Cemeteries

St. Francis is proud to honor the faithfully departed by caring for our two Licking County Catholic cemeteries: Mt. Calvary on 13 South and St. Joseph on 13 North.

See below for more information on general regulations and allowed decorations. If you have questions or would like to inquire about purchasing a gravesite, please contact Director of Cemeteries, Bill McWilliams by email or at 740-345-9874, ext. 224.

Rules and Regulations

Thank you for observing these rules and regulations to keep our Catholic Cemeteries a proper and sacred place for the burial of our departed brothers and sisters. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding rules for your burial space.

 MONUMENTS

• Materials: Only standard certified granite shall be used for monuments.
• Location: Monuments are permitted on lots of three graves or more.
• Size: Three-grave lots may have a monument base of up to 66” x 14” Four-grave lots may be no larger than 84” x 30”; on larger “feature” lots, monument regulations in accordance with the size and location of the lot will be written in the deed. 
• Symbols: Must be Christian or neutral (ivy, lily, wreaths, etc.) in character. The use of porcelain medallions or photographs is not permitted. However, an image/headshot of the deceased etched into the monument is allowed.
• Lettering: Text should be indented and not raised above the surfaces. We disclaim responsibility for any injury or damage if raised letters or ornaments are used.
• Special Approval: Unusual monuments involving statuary, figures in relief, lodge symbols, statues, etc. are subject to standards contained in the Rules and Regulations and must be submitted to the Cemetery Board for approval prior to purchase and installation.

 GRAVE MARKERS

• Materials: Grave markers may be of granite or bronze. 
• Location: Each grave may have a marker placed at the foot of the grave, flush with the ground. 
• All markers on a lot must be uniform in size and material, and, if granite, should conform to the color and texture of the monument. 
• Size: All markers should be two 24” x 12”. An exception is made when husband and wife are interred on a two-grave lot. In such cases a double marker not to exceed 48” x 12” is permitted.
• Lettering: Text should be indented and not raised above the surfaces. We disclaim responsibility for any injury or damage if raised letters or ornaments are used.

 DECORATIONS

• Natural & Manmade Ornaments: Except as otherwise provided elsewhere in these regulations, no other items shall be permitted. Such items left at the grave site shall be disposed of by the caretaker. Unauthorized items included, but are not limited to benches, wood mulch, stone chips, marble chips, votive lights, balloons, metal ornaments, glass, plastic, concrete, vigil or solar lights, candles, toys, shells, ceramics or pottery, bird houses/feeders, wind chimes, tree/shrub decorations, shepherd hooks, decorative flags, wood, or metal cases. If in doubt, please contact the Director of Cemeteries.
• Permitted on Monuments: For monument lots only, small statuary, and decorative items (excluding those mentioned above) are allowed only if set up on the base of the monument. No items are permitted on lawn level marker burial spaces from March 1 to November 1, in preparation of and during lawn mowing season.
• Votive Candles: Votives are permitted on upright monuments only.
• Flower Planting: Permitted on monument lots only within these parameters:

1. Flowers may be planted on the front side of the monument, the width of the face of the monument and may extend out no more than 12” inches. 
2. No flowers or shrubs may be extended along the sides or rear of the monument. The cemetery is not responsible for flowers planted or placed on the lot. 
3. Plants of any kind with thorns are not permitted. 
4. In cases where, in the judgment of the caretaker, neglected or overgrown flowers need to be trimmed/removed, the caretaker will proceed with the trimming/removal and bill the easement rights holder if necessary.
5. There is absolutely no planting on grave marker lots.

• Potted Plants: permitted only on certain days: Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, Cemetery Sunday/All Soul’s Day. Items will be removed on the Monday after the following weekend.
• Fresh Cut Flowers: Permanent flower vases are recommended for cut flowers and must be approved and installed by the Cemetery or an approved monument dealer. No more than one permanently placed vase shall be permitted at each burial space. Any other kind of container must be set on the grave, never buried in the ground.  Glass or ceramic containers are not permitted. 
• Artificial Flowers: Artificial bouquets, wreaths, blankets, etc. are permitted during the winter months, November 1 to March 1. Items left after March 1 will be disposed of by the caretaker.
• Flags: Flags are permitted on all graves for Memorial Day, July 4^th, and Veteran’s Day. Monuments that are equipped with a flag holder are permitted to fly flags year-round. Family and/or friends of the deceased are responsible for obtaining and maintaining these holders and flags. Please note standard flags are placed on graves of veterans prior to Memorial Day and removed afterwards by veteran organizations.

 In all matters not specifically covered by these rules and regulations the Cemetery Board reserves the right to use reasonable judgment to make decisions consistent with the welfare of all easement rights holders, and such determination shall be binding upon the holder and all parties concerned.