Rules and Regulations

Rules and Regulations

(April 1, 2022)

The Rochester Township Cemetery Board has studied the regulations in place at numerous other cemeteries and has tried to incorporate those most fair and considerate into our format. Rules and regulations may sometimes seem to be arbitrary or overbearing, but are necessary for the protection of all cemetery lot owners and should be viewed in this perspective. Inhibiting the activity of the few individuals who might be insensitive to the concerns of the majority of the cemetery users may sometimes be necessary. This is not intended as a penalty to anyone and such cases will be treated with respect and fairness for all parties involved.

As an initial introduction and commitment to the Rochester Cemetery, we ask that all cemetery lot owners take time to read and understand our rules and regulations. Review the appropriate sections before proceeding with any kind of gravesite alteration or addition. If there are any questions about an issue, ask a cemetery employee or board member for an opinion. All parties involved will appreciate cooperation within our guidelines and the mutual respect for all neighboring gravesite owners.

Working together, we can all help to preserve the dignity and beauty of the Rochester Township Cemetery for future generations.

Management: The Rochester Township Cemetery is under the management of a Cemetery Board consisting of five members. Officers of this Board are the President, Secretary/Treasurer, and three trustees. A caretaker, sexton and groundskeeper are employed by the Board to assist in the operations and maintenance of the cemetery. Meetings of the Board shall be held once a year or when otherwise needed.

The Cemetery Board is responsible for the development, good order and the conduct of the Cemetery. It may take such action as it deems necessary to protect the property of lot and grave owners, and to preserve peace and good order for the safety and conduct of all persons within the Cemetery.

The Cemetery Board reserves the right to alter or change any walk, entrance, fence, drive, grade or unsold vacant lot. It also reserves the perpetual right of ingress and egress over all lots for the purpose of passage to and from other lots.

The management will take reasonable precaution to provide for the convenience and safety of cemetery visitors and for the protection of lot owners rights within the cemetery from damage or loss. However, the Cemetery Board distinctly disclaims all responsibility for injury, loss or damage, to lot owners whether direct or collateral, from the act of thieves, vandals, rioters, strikes, and malicious mischief makers, or unavoidable accidents; and from all acts of providence including winds, tornadoes, cyclones, hail, snow, frost, explosion, or lightning, and from all causes beyond its reasonable control.

Visitors are welcome to the Cemetery from 8:00 a.m. to dusk every day.

Section 1: PROPERTY OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFERS

The major financial support for the Rochester Cemetery is from local tax monies. Therefore, residents or descendants of the Rochester community shall have the privilege of preferential purchasing of cemetery lots.

A community resident is defined for this purpose, as a current or former resident or property owner within the Rochester Township, school district or fire protection district. Current or formerly active church members in the community shall also qualify for preferential purchasing privileges.

Descendants of the Rochester community are defined as having a family relationship to current or former residents of the community or having family members already buried in the cemetery.

Nonresidents may also purchase grave sites in accordance with the rates listed on the current cemetery pricing schedules.

Lot ownership may be purchased through a written or personal contact with the cemetery’s Secretary/Treasurer or designee. Lots are now available only in the area east of the Chapel. A full lot (20’x 20’) contains 8 gravesites. The minimum purchase for burial is one/quarter of a lot (10’x 10’) which contains 2 gravesites. A full lot is required for any above-ground mausoleums placed in the cemetery. A maximum of two above-ground mausoleums may be placed on that lot. Upon payment in full for the lot selection, a deed will be prepared and recorded by the Secretary/Treasurer of the Board. A copy of such deed will be forwarded to the purchaser.

The sale of multiple lots to speculators, churches, fraternal organizations, funeral homes, etc., will not be considered.

The purchase of gravesites entitles the owner to interment rights and burial spaces in the given plot for the owner, the owner’s family, and heirs. In the case of deceased lot owners whose descendants do not possess the certificate of ownership and whose wills do not provide specifically for the transfer of ownership, the descendants must provide proof of descendancy and waivers of claim from other descendants who have equal legal claim.

The sale or transfer of any grave site or lot by the owner or purchaser shall not be binding upon the cemetery unless such transfer is duly approved in writing by the Board. Persons will not be recognized as lot owners unless their names appear as such upon the records of the cemetery. If a person requesting transfer is not the original owner, he must prove his right to make the transfer.

In cases of hardship or other difficulties, the Cemetery Board may be able to assist with the transfer and sale of a previously owned lot, but under no circumstances shall it be obligated to repurchase or refund the purchase price of a lot.

Section II: INTERMENTS

All interments on a private lot are subject to the consent of the original owner, if living. If deceased is not the lot owner or a member of the lot owner’s immediate family, written permission acceptable to the Board may be requested from owner’s family before interment will be permitted. The cemetery will not be responsible for damage or delay in making interment where satisfactory proof of heirship has not been established.

Notice for opening a grave should be given to the Sexton in sufficient time to allow for scheduling the work. The work generally requires eight hours of daylight—in good weather and a minimum of 48 hours’ notice is appreciated. The Cemetery Board reserves the right to hire contractors of its choice for this work. The use of professionals in cemetery operations minimizes problems with surrounding damage, unsightly grave preparations, and residual landscape issues. Damage to the surrounding turf and monuments caused by burial equipment will be the responsibility of the contractor to repair.

Notice for placement of a cremation in any type of monument must be given to the Sexton or cemetery representative to ensure appropriate witnessing of all burials in the Cemetery and reporting to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Concrete or metal vaults are required for all full interments. Vaulted urns are also required for those cremation burials interred in ground.

Each full size gravesite may be used for one full burial and one cremation, or two cremations. Two full burials are not allowed in one gravesite.

The gravesites are designed to face east and west. It is customary that the deceased faces the east and that the wife is buried on the north side next to the husband’s heart. The order of interments, however, is up to each family. If a family has specific plans for interments, written notification should be provided to the cemetery secretary.

No disinterment will be allowed without permission of next of kin, the lot owner, the Cemetery and the proper authorities.

No animals, pets, or nonhuman remains will be allowed burial in the cemetery.

It is understood that licensed funeral directors are acting in the capacity of agents for the lot owners and with full authority in placing order with the cemetery for interment. Billing for these cemetery services is generally routed through the funeral director.

Section III: MONUMENTS

No monument shall be installed on any Lot without first being reviewed and approved by the Trustees. A dimensional drawing should be submitted to the Cemetery Board from the monument company defining the dimensions, material content, lettering and positioning on the lot. The Board shall have the authority to reject any tombstone, bench, marker etc. that, on account of its material, size, type, design, inscription, quality, construction, or placement is unsuitable for the particular lot or grave on which it is to be placed.

Headstones and benches shall be made of good quality granite or marble material.

Monuments may not exceed one-half the width of the burial space being used. For Example: if 5 feet of space is used for one single full burial, or 1-2 cremations, the width of the headstone or bench should not exceed 30 inches. If 10 feet of spaced is used for two full burials or 2-4 cremations, the headstone should not exceed 60 inches in width. All headstones must have a base and a traditional monument. The monument must be at least six inches thick. The headstone base shall not have polished sides or project more than 3 inches from either side of the headstone. The base and headstone, together, cannot exceed seven feet in height. Advertising of any description is prohibited within the cemetery.

Effective April 1, 2022, benches are no longer permitted in the Cemetery except when they are used as the headstone or for Cremation Inurnment. The placement of benches should not obstruct or crowd current or future monuments. Stone and Marble benches that are already in place will be grandfathered in to this cause.

To keep in accordance with the general plan of the Cemetery, headstones are to be placed at the west end of the Lot; in a north-south alignment with the stones on the adjacent lot.

One large upright monument is permitted per family Lot, which may be either a half or full lot. Single grave burial sites also have the same privilege, but with the headstone sized, accordingly. Small individual markers may also be positioned at the foot of each grave.

All monuments, benches and markers shall be placed on a foundation which shall be adequately designed to prevent future settlement, tilting or cracking. All foundations shall be built by the monument company at the cost of the owner. Damage to the surrounding turf caused by the placement of a foundation or memorial will be the responsibility of the memorial company to repair.

Corner markers are allowed on all lots and must be installed at grade level.

Section IV: LANDSCAPING AND DECORATIONS

Trees and shrubs are placed throughout the Cemetery under the direction of the Board for overall beauty and serenity of the grounds. Any tree, bush or shrub planted on individual grave sites is no longer permitted. Any such tree, bush or shrub not approved by the Board may be removed without notice to the lot owner. The Cemetery Board and its employees have the right to trim, prune, or remove any plantings on the grounds.

Existing hedges, shrubs and other plantings shall be removed whenever they become unsightly, encroach on other gravesites or interfere with maintenance.

No wooden or iron benches, chairs, tables, or trellises shall be permitted to remain on the cemetery grounds.

All physical work projects such as gravesite preparation, the setting of monuments, grading, siding, and landscaping are limited to the cemetery employees or the Board’s approved professional contractors.

Copings, fences, curbs, hedges, mounds, wood structure, or equally perishable material are prohibited. Owners will be requested to remove such items. No rock chips, gravel, bark or like materials are to be used by lot owners for mulching purposes around headstones, markers, or other fixtures. Walkways of bricks, stone pavers, gravel, concrete slabs, wood planks and similar materials shall not be allowed on any lot.

The Cemetery reserves the right to remove all flowers, wreaths or other decorations from lots as soon as they become unsightly. The grounds will be cleared of decorations twice a year; in early spring and early fall. The semi-annual clean-up days will be posted at the cemetery and published in the local paper. In order for a family to save any decorations placed on a gravesite, the decoration should be removed prior to the two clean-up days.

Flowers and floral designs (whether artificial or natural) are acceptable decorations but must be secured/anchored in a non breakable container. No glass or breakable containers are allowed. Flowers, plants and artificial displays may be planted within a twelve (12) inch zone along the front side of the headstone. Please refer to diagram on last page.

Shepherd rods for hanging baskets that stand six feet or less above the surface are allowed providing that such hangars are immediately adjacent to the headstone to facilitate mowing. American flags must be less than three (3) feet high.

Adornments considered offensive or otherwise inconsistent with the dignity of the Cemetery are prohibited.

Inappropriate items include:

The traditional days for cemetery decorating include Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Halloween decorations are inappropriate and are not permitted. Lot owners and visitors are requested to assist the Cemetery employees in maintaining the natural beauty of our cemetery.

The Cemetery is not responsible for any theft or vandalism taking place upon cemetery grounds nor is the Cemetery responsible for any decorations, holders, or other devices placed upon graves.

Section V: PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

No person shall operate any vehicle within the Cemetery except on roads designed for that purpose, and no vehicle shall be driven at a speed in excess of five (5) miles per hour.

Pets, with the exception of Seeing Eye dogs, must remain in vehicles, or are otherwise not permitted on the cemetery grounds.

Picnic gatherings, alcoholic beverages, drugs and smoking are not permitted in the Cemetery.

Horseback, motorcycle and bicycle riding on the Cemetery grounds are prohibited, except with special permission for ceremonial events.

Motorized recreational vehicles such as four wheelers, snowmobiles, go-carts, etc. are not permitted on the Cemetery grounds. Motorized access vehicles for the disabled are acceptable.

A firearm may not be discharged in the Cemetery unless as part of an authorized volley at burial or memorial services.

Rubbish and debris shall be placed in the barrels and not on any part of the Cemetery grounds.

No signs, notices or advertisements of any kind shall be allowed in the Cemetery unless placed by the Cemetery caretaker.

President: Steve Taft

Sec. /Treasurer: James Duban

Trustees:

• Ben Moore
• John Poffenberger
• Diane Bortmess
• David L. Taft- Recorder