General Information - Frequently Asked Questions |
Do I have to be a Catholic to be buried in a Catholic cemetery? No. These days it is more common for people within one family to belong to different faiths. We believe in keeping families together in death as in life, and welcome the non-Catholic spouses and family members of Catholics. We don't know our parish priest. How do we organize the committal (graveside) ceremony? The staff at The Catholic Cemeteries can make this arrangement for you. It is part of our service to families. We are choosing cremation. Can we still select a Catholic cemetery? Yes. All of the Catholic cemeteries have both in-ground lots for cremated remains and also indoor or outdoor columbaria (small structures with niches for cremated remains). We also operate our own Catholic cremation centre, located just outside Brantford, in order to provide a total service to families. Who runs the Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Hamilton? The cemeteries are owned by the Diocese of Hamilton under the direction of the Bishop, The Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, OMI. Since the early 1900s, the cemeteries have been managed by the O'Brien family. The executive director is Robert J. O'Brien and John J. O'Brien is the director. There is a staff of more than 30 people that includes administrators, family counsellors, groundskeepers and more. Yes, absolutely. Yes. As part of the Diocese of Hamilton, we are in favour of the traditional Catholic funeral Mass. However, the location of a funeral is in no way linked to the person's right to be buried in a Catholic cemetery. People who do not have a formal connection to a parish may elect to have the funeral liturgy celebrated at the cemetery, where facilities are available. Our staff can make those arrangements for you. Is it more or less expensive to purchase space in a Catholic cemetery or mausoleum? The Catholic Cemeteries is a not-for-profit and charitable organization. Our prices are very comparable to those of municipal cemeteries and are often less expensive than private, or for-profit cemeteries. In addition, we do provide assistance in cases of financial hardship. We invite you to talk with us about any financial questions you may have. Under the Cemeteries Act of Ontario, a fixed portion of the price of a grave is used for the care and maintenance of the cemeteries, the income from which is used to maintain the grave in perpetuity.
How do I find my relative's grave? The fastest way is to contact our main administrative office on Spring Gardens Road in Burlington, Ontario (at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery) at 905-522-7727. We can fax a cemetery map to you or you may wish to pick up a map during our business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). Other cemetery offices do supply maps but these offices are not staffed full-time. We suggest that you call before your visit. How soon can a monument or marker be put on a grave? A monument can usually be placed within eight to 10 weeks, although that timeframe could be shorter or longer, depending on the kind of monument that is ordered and whether a foundation is in place. Sculptures or other more detailed memorials may take longer. A flat bronze or granite marker can usually be installed within six to eight weeks. At times of the year when the ground is frozen, installations may take longer. Families can purchase a temporary grave marker, which is placed within five working days of the interment. How many people can be buried in one adult, full-size grave? A maximum of three people can be buried in a single grave, at least one of which must be a cremation urn. There can be two caskets (providing the first one is buried deeply enough to allow another to be put on top) and one cremation urn, or one casket and two cremation urns, or three cremation urns. Please note, extra-depth graves are not available at all of our cemeteries. For more information about options at a specific cemetery, please call the appropriate office. Phone numbers are listed in the Directory of Cemeteries on this web site. How many people can be buried in a cremation grave? A maximum of two cremation urns can be placed in a cremation grave. How many people can be placed in a mausoleum crypt? Between one and four, depending on the size of the crypt - they come in single, double and quadruple sizes. Cremation urns may also be placed in a crypt along with a casket. How many cremated remains can be entombed in a niche? A maximum of two urns, depending on the size of the urns. Some niches may only accommodate one urn. Cemetery personnel can explain the capacity of the various niches available. |