Established 1853 in Mystic, CT
197 Greenmanville Ave MYSTIC, CT
(860) 536-7834 CALL US
Established 1853 in Mystic, CT
The Superintendent reserves the right to remove and restrict the placement of any and all decorations and remembrances in accordance with these rules. There shall be no decoration, adornment, monumnet use, inscriptions or plantings except as expressly permitted under these rules.
During the period from April 1st thru November 1st, ONE POTTED PLANT AND ONE SUITABLE CONTAINER OF CUT FLOWERS IS PERMITTED TO BE PLACED ON, OR NEAR, AN OCCUPIED GRAVE. Only clay or durable plastic containers not exceeding 12 inches in diameter and height are allowed for potted plants. Potted plants and other containers of cut flowers dug into the turf will be removed immediately. Staking or securing decorations to the ground is prohibited. Potted plants and cut flowers are permitted as long as they are attractive, after which they will be removed and disposed of.
During the period of November 1 st thru April 1st , one grave blanket, wreath, rustic basket, or cemetery log of greens is allowed on, or near, an occupied grave. One pot of artificial flowers not exceeding 12 inches in diameter and height is permitted during this time. Placement of artificial flowers directly into the ground is prohibited. If you wish to save winter decorations please remove them by March 31st.
For the safety of the public and the Elm Grove Cemetery staff, certain decorations are not allowed. PROHIBITED ITEMS: fencing, concrete borders, stone or concrete blocks, glass containers, toys, ornaments, statues, metal urns, votive lights, cardboard or plastic cartons, figurines, alcoholic beverage containers, sports items, shephard's hooks, birdfeeders, birdbaths, stones, wind chimes, plant hangers, ribbons, bows, pictures, ceramic signs, water cans, fragmental material, and bric-a-brac of any description. Prohibited items will be removed and discarded without notice. Furthermore, said property will be disposed of without incurring any liability.
The American flag and service flags are permitted. One American flag is allowed on a United States veteran's grave. Elm Grove Cemetery is not responsible for the condition of the flags or flag holders. Should the flags become worn or unsightly they are removed and destroyed via a flag burning ceremony. The Boy Scouts of America places new flags on the graves before Memorial Day. Elm Grove Cemetery has a limited number of American Flags should a veterans grave need one. Elm Grove Cemetery does not supply flag holders.
The cemetery undertakes to maintain, as nearly as practical, the planting of trees and shrubbery to preserve the landscape feature, but does not maintain individual plantings on individual lots without charging for such service.
OWNERS, OR HEIRS, OF LOTS MAY PLANT, SUBJECT TO WRITTEN OR VERBAL APPROVAL OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, SHRUBS, PLANTS AND FLOWER BEDS. Elm Grove Cemetery encourages plantings of annuals and perennials at the base of a monument so long as they are maintained. Maintenance of plantings is the lot owner's responsibility. Plantings should be no more than 8” in front of, or in back, of the monument. Small shrubs must be planted on the sides of the monument and are not to exceed the lot property boundary.
If any plantings are neglected, unsightly, overgrown, or if the planting is not done according to specifications or without approval, the plants will be removed without notice at the discretion of the Superintendent. The cost of lot restoration will be charged to the lot owner, or heirs. at existing rates. The management reserves the right to remove any planting, shrubbery, flowers, objects, or decorations on any of the lots to secure access to and from any interment site. The Superintendent may refuse the privilege of planting on any lot.
The use of any product to enclose shrubbery or flower beds is not permitted. Stone chips are not permitted. The use of natural mulches such as pine, cedar, and hemlock is permitted.
Spreading fertilizer or other such materials on the lots is not allowed. Use of herbicides or any other chemicals to control growth is prohibited.
The cutting of turf or any "edging" will not be allowed under any circumstances by persons not employed by Elm Grove Cemetery.
Elm Grove Cemetery is not responsible for any plantings damaged by the elements, vandals, thieves, or by other causes beyond its control. The management shall have authority to remove all floral designs, flowers, weeds, trees, shrubs, and plantings should they become unsightly, diseased, dangerous, or when they do not conform to the standard maintained.
Elm Grove Cemetery will remove all funeral floral arrangements within one week following a service.
An owner of record, spouse of an owner of record, executor or representative of a person’s estate or funeral director may request that an owner of record or the spouse of an owner of record be interred in a lot. If the owner of record or the spouse of the owner of record makes the request, no further information is required. If the executor or representative or funeral director makes the request, such person shall state that the descendent is either the owner of record or shall present proof that the descendent is a descendant of the owner of record or the spouse of such a descendant.
Only human remains may be interred in Elm Grove Cemetery. All caskets, (excluding infants), must be enclosed in a concrete vault or other cemetery approved container for each burial.
When a grave is to be opened, a permit issued by the Registrar of Vital Statistics must, in conformity to the law, be furnished to the Superintendent by the funeral director, who will then issue an order to open the grave provided that payment of interment expenses and any arrears for purchase or care or work done on the lot has been made. No grave will be ordered open or interment made on a Sunday unless required for public health reasons.
The right is reserved by Elm Grove Cemetery to insist on at least twenty-four hours notice prior to any interment. Notice of Saturday interment MUST be received no later than 4:00p.m. on the previous Thursday. Grave openings for Monday morning services MUST be scheduled by 12:00p.m. the previous Friday.
Interments or disinterments will be made upon verbal or written orders only by regular employees of the Elm Grove Cemetery Association who are subject to the control of the Superintendent.
After entering the cemetery, a funeral procession is under the absolute control of the Superintendent or his assistants.
Any funeral on the grounds must leave the burial area no later than 3:00p.m. on weekdays or 2:00p.m. on Saturday. If a funeral arrives too late to comply with the above stated times, additional hourly overtime charges will be applied or at the discretion of the Superintendent, the remains may be placed in a holding area for burial at the convenience of the management.
LOT OWNERS, THEIR HEIRS OR AUTHORIZED AGENTS SHOULD GIVE PERSONAL ATTENTION TO DESIGNATING GRAVE LOCATIONS WITHIN EACH BURIAL LOT. Locations given over the telephone should be confirmed in writing prior to interment; otherwise locations will be made at the lot owners’ risk. Elm Grove Cemetery management will not assume responsibility for errors in location.
Funeral floral arrangements will be removed from the graves within one week of interment.
Elm Grove Cemetery Association reserves and shall have, the right to correct any errors that may be made by either in making interments, disinterments , or in the description, transfer or conveyance of any interment property either by cancelling such conveyance and substituting and conveying in lieu thereof other interment property of equal value and similarity, as far as possible, or as may be selected by the Association, or, in the sole discretion of the Association, by refunding the amount of money paid on account of such purchase. In the event such error shall involve the interment of the remains of any person in such property, the Association reserves and shall have the right to remove or transfer such remains so interred to such property of equal value and similar location as may be substituted and conveyed in lieu thereof.
When an interment is to be made, the location of such interment shall be designated by the lot owner, legal representative, or funeral director. The Superintendent may rely on the choice of any of the foregoing persons. Should the lot owner, his or her legal representative of funeral director fail or neglect to make such designation, Elm Grove Cemetery reserves the right to use its own judgment. When instructions regarding the location of an interment space in a lot cannot be obtained, or are indefinite, or when for any reason the interment space cannot be opened where specified, the Superintendent may, at his discretion, open it in such a location in the lot as he deems best and proper, so as not to delay the funeral; and the Elm Grove Cemetery Association will not be liable for damages for any change made.
Elm Grove Cemetery will not be responsible for any order given by telephone, or for any mistake occurring from the want of precise and proper instructions as to the particular space, size of grave, or location in a lot where interment is desired. If remains must be removed to a new location, through no fault of Elm Grove Cemetery, disinterment and interment charges will be applied.
Elm Grove Cemetery Association is in no way liable for any delay in the interment of a body where a protest to the interment has been made. Elm Grove Cemetery Association shall be under no duty to recognize any protests of interment unless they are in writing, and filed in the Superintendents office. Such protests can only be made by the lot owner or the nearest descendent.
All charges for interment and disinterment services shall be paid in advance to the Superintendent or his assistant. Payment must take place no later than directly after the funeral service unless otherwise arranged and approved by the Superintendent. A receipt will be issued if requested.
All tents must be erected by Elm Grove Cemetery personnel or a cemetery-approved vault company. Use of a sheltering tent may be denied when, in the judgment of the Superintendent, or his assistant, that to erect one would be hazardous or dangerous.
Elm Grove Cemetery requires all casket interments to be made with the use of a concrete burial vault. Elm Grove Cemetery provides standard burial vaults to lot owners for a fee, or one may be purchased through the families’ funeral professional. All vaults must be made of concrete. Vaults made of steel, fiberglass, wood, or other material, are not permitted.
In order for any disinterment to take place, an agreement must be signed by the lot owner or lot owners’ spouse. When such agreement is filed with the Elm Grove Cemetery office, and the cost of removal is paid, a permit from the health department must be obtained, then presented to the Superintendent, at which time arrangements may be completed for the removal.
When a body is to be interred in, or removed from Elm Grove Cemetery, Connecticut law requires that a permit be secured from the Health Department before any interment or disinterment can be made.
Unless an agreement in writing is filed with Elm Grove Cemetery Association, no disinterment will be made, for an autopsy or any other purpose, unless the cemetery is directed to do so by a Court Order.
Elm Grove Cemetery Association will exercise the utmost care in making a removal, but the Association assumes no liability for damage to any casket, burial vault, or urn in making the removal.
When, in the opinion of the Superintendent, a new container, or portion thereof is needed for removal, it must be provided by the person arranging for the removal.
Removal by heirs of a body or cremated remains so that the lot may be sold for profit to themselves or removal contrary to the expressed or implied wish of the original lot owner is absolutely forbidden. Speculation in the sale of lots, used or unused, is prohibited.
Elm Grove Cemetery reserves the right to refuse interment in any lot, and refuse to open any burial space in any lot, except on written application by the lot owner of record, or his/her successor or successors' in burial rights.
If any difficulties arise in excavating a grave, such as frost, rock formations, ground conditions, or equipment breakdown, which prevent the burial at the proper time, the funeral service may be delayed. The body, at the discretion of the Superintendent, may be placed in a holding area or be sent back to the funeral home until the excavation has been completed.
The Superintendent reserves the right to delay or postpone any interment or disinterment when hazardous weather conditions are anticipated.
FAMILY OWNED MEMORIALS ARE PRIVATE PROPERTY.
Elm Grove Cemetery does not routinely clean or repair damaged monuments, markers, or any other privately owned cemetery structures. Work such as setting, leveling, grading, cleaning, and other general repairs are not included in any perpetual care arrangements or agreements.