Frequently asked questions
Please find below the answers to many frequently asked questions at St. John’s Cemetery.
For further information or clarification about these questions and answers, or any other questions, please contact us by telephone at 902-832-5649 or submit your question at cemetery@stjohnshalifax.ca.
FAQs
- When selecting a cemetery, what should I look for?
- Who can be buried in the cemetery?
- How do I make pre-arrangements?
- Why should I pre-arrange my cemetery needs?
- When I purchase a grave lot am I purchasing the property?
- What is a columbarium?
- How much does a burial lot cost?
- Can I sell my burial plot?
- What is a perpetual care fee?
- My spouse or partner wishes to be buried traditionally in a casket while I’ve decided on cremation. What can we do?
- Will the cemetery always look as good as it does today?
- Do you have any burial lots available?
- Do you have any columbarium niches available?
- Our family has a burial lot and several relatives are buried there. Can I or another relative be buried in that lot?
- Can we use a casket or urn vault?
- Can we plant a tree, bush, or flowers on our family grave?
- Can I put any grave marker or headstone on my family grave?
- Once a grave marker or headstone is placed on the burial lot, who takes responsibility for it?
- We own a family burial plot and we will not use all of the spaces. Can we return the unused lot(s)?
- Do we have to put cremation remains (ashes) in an urn?
- Can we put anything in the columbarium niche with our loved one’s cremated remains?
1. When selecting a cemetery, what should I look for?
Most importantly, select a cemetery with well-maintained property, and a friendly, compassionate and knowledgeable staff. At St. John’s Cemetery, we take great pride in our grounds and you'll find the qualities you're looking for in every member of our staff. We will be happy to discuss our wide range of affordable options at a time convenient to you.
Top
2. Who can be buried in the cemetery?
People of all faiths, denominations, creeds, or ethnicities, who are the registered owner of burial rights to a plot or a person who has the expressed permission of the burial rights owner, can be buried in St. John’s Cemetery.
Top
3. How do I make pre-arrangements?
To make your personalized arrangements, call us at 902-832-5649 or contact us via e-mail at cemetery@stjohnshalifax.ca so that we can set up a convenient time to explain the various options available and take you for a personal tour.
Top
4. Why should I pre-arrange my cemetery needs?
By pre-arranging your burial, your wishes are made clear. Advance planning is the best way to avoid heavier financial burdens in the future. Decisions are made apart from the emotions and stress of a death. We will assist you and respect your preferences - personal, family, emotional, financial, and spiritual. We will make a full, unhurried, in-depth disclosure of all costs, so you can make prudent and informed choices in an atmosphere free from the grief that accompanies a death.
Top
5. When I purchase a burial lot am I purchasing the property?
No. When you purchase a burial lot you are actually purchasing the right to bury remains in a burial lot; the legal title to the property remains in the name of the owning parish.
Top
6. What is a columbarium?
A columbarium is a structure specifically designed and constructed to hold urns containing cremated remains in numerous small compartments or niches. Our columbarium has its niches lining the interior wall of a self-contained building, so they are not exposed to the elements of weather.
Top
7. How much does a burial lot cost?
Within our cemetery, burial lot prices vary by size and intended use - full body (traditional casket) or cremated remains. Please click here to view our current price list.
Top
8. Can I sell my burial lot?
No. St. John’s Cemetery does not recognize the sale of burial right conveyances between private parties. However, burial right conveyances may be transferred to another person, an heir or assign, by submitting a notarized notification of such to our office - an administratiion fee may be levied to record such a assignment in our rfile. St. John’s Cemetery also may purchase back burial right conveyances for vacant burial lots at a percentage of the original owner’s purchase price less an administrative fee.
Top
9. What is a perpetual care fee?
A perpetual care fee is a separate fee levied at the time of the purchase of a burial lot conveyance and is deposited to a perpetual care trust fund. Income from this perpetual care trust fund is used to provide regular care and maintenance of our cemetery. Regular care and maintenance activities may include cutting grass, re-grading of graves, planting and caring for trees, maintaining roads, drainage, etc. all performed at the discretion of the Parish.
Top
10. My spouse or partner wishes to be buried traditionally in a casket while I’ve decided on cremation. What can we do?
At St. John’s Cemetery, in a single full body lot, the casket burial would have to occur first and then the cremation urn burial at a later date. Otherwise, one would have to purchase a double full body lot so to be able to bury the cremation urn first in one lot and then the full body burial later in the second lot.
Top
11. Will the cemetery always look as good as it does today?
Yes. Since 1839, St. John’s Cemetery has taken great pride in its well-maintained cemetery. A perpetual care fee is levied at the time of the purchase of a burial lot or columbarium niche and is deposited in a perpetual care trust fund for care and maintenance of the property and buildings guaranteeing no further regular maintenance costs to the family. Independent trustees invest the perpetual care trust fund in accordance with diocesan canonical law.
Top
12. Do you have any burial lots available?
Yes, we have burial lots available of varying types. Please contact us for further information.
Top
13. Do you have any columbarium niches available?
Yes, we have niches available. Please contact us for further information.
Top
14. Our family has a burial lot and several relatives are buried there. Can I or another relative be buried in that lot?
There must be available space, which will be determined by our cemetery staff, for the type (full body or cremation) of burial you are seeking. The person seeking such a burial also must be a lawful heir or assign to the burial rights conveyee of that burial lot. The person seeking such a burial will be required to show proof of succession in the form of a legal instrument and may be required to provide a notarized affidavit from all the lawful heirs and assigns giving permission for such a burial in any available space within the burial lot. Please contact us to discuss a specific case.
Top
15. Can we use a casket or urn vault?
No, for space, environmental, and other reasons, we do not permit the use of casket or urn vaults within our cemetery.
Top
16. Can we plant a tree, bush, or flowers on our family grave?
Trees and bushes are not permitted to be planted other than those planted by the owning Parish. Flowers may be permitted in certain areas and cases. If permitted, their care is your responsibility. Please discuss your wish with our cemetery staff.
Top
17. Can I put any grave marker on my family grave?
No, there are restrictions with regards to size and style. Most standard markers available commercially will be permitted. In any case, please discuss your wishes with our cemetery staff.
Top
18. Once a grave marker is placed on the burial lot, who takes responsibility for it?
Grave markers are always the responsibility of the burial rights owner or their heirs or assigns. All cleaning, straightening, and repairs of damage to grave markers are the responsibility of the family and our cemetery does not and will not assume any costs or liability related to grave markers regardless of the cause.
Top
19. We own a family burial plot and we will not use all of the spaces. Can we return the unused lot(s)?
Normally, yes, we may offer a refund for unused burial lot(s) if the lot is not sandwiched between the remains of two family members with a marker spanning the plot. The amount of refund will be based on a percentage of the original price paid for the burial lot less a prescribed administration fee. You may not sell your burial rights conveyance to any individual or entity.
Top
20. Do we have to put cremation remains (ashes) in an urn?
No. You may use any container that will not cause harm to the cemetery ground or columbarium structure and finishes.
Top
21. Can we put anything in the columbarium niche with our loved one’s cremated remains?
No, we do not permit anything of an unstable nature (i.e. real flowers, fruit, gels, liquids) to be left in the niches as they may cause damage to the wood and finishes. However, you may put just about any memento (trinket, jewelry, picture) that is stable in nature in with your loved one’s cremated remains.
Top
