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Location
175 West Street
Attleboro, Massachusetts
All post and inquiries are to be directed to the Parish Office at
One Saint John Place, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Preface
In order to provide continuing and efficient cemetery service for the present and future, plans have been formulated concerning the rules, regulations and fees at St. John's Cemetery.
These policies are adopted at this time in order that our cemeteries will not come to resemble many of the abandoned small cemeteries encountered along our countrysides. There have been many instances whereby, a family gives adequate care to a cemetery plot, but with the passing of time there comes a day when there is no one to assume this responsibility. There is also a maintenance of roads, records, trees, etc., that make for a well organized cemetery operation. Income is necessary to provide these services.
The income necessary to provide for these services come from interest realized from the cemetery Perpetual Care/Endowed Care Fund. This is a one time fee paid when a plot is purchased. This fund allows for the upkeep of the grounds indefinitely in the form of keeping the grass mowed, roads in good repair, and seeding and trimming.
These policies have been adopted solely for the intention of providing the cemetery with adequate income to provide dignified cemetery care not only for the present, but also the future. The common good of the cemetery necessitates this policy.
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Rules and Regulations
The Rules and Regulations governing St. John's Cemetery are not made for the benefit of the cemetery management, nor are they intended to infringe upon the privileges of the lot owners, but they have been found necessary to maintain peace and order within the cemetery and to preserve and enhance the beauty of the cemetery grounds.
Due to ever changing conditions, the cemetery management must reserve the right from time to time to change these rules and regulations as well as its service charges. These changes apply automatically to all rights of burial…whether issued prior or subsequent to its adoption.
These rules and regulations are intended as guide lines, however, they must be very strictly adhered to.
GENERAL RULES
1. The cemetery is officially opened for visitation every day from sunrise to sunset.
2. Automobiles or other vehicles are not allowed to travel at a speed greater than 10 miles per hour.
3. The cemetery is not responsible for the loss of objects on graves or lots.
4. Floral decorations (seasonal Christmas, Easter, etc.) will be removed at the discretion of the Superintendent. Silk flowers, plastic decorations, pictures, mementos, etc. are not permitted. (see #10 and #11 for exceptions)
5. All work within the grounds of the cemetery will be performed by the cemetery employees only.
6. Grading, sodding, seeding, fertilizing filling in lots and any type of planting (trees, shrubs) by persons other than cemetery personnel is prohibited.
7. Fences, hedges, curbing enclosures, ironwork, wirework, seats, vases, corner posts above grade, vigil lights and steps are prohibited.
8. Articles such as shells, stone chips, mulch, glass receptacles, wooden crosses, statues, flags, flag standards or other object which may be considered objectionable will be removed by the Superintendent, without notice.
9. Any person who destroys or defaces any monument, tree, shrub, plant or building is guilty of a serious offense, punishable by fine, imprisonment or both. The law is strict on cemetery vandalism and will be strictly enforced.
10. All Memorial Day plants and decorations will be removed one week following the holiday. Plants and decorations will not be permitted on the graves until the Friday afternoon prior to Memorial Day. Decorations and potted plants are prohibited during mowing season.
11. Artificial flowers, baskets, wreaths, sprays, etc. permitted December 1st to March 31st. Christmas decorations are removed after February 15th.
12. The disposal of refuse of any type is strictly forbidden on cemetery grounds. All clippings, rubbish, etc. removed from individual lots is to be placed in the dumpster near the cemetery garage or removed from the cemetery grounds.
INTERMENT RULES
1. The hour of an interment must be arranged with the cemetery office before publication.
2. There must be at least an eight work hour notice for an interment. Requests for a Monday A.M. interment must be placed on or before 12 PM on Friday.
3. There will be no interments on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and all Sundays.
CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS
1. When a lot is purchased, the owner acquires the exclusive right of burial only.
2. The price of the lot includes a certain amount to be placed in the Perpetual/Endowment Fund. This sum is invested in order that the cemetery will receive the interest periodically in order to care for the lot accordingly and general cemetery conditions.
3. No transfer of lots or graves will be made without the consent of the cemetery authorities. Forms for such transactions may be obtained at the cemetery office.
4. Said lots shall be indivisible and upon the decease of the owner, his heirs at law shall succeed to the privileges with the same restrictions, limitations and conditions.
5. When a lot owner so wishes, he may designate the person or persons to be interred in said lot after his demise, by filling out the proper instrument conveying the lot in trust to the cemetery. After the person or persons have been interred, the lot will be closed.
6. To prevent grave settlement, containers are required as outside cases for all burials, with the exception of cremated remains.
7. The use of old graves for new interments will be permitted whenever possible.
8. The right to burial is subject to the prior payment of all charges in connection with the same, including perpetual/endowed care.
9. The capacity of a grave may be increased, whenever possible, by opening graves for cremated remains.
10. The removal of a body from one lot to another will be made upon the filling of the proper forms at the cemetery office.
PLANTING RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. Disturbing the turf or sod to plant evergreens or shrubs of any kind is strictly forbidden.
2. Individual lot owners or nurserymen contracted by lot owners are prohibited from doing any type of shrubbery planting.
3. When trees or shrubs outgrow their location or become unsightly, it shall be the duty of the Superintendent to enter said lot and remove said shrubs or parts thereof as he shall determine to be detrimental or unsightly, without notice.
4. Annual plantings in front of monuments are not recommended. However, permission will be granted provided the lot owner agrees to water and weed the planting once a week, and remove the planting at the end of the growing season. If neglected, the planting will be removed by the Cemetery and a charge made for the same.
MONUMENTS, MARKERS AND FOUNDATIONS
1. Repairs and upkeep of all memorials is the responsibility of the lot owner. The cemetery will not be responsible for damage by vandals to any memorial within its confines.
2. Information relative to type and size of memorial allowed on any given lot may be obtained at the Cemetery Office.
3. The Superintendent shall have the authority to reject any plan or design for any memorial which, for reason of size, design, inscription, finish or quality of stone, is in the opinion of said unsuited to the lot or section on which it is to be placed.
4. The dimensions and composition of all monuments to be erected must be submitted to the Cemetery Office for approval.
5. No monument susceptible to disintegration or corrosion such as limestone, sandstone, cement or metal will be permitted.
6. All monuments shall be located on the lot according to the plan for the particular lot.
7. Foundations will be constructed by the cemetery employees only.
8. Lot owners and monument dealers may obtain more detailed information governing the installation of monuments at the Cemetery Office.
9. There are monuments in the older parts of the cemeteries without foundations; some of these have become unsightly and even dangerous to those visiting the cemetery. The management proposes to take the necessary steps to correct or even eliminate these conditions by the removal of such. The cemetery is willing to install proper foundations at a cost.
10. The "Title" to the real estate of the cemetery under the jurisdiction of St. John's Cemetery Office is held by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Fall River, a corporation sole chartered in the State of Massachusetts.
May 2004
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