St. Joseph & Saint Anthony Cemeteries,

Falmouth, Massachusetts

CONDITIONS, RESTRICTIONS, LIMITATIONS AND PRIVILEGES

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

1. Lots in the Cemetery that are under the direct control of the Bishop are not to be sold however there is conveyed the right of burial, which right, according to the deed issued, "is subject to the laws and regulations made, or to be made, in the care and management of the cemetery by the Cemetery authorities". Failure on the part of the titleholder or heirs to comply with all the aforementioned laws, rules and regulations constitutes a forfeiture of the right herein granted. Note: Only authorized personnel are allowed to inter or bury. Private interment or burial without cemetery permission is prohibited.
   
   
2. Deed holders shall not transfer their right of burial in any lot unless such transfer has the approval of the Cemetery authorities and is entered on the records of the Cemetery.
   
   
3. Fences, hedges, shrubs, curbs or corner posts, closures, bricks, iron work, etc., above grade shall not be allowed on or around lots. Wooden headboards or markers, wooden trellises, chairs or settees, wholly or in part of wood, and vases and urns, other than granite or bronze, are prohibited. These and any other items cannot be placed to the side or behind the gravestone in order to allow for proper care of the lot.
   
   
4. One Official Metallic Marker may be placed upon a grave by either a Military or Fraternal Organization. Where there are two or more of these markers, the immediate family of the deceased must make the decision as to which marker is to remain on the grave. The Cemetery authorities prefer the Military Emblem of the American Legion or the Veterans of Foreign Wars, but not both.
   
   
5. The term, "ENDOWED CARE", shall mean the cutting of the grass upon the lot or graves at reasonable intervals; the raking or cleaning of the lot; the repair of sunken graves and such work as may be necessary to keep the lot or grave in good or neat condition; to keep in repair and maintain the buildings, drives, trees, shrubs, etc. The amount of money expended on lot designated herein will be governed by the interest earned on the endowment.
   
   
6. The Cemetery authorities will not be responsible for the care or safety of any stone, metal or other structure, that may be placed on the lot.
   
   
7. Disturbing the turf or sod on any lot is not permitted. Evergreens or shrubs are not allowed.
   
   
8. Annual planting only in front of the monument is permitted provided the lot owner agrees to properly maintain the area, and remove the planting at the end of the growing season, November 1st. If neglected, the planting will be removed by the cemetery authorities at the expense of the owner. In-ground planting, mulch or woodchips, as well as any potted plants or baskets cannot extend out beyond 6 inches from the front of the monument in order to allow for mowing the grass. Planting (including mulch), potted plants or any other item on the sides and of the monument rear is not permitted. For the safety of cemetery workers, stone chips, crushed stone, gravel, shells, etc. are not permitted around stones and will be removed without notice. While caring for the cemetery or digging graves the cemetery and cemetery authorities will not be held responsible for damage.
   
   
9. Remembrances, keepsakes of any kind, such as hats, cups, stuffed animals, toys, shrines, balloons, etc. are not allowed on lots and will be removed without notice. In no event will the cemetery authorities be responsible for, loss or damage to articles placed upon graves.
   
   
10. Within St. Anthony’s cremation burial area (St. Teresa) & St. Joseph’s Cremation burial area all markers must be pillow/slant style or at grade level. The pillow / slant markers must be a standard marker measuring 14” high, 24’ long, 10” wide at the base, and 2” wide at the top. The grade level marker must measure 12” wide by 24” long. No bases are permitted, no plant pots are permitted in this area, flowers are allowed within 6 inches of the front of the marker and must be cared for.
    
    
11. Cemetery authorities reserve the right to remove any prohibited items noted above in #3, #7, #8, #9 and #10 that may hinder the proper care of the cemetery lots.
    
    
12. There are certain restrictions as to the size of the monuments:
    • The maximum overall height of a monument including the base shall be 36 inches.
    • Flush markers or monument base...
      • Single grave... 24 inches long by 12 inches wide
      • Double graves or more... 36 inches by 14 inches wide
    • Monument Head Stone...
      • Single grave...24 inches long by 12 inches wide
      • Double graves... 30 inches long by 12 inches wide
      • Triple graves or more... 36 inches long by 12 inches wide
        
        
13. All persons desiring to do monumental work, or to make any change whatever, must file, at the Cemetery office, a plan of the work to be done, the material to be used, and the location on the lot, accompanied by a written order signed by the deed holders or heirs. These plans must be approved by the Cemetery authorities before the work will be permitted. Contractors and their workmen, while employed in the cemetery, are under the direction of the Superintendent.
    
    
14. The Cemetery authorities reserve the exclusive right to supervise all monumental work done in the cemetery. All monuments and grave markers must be granite and should have a Cross, or some other Catholic Symbol, cut or engraved thereon. Only one monument will be permitted on a burial lot; a foot-stone or name marker is considered a temporary affair, and is removed when a real monument is erected, except when level with the grade.
    
    
15. All funerals, while within the Cemetery grounds, shall be subject entirely to the direction of the Administrator. The Administrator or his designee must be in attendance at all interments. Clergy must also be in attendance at the time of interment.
    
    
16. Any person who destroys or defaces any monument, tree, shrub, plant, or building is guilty of a serious offence, punishable by fine, imprisonment or both. The law is strict on cemetery vandalism and will be strictly enforced.
    
    
17. Driving on the lawn at any time is not permitted.
    
    
18. Alcoholic beverages and or recreational drugs are not permitted.
    
    
19. Dogs must be leashed at all times.
    
    
20. The Cemetery authorities reserve the right, without notice, to make, amend and repeal the rules and regulations of the Cemeteries.
    
    
21. Please also see the attached “St. Joseph’s & St. Anthony’s Cemetery price listings” for regulations regarding cremation interments in full body graves, and the new cremations area.

Burial Charges Policy

General Policies

• No burials of bodies or cremains are performed on Sundays or other officially mandated Holy Days.
• Some service charges are set by the third party company we use; they are not set by the parish.
• Definition of purchase of grave is the accrual purchase of the right to bury within the rules of the cemetery.

Purchase of a full grave site with perpetual care: $1,500.00  

• You may inter one body and up to three cremations per full grave.
• If the first interment in the site is a cremation, then the urn must be placed in a vault supplied by St. Joseph's Parish for an additional fee (see below). 

Body Burial Charges

• Weekday Body Burial Fee: $1,600.00
• Additional Fees (if applicable):
  • Saturday Early Closings Fee (funeral begins between 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM): $600.00 
  • Saturday Late Closings Fee (funeral begins at 11:00 AM): $750.00. 
    • No burials can be done on Saturdays after 12:00 PM.
  • Graveside Service Fee: $150.00 (applicable only when there is no funeral, a Catholic clergy is required).
  • Price of Cremation Vault (if required): $200.00
    • Vaults must be purchased from the St. Joseph's Parish.
  • Holiday Closing Fee: $1,500.00
    • May also be applicable to the day before, day after, or weekend of a holiday.
  • Winter/Frost Fee: $300.00
    • Includes any extra work required, including snow removal.

Purchase of a Cremation grave with perpetual care: $1,000.00

• Depending on size, up to 3 cremations may be interred at St. Anthony Cemetery and up to 2 at St. Joseph Cemetery.
• Should you request a military marker in addition to the pillow/slant marker you must visit the cemetery office for details on the limited burial area per grave. 

Cremation Burial Charges

• Weekday Morning Cremation Burial Fee: $600.00
• Additional Fees (if applicable):
  • Weekday Afternoon Closing Fee (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM): $200.00
    • No burials can be done on weekdays after 2:00 PM.
  • Saturday Early Closing Fee (funeral begins between 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM): $250.00
  • Saturday Late Closing Fee (funeral begins at 11:00 AM): $450.00
    • No burials can be done on Saturdays after 12:00 PM.
  • Saturday Cremation Burial without funeral (beginning between 9:00 AM & 12:00 AM): $250.00
  • Graveside Service Fee: $150.00 (applicable only the burial does not immediately follow the funeral, a Catholic clergy is required).
  • Holiday Closing Fee: $500.00
    • May also be applicable to the day before, day after, or weekend of a holiday.
  • Winter/Frost Fee: $300.00
    • Includes any extra work required, including snow removal.

Policy updated April 2025