Frequently Asked Questions

For a Catholic, burial in a Catholic cemetery is a final act of faith, to one's belief in the resurrection of the body and everlasting life. The Catholic cemetery is a sacred place set aside by the Church for the burial of the faithful. The bodies of those buried there rest under the watchful eye of the local Bishop until the last day. The Catholic cemetery is an extension of the parish community where those who have worshipped together in life now rest together in peace, awaiting Christ's return in glory. Though the character and charism of a Catholic cemetery is different from that of commercial and municipal cemeteries, Catholics buried in non-Catholic cemeteries lie in ground, crypt or niche that was made sacred during the Rite of Committal.
Our Catholic Cemeteries welcome all those who have been baptized into the Roman Catholic Church, also in those Rites which are in communion with the Pope, and non-Catholic family members.
At this time, only one full body may be interred in one grave in the Catholic Cemeteries of Central Florida. Contact cemetery management to learn about burying cremated remains in an urn vault in a grave with an interred full body. One columbarium niche may hold one or more urns of cremated remains depending upon its size and the cemetery’s rules.
The passing of control of Interment Rights may be described in the contract purchasing Interment Rights. If the party(ies) so named are not alive, then control to a “legally authorized person”, as defined by Florida Statute, devolves first to a surviving spouse, then to son(s) and/or daughter(s) of 18 years of age or older, to a parent(s), to a brother(s) and/or sister(s) who are 18 years of age or older, to a grandchild(ren) who are 18 years of age or older, to a grandparent(s), or to any person(s) in the next degree of kinship or, in the absence of any family, to the guardian of the original owner.
When you plan ahead, you are able to consider the many options available. You have the opportunity to make an informed decision about your funeral and cemetery arrangements, and the form of memorial you prefer. You are able to make choices that are meaningful to both you and your family, and you gain peace of mind knowing your family and friends will be relieved of the emotional and financial burden often associated with making arrangements when a death occurs. By prearranging your funeral and cemetery services, you benefit by buying at today’s prices and are free from price changes in the future.
More than 75% of all burial graves, and niches are purchased ahead of time. Planning your cemetery arrangements ahead of time is a loving, compassionate, and financially advantageous step for yourself and your family. This also ensures your wishes are easy to carry out for those you leave behind.
Contact your pastor to connect with the parish bereavement team and to begin planning the Funeral Rites. If you are not registered with a parish, you may contact the pastor of the nearest Catholic church. Next, contact a funeral home to arrange for burial or cremation services. Please let the funeral director know you wish to plan for a Catholic funeral. Contact the cemetery from whom you’ve purchased Interment Rights or the most convenient Catholic cemetery.
For information about Catholic Funeral Rites follow this LINK
Contact cemetery management prior to engaging the services of a licensed, professional monument establishment for their specific guidelines. The final purchaser-approved monument design and materials should be presented to the cemetery’s management for comment and approval prior to it being fabricated.
A lawn vault is a full body outer burial chamber installed by the cemetery before it is purchased. It is typical to install a large quantity of lawn vaults at the same time in a prescribed area.
Burial of a full body requires a casket in which the body is placed and an outer burial chamber or burial vault. The burial vault is required to maintain long term stability of the ground over and around the grave. The body of the deceased may be embalmed to slow its deterioration prior to burial. Refrigeration of the body may be a substitute for embalming. These matters should be discussed with a licensed funeral director.
A crypt is an above ground, dry concrete vault for the interment of a full body and typically includes a casing of marble or granite which serves as the memorial to the deceased. At this time, Catholic Cemeteries of Central Florida does not offer this mode of interment.
Catholics acknowledge the body which has been washed in the waters of baptism and has been the vessel of the Holy Spirit is to be treated with great respect, and thereby prefers the full body to be presented for burial. Since the 1960s the Catholic Church has recognized cremation of the body may be chosen and desired under various circumstances. Cremated remains are always to be treated with the same respect and care that is given to a full body. Follow this LINK for additional information on Catholic cremation.
After paying the required down payment, the cemetery may offer a payment plan of monthly installments over a limited number of months. Payment in full is required before exercising/using any Interment Right.
When you purchase Interment Rights in a grave or niche, you are purchasing the perpetual right to use the grave or niche, not an ownership of the grave or niche. The grave or niche remains the property and responsibility of the cemetery. Your contract documents are your proof of the Rights you hold.
A portion of the purchase price of the Interment Right is contributed to an endowment care fund, it is not a separate or additional cost to you. Income from that fund is used to provide regular care and maintenance at the cemetery for the time when the cemetery no longer sells Interment Rights. Regular care and maintenance can include cutting grass, re-grading of graves, planting and caring for trees, and maintaining water supply systems, roads, drainage, etc.
Yes. Many couples have different preferences regarding final arrangements, just as they may about other choices in life. Placing cremated remains and a full body burial in the same grave is known as Second Right of Interment; which means each burial is an independent Right of Interment, yet in the same space. Discuss these choices with cemetery management.
Cemeteries are required to keep accurate records describing the ownership of Interment Rights, or the right to use a burial space. These include numbering systems that ensure no space is assigned to more than one owner, except as specified by the purchaser.
A columbarium is a structure or a building or an area in a structure or building that contains niches for the inurnment of cremated remains. A columbarium niche is an enclosed space for the placement of vessels containing cremated remains.