Decoration Guidelines

Our Catholic Cemeteries are adorned with symbols of faith, reflecting our heritage and the promise of eternal life. Sacred art honours the departed and provides solace to visitors. We encourage families to express their faith and memories through photos, emblems, and inscriptions. This brochure guides those who wish to pay respects at the cemetery, ensuring understanding of the By-Laws and respect for the deceased.

Mausoleum and Columbarium

Artificial flowers and a rosary may be placed in the vase units on crypt and niche fronts. In order to maintain a consistent appearance flower arrangements that are unsightly or encroach on adjoining crypts or niches will be removed.

Some examples of items not to be placed on crypt or niche fronts include unauthorized pictures, fresh flowers, cards, balloons, toys, ornaments and the like. This will help to ensure the crypt front does not become cluttered and prevent loss or damage of sentimental or precious items.

For fire safety and vandalism reasons, only crypt lights or assigned memorial light units provided by the cemetery are permitted within the mausoleums. Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services regrets that we cannot be responsible for loss or damage to flowers or other articles being left at the mausoleums.

Flat Marker Graves

A bouquet of fresh or artificial flowers is permitted in a vase that is attached to the marker from April 1 to October 31.

If the marker does not contain a vase, a plastic cone shaped vase with a spike, having a maximum width of 4 1/4 inches and a height of 9 inches may be used. The cemetery reserves the right to invert bronze vases down into the marker and remove all other vases and flowers left after November 1 each year in order to prepare for the winter season.

Wreaths on wreath stands are permitted on graves from November 1 until March 31, after that date they will be disposed of by cemetery staff. A sample of an appropriate wreath stand is available for inspection at the cemetery office. In order to allow for cemetery machinery to be used within the cemetery sections, flower beds, planted borders, fencing, or the placing of any type of curbing around graves is not permitted. For the sake of a consistent appearance, the cemetery reserves the right to regulate the method of decoration.

Some examples of items not to be placed on graves are toys, ornaments, glass, porcelain or ceramic items, wood and metal cases and the like. Due to possible problems with vandalism, fire damage and the danger of broken glass, no unattended candles, lanterns, or lights are permitted to be left on graves. The aforementioned items should not be placed on graves and will be removed by cemetery staff. Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services is not responsible for any articles removed from a grave.

Monument Lots

Flower beds are permitted from April 1 to October 31 but are restricted to annuals and are limited to the area immediately in front of the monument and no more than 1 foot out from the base of the monument. Planting of perennials, trees and shrubs is not permitted.

Flower beds must be maintained by the Interment Rights Holder or legal representative of the lot. Any flower bed not being maintained will be removed by the cemetery staff without notice and sodded over.

Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services does not allow any floral container, vase or vigil lamp to be glued, bolted or fastened to the monument. For the sake of a consistent appearance the cemetery reserves the right to regulate the method of decoration. Some examples of items not to be placed on monument lots are toys, ornaments, glass, ceramic or porcelain, wood and metal cases and the like. These items should not be placed on monument lots and will be removed by cemetery staff.  Due to possible problems with vandalism, fire damage and the danger of broken glass, no unattended candles, lanterns or lights are permitted to be left on monument lots. In order to allow for cemetery machinery to be used within the cemetery sections, planted borders, fencing, or the placing of any type of curbing around monument lots is not permitted.

Wreaths on wreath stands are permitted on lots from November 1 until March 31, after that date they will be disposed of by cemetery staff. Wreath saddles are permitted atop upright monuments year-round. Wreath saddles are not permitted on shared monuments. The cemetery staff will remove any wreath saddles that become deteriorated or dirty. Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services is not responsible for any articles removed from a monument lot. For any questions regarding this information or cemetery by-laws, please contact the cemetery office.

You can also download our decorating guidelines brochure (PDF).