SACRED HEART OF JESUS – SPRING VALLEY PARISH
CEMETERY RULES AND REGULATIONS
SPRING VALLEY AND ELPASO CEMETERIES
November 17, 2020
Catholic cemeteries, like a church, are religious places and considered sacred providing a dignified burial place
for the faithfully departed. The services and facilities offered are in harmony with the teaching of the Church
and show a degree of care that reflects the spiritual values inherent in the tradition of the Catholic burial.
These rules and regulations are designed for the express purpose of governing the activities for the mutual
protection and benefit of lot holders and the parish cemeteries. They are established with certain restrictions to
ensure uniformity and control within the cemetery grounds, and to be in compliance with the rules and
regulations established by the Diocese of La Crosse for cemeteries, under the jurisdiction of the Bishop. These
rules and regulations are not intended to be all inclusive, but rather to define an orderly plan of operation, care,
and permanent maintenance. With this understanding, the cemetery lot holder is requested to abide by the
following rules and regulations.
General
1. All the interments and removals are subject to the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, the rules and
regulations of the Diocese of La Crosse, the State of Wisconsin, plus the rules and regulations of these
cemeteries. Religious ceremonies contrary to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church will not be
permitted within these cemeteries.
2. Only an authorized Roman Catholic cleric may officiate at the internment service (cremations included).
Any other person to officiate at an internment service must have the approval of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus Parish Pastor and/or Pastoral Council.
3. All burials must be arranged through the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Central Office.
Grave Lots
1. Cost per lot: Parishioners $600 and Non-Parishioners $900 One casket in an appropriate concrete vault
and one cremation in a durable urn (buried at the foot of the casket) are allowed on one lot. Two
cremations, again in durable urns, are allowed on one lot. A vault is not required for cremation burials.
All names of the deceased must be engraved on the monument, a marker or footstone.
2. Certificate of Burial: A Certificate of Burial will be issued to the individual/family that purchases a lot
by the Parish Cemetery Administrator. The owner of this 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 lot. 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 and/or Parish.
3. Transfer of Certificate: Only the Parish has the right to sell, buy, or transfer grave lots. Anyone wishing
to sell or give up their Certificate for a grave lot should contact the Parish Office. A refund for the
amount originally paid less the percentage invested (15%) in the perpetual care endowment fund will be
made. Upon death of the Certificate holder, the burial rights of the certificate pass to the heirs or next of
kin.
4. Endowment Fund: a percentage (15%) of the cost of lots (as required by State Law and Diocesan
policy) is invested into a Perpetual Care Endowment Fund to ensure future, long-term maintenance of
the cemetery. Interest income that is generated by the Fund may be used for future cemetery
maintenance with the principle remaining intact.
5. Perpetual Care: The remaining money from the sale of grave lots is referred to as Cemetery Funds and
is used for perpetual care of the cemetery which includes removing excess dirt, filling with top soil,
seeding of grass, mowing and trimming of grass and trimming of trees and shrubs on cemetery property
(but not individual graves). Cemetery Funds may also be used for operation and development of the
cemetery, and improvements such as fencing, roadways, buildings, trees, and shrubs. Care does not
include the care or maintenance of monuments or markers placed on the grave lot by the holder of the
burial rights.
Monuments
1. No monument or marker shall be placed at a grave lot until the burial rights costs have been fully paid
and a Certificate of Burial has been issued.
2. Discretion should be used as to the height of the monument and the width should not exceed the 4 foot
width of the lot(s).
3. Monuments are the responsibility of the owner/family. They are not included in Perpetual Care.
4. Monuments and markers shall be made of marble, granite, or bronze. The marker or monument width
shall not exceed the width of the grave lot, and the height shall not exceed 8 feet.
5. All monuments shall be constructed on a concrete foundation, provided by the monument company at
the expense of the grave lot owner.
6. All Monuments must show a degree of care that reflects the spiritual values inherent in the tradition of
the Catholic faith.
7. No Hand Made or Home Made monuments will be allowed.
8. All gravesites require a cemetery marker within one year of burial.
Grave Openings
1. Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish does not offer grave opening services for traditional burial. The director of
the funeral services, selected on behalf of the families and/or friends of the deceased, will coordinate the
grave openings with the cemetery’s approved Grave Contractor. Sacred Heart Parish accepts no liability
for damages to property or personal injuries during the course of the grave opening; nor does it accept
any responsibility for the quality of services or workmanship provided.
2. Cremation urn grave openings must be performed by Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Personnel or the
cemetery’s approved Grave Contractor in compliance with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish grave
opening policy. Note: cremation urn grave opening by Parish personnel is not available when the ground
is frozen. Under no circumstances are grave openings to be performed by anyone other than the
approved Grave Contractor or the designated Parish Personnel. There is a $200 grave opening fee for
cremations.
Decorations
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemeteries in Spring Valley and El Paso have been blessed and are considered
Sacred Places as Catholic Cemeteries. All ornamentation on monuments and markers must be in observance
with the sacred character of the cemetery, in accordance with Christian dignity, and in good taste, as determined
by Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish and the Diocese of La Crosse.
In order to secure the safety of visitors and staff, to prevent interference with routine maintenance and to
prevent equipment damage, visitors are asked to abide by the following regulations:
1. Please park in the street or on the pavement entrance road. Vehicles are not allowed on the cemetery
grass or grounds.
2. Monuments are the personal property and responsibility of the family. Care of the monuments is the
responsibility of the owner or family. It is not included in Perpetual Care.
3. Artificial flowers, ornaments, and statues must be securely attached to the monument: in holders that
clip onto the top of the monument, in urns located at the sides of the monument or in holes in the
monument base. Flower may not be stuck into the ground. A six (6) inch unobstructed area around the
monument base is required.
4. Potted plants and cut flowers are allowed, but must be in an approved vase or urn.
5. Shepard’s hooks are permitted but must be in line with the monuments and headstone markers.
6. Wreaths, attached to the monument are permitted during the Christmas season and should be removed
no later than January 31.
7. The following items are not permitted and will be removed and discarded: trees, shrubs, planted flowers,
glass, pottery, metal or wooden items, wire tripods, bird feeders, lawn ornaments, stones, wood chips,
vigil lights, fences, hedges, curbing, free-standing benches and chairs, and enclosures.
8. Please do not discard decorations, flowers, or other items on cemetery property.
9. The VFW will assign an individual to display Veteran Flags in compliance with US Flag etiquette.
Flags should be removed one week after Independence Day and Veteran’s Day.
10. Other Decorations and objects not specifically stated above are not permitted.
11. Objects in violation of the Cemetery rules will be removed without notice.
12. Objects and decorations that, in the judgement of the cemetery caretakers are not in good condition will
be removed. The Cemetery reserves the right to remove all flowers, wreaths or other decorations from
lots as soon as they become unsightly.
13. Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is not responsible for loss of or damage of any item placed on any grave
lot.
Cemetery Clean-up
The grounds will be cleared of decorations twice a year.
1. Spring clean-up by cemetery patrons is scheduled for April 1-15. Cemetery staff will remove any
remaining decorations after April 15. New decorations may be placed after May 1st.
2. Fall clean-up by cemetery patrons is scheduled for October 1-15. Cemetery staff will remove any
remaining decorations after October 15. New decorations may be placed after November 1st.
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 pricing and rules will be subject to
annual review by the Cemetery Committee and the Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils.
Acknowledgement
I have received a copy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – Spring Valley Parish Cemetery Rules and Regulations for
the Spring Valley and El Paso Cemeteries. It has been explained to me, I understand it and accept it as a term
of purchase.
Signed________________________________________ Date____________________
Revised 11-17-2020