Cemeteries

Partner Parishes of Connellsville

Holy Trinity, St. John, St. Joseph, St. Rita, Sacred Heart, & St. Emory Cemetery

CEMETERY RULES AND REGULATIONS

Effective: July 1, 2021

The goal of cemetery rules can be summed up very briefly. They exist with the objective of maintaining an attractive, well-managed cemetery. The following rules apply to all lot owners.

CEMETERY MAINTENANCE:

Visiting hours of the cemeteries are from sunrise to sunset.

All gravesites are to be completely free of any POTTED artificial or live plants and other decorations (unless the decorations are on top of the stone or in pots attached to the stones), twice during the year so a thorough clean-up can take place. All artificial decorations showing obvious wear or age must be removed. All items need to be removed by April 15th for the Spring clean-up. All items need to be removed by November 1st for the Fall clean-up. Any items left on the graves two weeks after said dates will be disposed of by the Church. It is important to remove any and all items that you want to keep!

NO vegetable plants, trees (artificial or live), bushes, or shrubbery are to be planted at any gravesites. (The Cemetery Caretaker will remove items currently in violation of this rule).

Flowers planted in front of the tombstone must be surrounded by an area in which the soil has been tilled, and this area should not exceed 12 inches from the FRONT of the tombstone and NO WIDER than the length of the stone.

NO PLANTING OR DECORATIONS ARE TO APPEAR BEHIND THE STONE OR BESIDE THE MONUMENT.

There are to be no such items as Christmas trees, non-religious statues, stuffed animals, balloons, cards, birdfeeders, shepherd hooks, hanging baskets, banners, wind chimes, etc. placed on the gravesite. All religious statues must be within the 12 inch of tilled earth in front of the tombstone, or on the tombstone itself.

Any decorations, real or artificial, that are unkempt will be removed from the gravesite (including tilled earth overrun by weeds).

Marble chips, limestone, decorative stones, glass, and wood chips can be very dangerous to our maintenance crew and our cemetery equipment, and will not be permitted. No added wires, wooden stakes, or rocks may be used to secure your decorations. All edging MUST be level with the ground.

Artificial flowers, flower holders, wire stand holders from wreaths, plastics, papers, dirt, weeds, etc. are to be placed in the trash container or preferably taken home and discarded. These should not be thrown into the areas surrounding the cemetery or at the edge of the road. The containers provided are for CEMETERY REFUSE ONLY.

Benches are permitted in the cemeteries, but the location of such bench is to the discretion of the pastor.

Endowed Care includes initial topsoil and seeding, along with mowing and trimming of gravesite. Adding grass seed and/or topsoil to graves is the responsibility of lot holders or family of lot holder.

Footers for tombstones will be set only by the Cemetery Caretaker, Mr. Dave Panzella. No monument company is permitted to install footers.

Any questions or concerns must be addressed to Mr. Dave Panzella, Cemetery Caretaker, at 724-323-5365. The cemetery or parish will not be held responsible for any items stolen or broken.

REMEMBER:

LOT HOLDERS DO NOT OWN THE GROUND; THEY HAVE PURCHASED THE RIGHT TO BE INTERRED THERE. If the lot holder passes away, the lots are transferred to the executor of the estate. The lot holder or executor may give lots, by written consent only, to other members of the family. Letters giving written consent for other members to be buried on the lot must be submitted to the Parish Office.

CEMETERY PRICING INFORMATION (effective July 1, 2021):

New Grave Purchase – Parishioner ......................................................... $950.00

New Grave Purchase – Non-Parishioner................................................ $1050.00

Perpetual Care pre-need purchase $200... Perpetual Care at time of need $300

Grave Opening & Closing – Parishioner................................................. $1400.00

Grave Opening & Closing – Non-Parishioner......................................... $1500.00

Double Upright Grave Opening & Closing - First Burial....................... $1400.00

Cremation Costs......................................................................................$600.00

Cremation Vaults of larger sizes ............................................. *Call for Quote

Transfer of Deed......................................................................................$100.00

Purchasing a Space:

Those wishing to purchase a space or spaces may do so by contacting Mr. Dave Panzella at

724-323-5365. He will make an appointment for you to come to the cemetery and make your selection. Although it is something none of us like to consider, it is much easier for all concerned to purchase your space pre-need instead of at-need. All purchases must be paid in full, effective immediately. Payment can be in

the form of cash, check. The cemetery will not HOLD any grave space for a person/family member.

Endowed Care:

Endowed Care is the portion of money from the sale of each grave space, which is deposited in a separate account. The cemetery receives the interest from this account but cannot draw from the principal. This will ensure the care of the cemetery for as long as it exists. This is included in the price of a new lot and is a one-time charge.

All regulations are subject to change without notification to lot holders.

Cemetery/Parish Office:

Partner Parishes of Immaculate Conception, St. Rita, and St. John the Evangelist,

116 South Second Street, Connellsville, PA 15425 Phone: 724-628-6840

email: llauffer@dioceseofgreensburg.org Fax: 724-628-0838

Office Hours: 8:30 AM –12:00 and 1:00 –4:00 PM, Monday through Thursday & 8:30-1:00pm on Friday.