Cemetery Grounds Maintenance - Gate of Heaven

All ground burial sites are cleaned up on a weekly basis.  The grounds are cleared every Thursday.  Niches and crypts are cleared on the first Thursday of each month.  Please see the documents below for detailed guidelines and a full cleanup schedule.

The cemetery reserves the right at any time to remove and discard any decorations that have been damaged or become unsightly, or any decorations in excess for the overall maintenance and appearance of the cemetery.  Flowers and decorations must be placed in cemetery-approved vases or on the gravesite around the headstone only.  Decorations cannot blanket the grass.

There are occasions when flowers and decorations have been stolen. The cemetery cannot assume any liability for decorations placed on burial sites.  We recommend that families take this into consideration when selecting flowers or decorations.

Due to the volume of decorations being removed, it is impossible to make provisions to claim items after they have been removed. Therefore, should families desire to retain items, they must be removed prior to the scheduled clean-up dates..

Please be aware of the sensitivities of others and note that all materials used are to have a religious motif in keeping with the sacred nature of the cemetery.

The following items are prohibited and are subject to immediate removal:

• Planter boxes, glass containers or vases, candles, etc.

• The planting of shrubs, trees, flowers, etc.

• Fencing or boarders consisting of shells, stones, pebbles or other materials.

• Stands or metal legs used to elevate floral or cross tributes

• Items attached to wood or metal stakes

• Any decorations over 12 inches in height such as solar lights, shepherd hooks, bird houses, wind chimes, etc.