PROPOSED RULES & REGULATIONS
St. Ladislaus Cemetery is a Catholic Cemetery, intended for the burial of the remains of deceased Roman Catholics and of members of their families who may not have been Catholic.
Pre-Need for Cemetery Lots and Funeral Services: At the time of death, many arrangements and details have to be made in a limited amount of time. The responsibility of making funeral arrangements by the survivors are greatly eased by purchasing burial rights and making pre-need funeral arrangements. By purchasing burial rights in advance, you pay for them at today’s prices for future use. You are assured of a burial plot. You have the privilege to bury other members of the family. The interest or dividends on your pre-need funeral services increase to take care of inflation.
Certificate of Burial: When a burial right is purchased, the owner is issued a “Certificate of Burial” for a specific grave lot. The owner of a certificate has the right or privilege of burial, but does not own the real estate. Only Catholics may purchase burial rights, but the owner may have members of his or her family (whether Catholic or non-Catholic) buried on the plot. A $25.00 clerical fee will be charged.
The holder of burial rights is known as the lot holder. The lot holder has title only to the burial rights on a given lot, but not to the land itself. The title to all cemetery land remains with the Diocese of La Crosse.
Transfer of Certificates: Only the Parish has the right to sell, buy, or transfer grave lots. Anyone wishing to give up their “Certificate of Burial”, should contact the Parish Office. A refund for the amount originally paid for the lot, less perpetual care, may be made.
Price of Grave Lots: (Cost of lots reviewed periodically)
Parishioners: $300 per grave lot for those who have been parishioners for minimum of 1 year.
Non-Parishioners: $600 per grave lot for non-parishioners or those with parish membership less than 1 year.
Cemetery Funds: All monies paid into the cemetery fund include perpetual care for all lots. Perpetual care includes removing excess dirt after burial, filling with top soil, seeding of grass, mowing and trimming of grass, and trimming of trees and shrubs on cemetery property (but not on individual graves).
Cemetery Funds may also be used for the operation and development of the cemetery, and improvements such as fencing, roadways, sidewalks, shrines, trees, and shrubs.
Endowment Care Fund: A percentage of the cost of lots (as required by state law and Diocesan policy) is invested into an Endowment Care Fund to ensure future maintenance of the cemetery. Interest income that is generated by the Endowment Care Fund may be used for cemetery maintenance, with the principal remaining intact.
Cremation: Cremation is permitted in the Catholic Church. The remains (ashes) should be placed in a durable container for burial in the cemetery or placed in a crypt in a mausoleum. It is not permitted to scatter remains over a favorite place, nor is it permitted to keep cremated remains in one’s home or place other than a cemetery.
A limit of two cremation burials are permitted on a regular size lot. Only 1 infant or 1 cremated remains may be buried on top of a casket.
When more than one person is buried in a lot, $100 will be payable to the parish for the Certificate of Burial for the additional person.
Winter Burials: St. Ladislaus will continue winter burials unless weather conditions make it impossible. Extraordinary digging expenses will be billed according to cost.
Monuments: No monument may be placed on any grave or lot without the permission of the Cemetery Board or Parish. All footings and monuments must be erected according to the specifications of the parish.
The monument is not to be installed until the full purchase price of the lot is paid.
The base of the monument may not be larger that the width of the lot size. The height of the monument shall be limited to 36”.
A monument must be erected within one year from the time of purchase of the lot. If this rule is not followed, the person may forfeit their lot and be assigned another lot, per the Cemetery Board’s discretion.
St. Ladislaus Cemetery has been blessed and is considered a Sacred place as a Catholic Cemetery. Any ornamentation on monuments and markers must be in keeping with the Sacred character of the cemetery, in line with Christian dignity, and in good taste.
The names of all persons buried in a lot must be on the monument.
Monuments are the personal property and responsibility of the family. The family or lot holder will be notified if a monument needs care. If it is not taken care of within 15 days, the Parish may charge the cost of repairs or maintenance to the family or owner. Care of monuments is the responsibility of the owner or family. It is not included in perpetual care.
Artificial Flowers: Artificial flowers must be securely fastened to the monument. If not fastened, they will be removed. Real flowers are not advised due to lawn cutting problems.
No trees, shrubs, or flowers are to be planted on individual grave lots. No bird feeders are to be set up next to monuments. Any existing shrubs should be trimmed and removed if too large. The parish does not maintain plants, shrubs, or trees. This is the responsibility of the family. It existing shrubs or plants get too large or need removing, the family will be contacted to remove them; otherwise the Parish will remove them.
Christmas wreaths are to be removed by April 1.
Financial Burden: In keeping with the mission of Catholic cemeteries, a family in need will never be turned away from our cemetery, even if financial hardship is imposed upon the cemetery.
All Cemetery Rules and Regulations are subject to periodic review and change, to ensure that they are current and reflect any legal or regulatory changes.
Cemetery Board: Pastor: Fr. Rex Zimmerman, Pastoral Associate: Sr. Mary Ellen Diermeier, Members: Andy Beine, Leo Cherek, Anne and John Mieska, Peter Rombalski, and Lorraine VanderKooy.
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ST. LADISLAUS
PARISH 
CATHOLIC CEMETERY
