HOLY CROSS CEMETERY GUIDELINES

 

Holy Cross Cemetery is owned and operated by Holy Cross Catholic Church of East Bernard, Texas.  Holy Cross maintains the cemetery grounds at no cost to plot owners.  This includes mowing, trimming, landscaping and any other maintenance deemed necessary as long as there are funds available to do so.

 

The following rules and regulations are incorporated in your contract of sale.  They are designed to assist Holy Cross maintain a safe, orderly and clean cemetery as a memorial to our loved ones and descendants trusted to our care.  You can help the church achieve this worthy purpose by observing the following policies governing the operation of the cemetery:

 

Sales of Cemetery Plots: 

The cemetery administrator will direct the selling and sequencing of cemetery plots.  This is done with maintenance and accessibility in mind.  The administrator will go over rules and regulations with plot owners and help answer any concerns or questions.

 

Opening and Closing of Graves: 

Holy Cross uses a grave digging service to open and close all graves in the cemetery.  The cemetery administrator will assist families in their time of need by making arrangements with the digging service to open and close graves.  The fee for opening and closing is usually collected by the funeral director conducting the funeral service.

 

All graves in the newly opened Ruppert Section must be lined with a container (or vault). A container (or vault) provides stability for the grave, reduces sink-age and allows a better base for heavy memorials.

 

Monuments, Memorials, Borders and Ledgers:

The cemetery administrator must be consulted before ordering grave markers or memorials. The administrator will supply grave dimensions for memorial purposes. Please make sure your monument company knows that they must notify the church before memorials are placed.  This will ensure that the monument company has the right specifications and directions in our many cemetery sections.

 

Memorials and monuments taller than 36” are not allowed.

 

Anyone doing concrete work/repairs, pouring borders or setting memorials must first get permission and approval from the cemetery administrator.

 

Concrete borders may be poured with the understanding Holy Cross Cemetery nor the digging service is responsible for damage done while digging within the enclosed grave space. Borders must not overlap the grave dimensions and must allow ample room for opening and closing.  Borders may not have a cement covering that must be broken through to open a grave.

 

Ledgers must be the appropriate length for grave dimensions and may not extend out into the walkway. Monuments, memorials, borders and ledgers may not extend further than plot dimensions.

 

All monuments in the newly opened Ruppert Section must be placed on the northern end of the grave plot, facing the altar in the center of the cemetery.

 

Mausoleum Spaces:

A representative of the church will direct the selling and sequencing of mausoleum spaces.  The representative will go over instructions on mausoleum care and address any questions or concerns.

 

Engraving on all mausoleums owned by Holy Cross Cemetery must be done through the cemetery administrator.  This is to insure lettering is uniform in appearance and according to the rules of our cemetery.

 

A flower vase OR perpetual light may be mounted in the lower right hand corner of the crypt only.  Engraving should be off-center slightly to the left to allow room for the vase or perpetual light.

 

 

Rules and Regulations of Holy Cross Cemetery:

 

ü     Caretakers must be able to safely mow over cemetery property. Grave decorations should be kept to a minimum and be placed near the monument head only.  Items that drift onto walkways are subject to removal.

ü     Funeral flowers should be removed after they become wilted and unsightly.  Please remove all banners, trinkets and keepsakes from funeral flowers at the time of burial for the safety of such items.  Cemetery caretakers may remove funeral flowers as necessary.

ü     Wire hooks and fasteners, glass vases, jars, bottles, rocks, unsecured urns and similar objects are too dangerous to be allowed. If hit by the mower, they can damage equipment or injure our caretakers and visitors. The caretakers and representatives have the right to remove these dangerous objects.

ü     Holy Cross Church is not responsible for stains or damage to memorials caused by candles, artificial flowers, or potted plants.

ü     Landscaping is done only by Holy Cross Church.  No additional planting of shrubs or trees is permitted.

ü     Parking on the grass or sidewalks is not permitted. Sidewalks are provided as convenient walkways to sections of the cemetery.

ü     Cemetery representatives and caretakers have the right to clean unattended graves of unsightly decorations and out of season flowers.

ü     Fill dirt is provided to assist families in adding dirt to graves in need of attention.

ü     Trash barrels are provided for rubbish removed from grave sites.

 

Holy Cross Church earnestly solicits your cooperation in observing these guidelines.