A Guide to Burial at Diocese of Tucson Catholic Cemeteries

 

Arranging an Interment At The Time of Need
Upon the demise of a loved one, the surviving spouse, or personal representative should contact a local funeral home to arrange for any desired services. While the surviving spouse or personal representative is at the funeral home, the funeral director should telephone the cemetery office to arrange for the interment service. Before scheduling the service, the cemetery staff will need to determine if there are pre-planning arrangements on file and if additional arrangements are needed before a service can take place.  If additional arrangements are required it will be necessary for the surviving spouse, or personal representative to come to the cemetery Family Service Center to complete arrangements.  Interment service arrangements must be completed a minimum of 24 hours prior to the burial.
Final arrangements generally take from one to two hours, during which time the location for burial is selected and verified with the surviving spouse or personal representative.  Memorialization may also be selected and finalized at this time.
For additional information relating to interment or for information regarding pre-planning, contact the cemetery Family Service Center at (520) 888-0860 or familyservice@dotcc.org.

Pre-Planning
DOTCC offers Pre-Planning Cemetery Arrangements for those who wish to take advantage of these services.  Some typical questions you may ask yourself are:

I’m in good health – why should I make plans for my death?
The death of someone you care for, coupled with wanting to make the right decision and a limited amount of time to attend to all the details, leaves many families simply feel feeling overwhelmed. There are so many decisions that need to be made often when a family is the least prepared. That is why it is important to give thought to what you would like in the event of your death and to prearrange your funeral or cremation service. Many people they have done everything they can to protect their family's future ... invested wisely... opened savings accounts ... acquired insurance on their life and home, but they haven't planned their funeral or cemetery arrangements. Prearranging your funeral and cemetery arrangements is a decision only you can make. But it is a decision that affects the people you love most.


Couldn’t my family just deal with it when it happens?
A funeral something that nobody likes to think about, no one likes to talk about and few people know what to do. By prearranging your funeral or cremation service and cemetery arrangements, you can take steps today to make it easier on those who will have to handle your affairs. Like any important decision, it is critical that you to become informed about your options and their various costs when you are in a rational state of mind. It enables you to be in control, research alternatives and to select funeral services that have meaning to you and your family.
When a funeral is not prearranged, someone who may not be aware of your wishes will have to make all of the decisions. Unfortunately, these decisions are often clouded by grief and other emotions. In many cases, prearranging can help to ensure that your wishes are respected. You can discuss what you would like in the event of your death with other family members. Involving those most affected by your death can bring peace of mind and relief to the individuals who will have to carry out your wishes. Prearranging relieves family members of the psychological burden and guesswork in trying to make decisions, if they do not know your wishes. More importantly, knowing your wishes and carrying them out can bring great comfort to surviving family members and friends.


Are there other advantages to pre-arranging my funeral and cemetery arrangements?
When you prearrange your funeral and cemetery arrangements, time is on your side. Would you like a traditional funeral or a simple less elaborate service? Do you want to be cremated or buried? Would you like the service in a funeral home or at a place of worship? Will it be a private service or open to all? What type of casket/container would you prefer? Would you like an open or closed casket? Will there be visitation for family and friends or a private family viewing? How much would you like to pay for your services? Would you like ground burial or mausoleum entombment? What type of permanent memorial would you prefer? These are personal decisions, which only you can decide. What is important is that the funeral and cemetery arrangements are personalized to reflect your wishes and bring comfort to your family and friends. Like any event, such as a wedding, birthday, or anniversary, a funeral gives your family and friends time to support each other and share memories, as well as an opportunity to commemorate your life. Today, no two funerals are alike. Photographs, favorite music, special readings and the involvement of family members and friends are very much encouraged both by the funeral home and at our cemeteries.


Would I save money by pre-planning?
It also makes financial sense to prearrange your funeral and cemetery arrangements. When you prearrange your funeral, you benefit from purchasing at today's prices, free from inflationary pressures of the future. Once you have determined the costs, you can make an objective decision regarding affordability. You may decide to spend less as a result of this objectivity. Prearranging also enables you to purchase the services you select in a planned and manageable fashion. Apart from helping to keep your financial burden to a minimum, it also eliminates the financial burden placed on surviving family members.


What if I move before I die?
By making an informed decision today, you gain peace of mind in knowing that most of the details and expenses have been taken care of during what will be a very difficult time for your survivors.  If at a future time you move out of the area and you no longer wish to be interred at one of our cemeteries you can contact our office and arrangements can be made for the return of interment rights, services and some merchandise to the cemetery, or you may decide to assign the interment rights to other individuals. Personalized merchandise which has been manufactured and placed or stores is not re-assignable or returnable. Check with your chosen funeral home or mortuary to determine what options would be available to you through them.

Military Honors: If the deceased is a Veteran Military Honors can be arranged with the assistance of the Cemetery staff or by the surviving spouse or personal representative.  Military Honors may include a firing party and a bugler. This is determined by availability and is schedule by the Military Coordinating Office of either Davis Month an Air Force Base or Ft. Huachuca, which ever post is contacted.  Military Honors for all branches of the military are conducted by these posts.

Chaplain or Deacon: A military Chaplain or Deacon may be scheduled by the cemetery staff unless the family minister/priest is desired and provided by the next-of-kin or the funeral home.  The cemetery staff member who assists in making these arrangements will discuss standard stipend or gratituity with the next of kin or personal representative.

Burial Flags: Most veterans are eligible for a burial flag. Only one burial flag may be provided per veteran. Requests for a burial flag must be made at the time of need. Burial flags may be obtained from VA regional offices and most U.S. Post office by completing VA Form 21-2008. Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes, and submitting it with a copy of the veteran’s discharge papers at either of the locations.

Presidential Memorial Certificates (PMC): A Presidential Memorial Certificate honoring the memory of an honorably discharged deceased veteran may be obtained by making a brief written request, together with a copy of the veteran’s discharge document to any VA Regional Office, or to Presidential Memorial Certificates (41A1C), Department of Veterans Affairs, 5109 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-3903

Government Headstone: The U.S. Government will provide at no cost to the estate of the deceased a flat bronze 24x12 memorial, a 24x12x3 flat granite memorial, or a white marble upright headstone . Please check with the cemetery office to see which is suitable for the area in which the veteran is to be interred.  The Cemetery will assist the next of kin in completion of the appropriate order form, and will place the order for the headstone or niche cover with the National Cemetery Administration, part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The order for the headstone will include the appropriate inscription and choice of faith emblems.

Gravesite Maintenance after interment: Graves are filed and leveled after each interment. As the soil compacts in the grave, sinkage may occur especially during the first year after the interment. Graves in grass areas are sodded or seeded in the Spring or in the Fall (generally during the months of March through May and September through November.)

Floral Tributes at Gravesites: Fresh cut flowers may be placed immediately after a burial occurs on the grave site. Thereafter the cemetery recommends that artificial flowers be placed.
Artificial flowers and decorations should be placed in a permanent vase. Flowers and decorations placed outside of a permanent vase will be removed and disposed of.
Planting of flowers, shrubs, etc. is prohibited. Potted plants are not permitted. Christmas wreaths are permitted to be placed 10 days prior to the holiday and will be removed 10 days after the holiday.
Statues, vigil lights, etc. and any type of commemorative items are not permitted on graves.
There will be a general cleanup of all floral and decorative items on graves, niches and crypts 10 days after each holiday- Easter. Memorial Day, 4th of July, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.  All ‘seasonal’ decorations are discarded.

Permanent flower containers: Permanent flower containers which are placed on grave sites can be purchased through the cemetery. The container must be placed by the cemetery staff or approved memorial/monument dealer. The cemetery does not assume any responsibility for damaged or missing flower containers.