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LPPC Cemetery Information - Lower Providence Presbyterian Church

LPPC Cemetery Information

Learn more about how to plan for funeral arrangements

Preplanning your funeral decisions

Decisions you can make during pre-funeral planning.

  • Do you want: Burial, cremation or entombment (above ground)
  • Type of farewell – Family, Family and Friends and/or Community Gathering
  • Type of service (religious, non-sectarian, military, theme-based, etc.)
  • Type of farewell – family, family and friends and/or community gathering
  • Location of service, ceremony, tribute, visitation, etc.
  • Casket type: metal, wood, orthodox, etc.
  • Burial/urn vault
  • Urns/keepsakes
  • Transportation needs
  • Music/Video/Photographs/Program
  • Flowers and/or charitable donations
  • Readings, favorite poems, literature or scriptures
  • Obituary/eulogy
  • Cemetery location and choices
  • Final Permanent Memorialization – A tribute to a life lived and a permanent record for future generations
  • Estate planning and documentation of all personal information (e.g. Credit cards, insurance, investments, pensions etc.) that will need to be followed through with after death
  • Reception and catering arrangements

You have control over all of these details and the financial responsibility for your arrangements and can plan for these ahead of time!

Preplan your funeral service with clergy

Complete this form at any time and turn it in to the church office.  It will be put in your family file.  Remember to give copies to family members so they know YOUR wishes. If you have already made arrangements with a funeral home, they should be provided a copy as well.

How to Write an Obituary

Preparing an obituary for yourself or someone you love is an exercise best approached with care and thought. Like the funeral service itself, an obituary acknowledges the loss of our loved one, expresses the pain of their loss and the joy that their presence among us brought.

Announcement of Death

Name, age, and place of residence of the deceased, along with the time and place of death. This identifying statement and announcement of the fact of death can be communicated in many ways. ‘Passed away’, ‘died’, ‘went to be with his Lord’, ‘after a long struggle with cancer’, ‘surrounded by her family’, are all common variations in this statement. Some people feel that ‘died’ is too blunt, others say that flowery phrases and euphemisms only get in the way of accepting the fact of death. Use what you feel comfortable with.

Family and special people

It is said that the funeral is for the living. The obituary is for the living too, and one of the most important parts is the listing of survivors and those who preceded your loved one in death (remember that preceded means to come before, while proceeded means moved through). This is a section that benefits greatly from forethought. In the confusion and preoccupation of grief, important relatives can be forgotten. It’s unfortunate if we forget to mention a hobby or interest, but it can be painful if we forget to mention a step-child or sister. List relatives with their first name, spouse’s first name in parenthesis, then surname. If the spouse’s surname is different, or the couple is not married, include the partner’s surname in the parenthesis along with their first name.

Biographical Sketch

Sketch is the key word here. An obituary is not a biography, but a recounting of the most important events, qualities, contributions and connections in a person’s life. Each life is unique, but among the most important universal milestones are: the date and place of birth, parent’s names including mother’s maiden name (ex: Bill and Barb (Maiden name) Green, date and place of marriage, birth name of spouse, education, work, and military service.

Service Times

If there will be a service add the dates and time.

Special Messages

At the end of an obituary a special message is sometimes found, such as ‘in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to..’ or ‘Special Thanks to the staff at General Hospital for..’ or ‘We will always carry your memory in our hearts’. Sometimes a short prayer or a line from a poem is placed at the end. These messages are optional, but can be a way of communicating something that did not fit into the body of the obituary.

Organize your estate paperwork to make things easier for your family

  • Put all your important papers and legal documents in one place. Set up a file, put everything in a desk or dresser drawer, or just list the information and location of the papers in a notebook.  If your papers are in a bank safe deposit box, keep copies in a file at home. Check each year to see if there is anything new to add/or changes to be made.
  • Tell a trusted family member or friend where you put all your important papers. You don’t need to tell this friend or family member about your personal affairs, but someone should know where you keep your papers in case of an emergency. If you don’t have a relative or friend you trust, ask a lawyer to help.
  • Tell your family/friends you wishes concerning memorial and/or funeral services, preference on burial or cremation. Write a draft obituary to keep with your important papers. It’s harder than you think…. And only you really know how you would like your life summed up.

Legal documents

  • Wills and trusts let you name the person you want your money and property to go to after you die
  • Advance directives let you make arrangements for your care if you become sick. There are two ways to do this:
    • A living will gives you a say in your healthcare if you are too sick to make your wishes known. You can state what kind of care you do or do not want. This makes it easier for family members to make tough healthcare decision for you.
    • A durable power of attorney for healthcare lets you name the person you want to make medical decisions for you if you can’t make them yourself.

What is an important paper or piece of information?

  • Full legal name
  • Social security number
  • Legal residence
  • Date and place of birth
  • Names, addresses, phone numbers of spouse and children
  • Location of will, birth and death certificates; certificates of marriage, divorce, citizenship and adoption
  • Employers and dates of employment
  • Education and military records
  • List of medications taken
  • Names and phone numbers of:
    • Doctors, dentists
    • Religious contacts
    • Close friends
    • Relatives
    • Lawyer
    • Financial advisor
    • Tax preparer

Financial records

  • Sources of income and assets (pension from an employer, IRS’s, 401(k)s, interest, etc.)
  • Social security and Medicare, supplemental health and drug plan information
  • Insurance information (life, health, long-term care, home, car) with policy numbers, agent names and phone numbers
  • Names of your banks and account numbers (checking, savings, credit union)
  • Investment income (stocks, bonds, property) and stockbrokers’ or financial planners’ names and phone numbers
  • Copy of most recent income tax return
  • Location of most often up-to-date will with original signature
  • Liabilities, including property tax-what is owed, to whom, when payments are due
  • Mortgages and debts-how and when paid
  • Location of original deed of trust for home and car title and registration
  • Credit and debit card names and numbers
  • Location of safe deposit box and key

Use the PDF Planning Form or Excel Planning Form to begin collecting information that will help your spouse/family/executor.

Cemetery Policies and Procedures

Cemetery Policies and Procedures

Session Approved: April 2024

Grave & Niche Owner definition:

Sale of graves/niches is limited to LPPC current members, former LPPC members, and non-LPPC members who have family buried in the cemetery who are direct parent or child.

Graves/Niches are subject to Policies and Procedures:

All lots/niches in LPPC Cemetery are conveyed to the purchaser by Deed after final payment, but the rights of the purchaser are subject to the Cemetery Policies and Procedures here within and all future Cemetery Policies and Procedure instituted by the LPPC Session.

Changes to Policies and Procedure:

These policies and procedures may be changed or amended, without notice, at any time by the LPPC Session.

Endowment Care:

All graves/niches sold in the LPPC Cemetery will receive endowment care. Endowment care is the normal repair and maintenance (mowing, removal of debris, removal of holiday/seasonal items) of LPPC Cemetery.

  • Endowment care does not cover replacement of grave markers or monumental structures (other than Columbaria), or flower vases. Separate arrangements (fee may apply) for this additional care must be coordinated and approved by the Cemetery Supervisor.

Rights to Lots:

All graves/niches in LPPC Cemetery will be sold with endowed care and are conveyed by deed for burial purpose only.

Burials: Burials within LPPC Cemetery have been delegated by LPPC Session to be under the control of the Cemetery Supervisor or his/her designee.

  • All graves shall be opened and closed under the supervision of the Cemetery Supervisor or his/her designee.
  • Charges for interments/inurnments are established by the LPPC Session.
  • Burial Fees due may be paid either through the funeral home or through the CemeterySupervisor.
  • Additional fees may be charged by LPPC for special services requested by the family ornecessary because of special circumstances.
  • All special services and requests must be approved by the Cemetery Supervisor and the SeniorMinister.
  • All full burials must be in concrete liners, over boxes, or vaults designed and manufactured forthis purpose.
  • Vaults must be purchased from a third party. All vaults shall comply with the laws andregulations of Pennsylvania and Montgomery County.

Days and Hours:

  1. Burials/Inurnments are restricted to Monday through Saturday between the hours of 9:30 am – 2:30 pm.
  2. LPPC recognizes situations may occur necessitating burial to take place on Sunday. Sunday burials are a special service and thus must be approved by the Cemetery Supervisor and the Senior Minister before being scheduled. A special service fee for Sunday services shall be charged and all services must be completed by 3:30 pm.
  3. All funerals shall be scheduled to allow cemetery employees or designees the opportunity to complete all appropriate work in a safe manner before dark.

Notice of Interment/Inurnment:

The right is reserved by LPPC Cemetery to be notified at least three (3) working days before any interment/inurnment in order that the grave/niche may be properly prepared.

Interments per Individual Grave:

Only one casket per regular grave (4’ x 8’) shall be allowed. No interment of any body other than of a human being shall be permitted. Regular graves designated for one casket shall allow for a maximum of two cremated remains (4’ x 4’).

Inurnments in Columbaria:

Up to 2 sets of cremains may be housed in a niche.

Permit:

No interment/inurnment will be permitted without the proper burial permit as required by the State of Pennsylvania. LPPC is not responsible for securing any permits. Cremated remains must be properly labeled and accompanied by acceptable documentation to certify identity of the cremated remains.

Seeding of Graves:

All graves will be made level with the surface of the surrounding lawn and shall be seeded by LPPC, without charge to the lot owners.

Memorials, Markers, Monuments:

  1. Cemetery staff or designee shall construct foundations (fee applies).
  2. Memorials not placed at the head of the grave must be set flush with the surface of the ground.
  3. Each grave may only have one raised memorial.
  4. Memorials may not exceed eight (8) feet.
  5. No memorial shall be placed on an occupied lot until all cemetery fees are paid in full. No memorial shall be placed at a pre-need lot until said lot is paid for in full. No further engraving of a previously installed memorial shall be authorized until all cemetery fees have been paid in full.
  6. The cemetery reserves the right to inspect all memorials after installation and require changes if improperly set. LPPC requires all final engravings be completed after interment.
  7. Memorials are allowed to be set only during normal cemetery work hours.
  1. The maximum size of a memorial is not to exceed 40” for a single grave and 60” for a double grave. Memorials must be centered (equally spaced) on the grave. Footstones are not allowed.
  2. No above ground structures are permitted.
  3. Columbarium niches may only be adorned by a brass marker purchased from and installed by LPPC (fee applies).

Care and Improvements:

All work in regard to perpetual care and improvements of lots shall be approved by LPPC Property Chair and Cemetery Supervisor.

Fences:

No lot or grave shall be defined by fence, railing, hedge, unauthorized memorial, mausoleum or any other object.

Planting:

Trimming and Pruning of Trees and Shrubs: Only with permission from LPPC, Cemetery Supervisor, or the Property Chair shall plant, trim, prune, or remove any part of the trees or shrubs in the cemetery. If any tree or shrub situated on any lot by means of its roots, branches, or otherwise becomes dangerous or overgrows to the adjacent lots, walks or avenues, LPPC has the right, and it shall be its duty to enter upon the lot and remove the trees or shrubs, or any parts thereof as they see fit.

Landscape Regulations:

  1. LPPC, Cemetery Supervisor, or his/her designee have the authority to remove all floral designs, flowers, weeds, trees, shrubs, or plants of any kind from the cemetery as soon as, in his/her judgement, they become unsightly, dangerous, detrimental, diseased, or when they do not conform to the general standards maintained.
  2. LPPC Cemetery is not liable for floral pieces, baskets, or frames in which or to which such floral pieces are attached.
  3. LPPC Cemetery is not responsible for plants or plantings of any kind damaged by the elements, thieves, vandals, wildlife or by other causes beyond its control.

Flowers and Flowerpots:

  1. Cut flowers during the remainder of the year are removed and disposed of, as the flowers deteriorate, and they become wilted or unsightly.
  2. LPPC will not be responsible for the storage of any pots, shrubs, or plants that are picked up for disposal.

Buy Back of Lots:

LPPC has the right to reclaim any graves, as abandoned, when not used for 50 years after the last burial in the lot, if the owners or their heirs cannot be located. Should an owner contact the LPPC Cemetery Supervisor or his/her designee that they no longer want their deeded lot/grave, LPPC will buy back the grave/lot for $50.00/grave.

Credit for graves:

Credit, in the amount of the original purchase price of grave(s) surrendered, will be applied toward the purchase of a niche in the LPPC columbarium.

Miscellaneous Regulations:

  1. Concrete liner, steel or concrete vault will be required as a receptacle for the casket.
  2. The speed of a vehicle shall not exceed fifteen miles per hour within the confines of the cemetery.
  3. Picking flowers, breaking, or injuring trees or shrubs or in any way injuring any monument or headstone is prohibited and subject to severe penalty according to State law.
  4. If anything is placed on a grave which is deemed improper, it will be removed by the LPPC Cemetery Supervisor or his/her designee.

Cemetery Charges

Property:

  • Grave (4’ x 8’) members ………………………….$1,800 (current LPPC members)
  • Grave (4’ x 8’) non-members…………………….$2,700 (Non-members refers to former members andnon-members with family previously interred)Columbarium
  • Niche (2 urns) ……………………………………………$4,000 (current/former LPPC members only) Services:
  • Opening Grave Fee, full burial……………………… $500
  • Opening Grave Fee, cremation, per container……………………… $200
  • Foundation (1) ……………………………………….. $ 1.00 per square inch o Example 1: Foundation 26” x 14” = $365.00
    o Example 2: Foundation 52’ x 14’ = $730.00
  • Special Requests (i.e., special plantings, 3rd party work) 200% of actual material cost plus labor
  • Columbarium Niche Opening fee………………$150
  • Niche Plaque, etching, installation……………$450

Support Services:

  • Officiating Minister………………………………. $200
  • Organist……………………………………………….. $150
  • Soloist…………………………………………………… $150 or per soloist agreement
  • Custodian……………………………………………… $100
  • Traffic Officer………………………………………… $ 50
  • Use of Sanctuary (non-member) …………. $300
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