As Caretaker of a 17 acre Perpetual Care Cemetery, which is rich in history and beauty, I refer to Findagrave often to assist visitors locate graves. As my time allows, I edit and update memorials, and add photos as a means of helping others "find a grave". My focus is memorial page accuracy and gravesite location.

The joy I see, and also share in, by assisting visitors locate graves is a blessing. Findagrave helps me serve my purpose, my calling, and in turn serve God and others.

☆☆ Just a few, among many, cemetery and gravesite observations during my years of caretaking for a Perpetual Care Cemetery ☆☆

*Findagrave Contributors who create memorial pages based solely on online obituaries cause much confusion for those attempting to locate graves if specific burial/cremation and cemetery information is not stated explicitly the obituary.

*Planting trees or shrubs on gravesites is usually not allowed for very good reason. Growing and spreading roots will shift gravestones and eventually cause upright headstones to fall over.

*Cemetery Associations, despite regulations, are not always notified when families have privately inurned or scattered cremains (ashes) on cemetery grounds. Therefore, the Association may not have record of the deceased person or the location of their cremains within the cemetery. There are guidelines to the inurnment (burial) of cremains (depth requirements, etc),as well as gate fees, so it is very important to contact the superintendent prior to the inurnment of cremains.

*If you have difficulty finding a gravesite keep in mind many gravesites are unmarked. These may be very difficult or impossible to find. Cemetery Associations may not always have all of the burial records but try contacting the Association or ask a Caretaker for assistance. Also, inaccuracies made by some Findagrave contributors, obituaries, and censuses are very common.

*During extreme drought conditions the grass/ground above burial vaults tend to become exceptionally dry and brown. Unmarked gravesites become more noticeable and an ideal time to locate these graves.

*Black Headstones show all dirt, grass clippings, etc. Very difficult to keep a clean appearance. Not recommended.

*Home crafted grave markers are usually not allowed by Cemetery Associations. These frequently do not stand the test of time. Eventually these gravesites become unsightly and unmarked.

*As stated above, many old and recent graves remain unmarked in Perpetual Care Cemeteries, despite regulations requiring approved headstones. The temporary metal markers placed by funeral homes at time of burial become illegible, damaged, and lost. Investment in a proper granite headstone is highly recommended and often required.

*Headstones which have fallen over or settled deeply into the ground over time are the responsibility of family members to repair and reset. Death date inscriptions (on headstones which were set prior to death) are occasionally missing if the family did not have inscription done after burial. Also, if the death date inscription is missing it may be that the person was not buried at the gravesite but at another cemetery. This often occurs when there has been many years between the deaths of spouses. (remarriage, divorce, relocation, etc).

*Headstone vases collect rain water which cause artificial flowers float out. Secure flowers in place. Many of these headstone vases break over time. WASPS will make nests in vases/flowers and fire ants will mount in and around vases. If allowed, PVC pipe in the ground actually works better to hold artificial flowers in place.

*Less is more. One floral arrangement per grave is the customary regulation at most cemeteries. Adornments are vulnerable to damage caused by lawnmowers, tractors, grave digging equipment, monument/headstone installation equipment, vandalism, trimmers, blowers, wind, rain, heat, ant mounding, animals etc. Food items placed at headstones attract more ants and animals. Gravesites become unsightly and difficult to maintain when excessively decorated. Flags on wooden sticks are eventually blown loose or broken, and lie on the ground. Glass vases break and shatter. Trinkets, decorative items, rocks, vase stones become projectiles when trimming and mowing near headstones which is also a safety issue for Caretakers and visitors.

*WIND is a major cause of artificial floral arrangements including HEADSTONE SADDLES and various adornments to become displaced and missing. Please consider this before assuming items are missing due to theft or removal by cemetery Caretakers.

*Feuding family members have also been known to remove decorations from gravesites that other family members have left.

*Tying wire around branches to hang chimes and ornaments girdles the branches as the tree continues to grow around the wire. This damages the tree and is impossible to remove wire.

*Bordering gravesites with bricks, plastic or metal decorative borders, rocks, or fencing is not allowed in most cemeteries, Perpetual Care or privately owned. This makes maintaince EXTREMELY difficult, time consuming, and most often the gravesites become unkept and unattractive. It also affects the appearance and level of care of the surrounding gravesites.

** Please respect regulations set by Perpetual Care Cemetery Associations which are meant to enhance natural beauty, and promote reverence. (Sadly,

we often see visitors disrespectfully drive their cars off the roadways and onto the grounds to park close to family gravesites. This causes damage to headstones, and leaves tracks and ruts in the grass. Also, there are many unmarked graves which they may be driving over. Why such liberties are taken in Perpetual Care Cemeteries, where funds are limited for repairs is hard to understand).

♡THE MOST MEANINGFUL AND ENDURING OFFERING FOR DEPARTED SOULS IS PRAYER.♡