you with any immediate questions and ensure your visit is pleasant and safe!