Did you ever consider being buried with your ancestors, who are buried in a family plot that hasn’t been touched in decades? You might be able to be buried with your namesake, 3rd great grandpa who arrived in America in a “coffin ship,” great grandma who fled war, or family members who came to America seeking freedom or opportunity. Often, these plots go forgotten about as an available option, even though they still have unused graves available in the plot.
Most people in making a Last Will or other final arrangements never give any thought to a family burial plot that hasn’t been touched in decades, or you only just located through your genealogical research. But, if your family may already own a plot with unused, available graves (which can save you big, big bucks đź’˛).
If your family plot has remaining unused graves, you can use them. You inherit the rights to it, unless the original owner put a written limit on who can be buried in the plot. The easement has already been purchased. You only need to pay the fees associated with burial, such as the opening fee, fault cost, and closing fee. These costs can add up, but the grave has already been paid for, which is a tremendous savings.
I discovered during some of the cemetery research as part of my genealogical digging (only digging figuratively; I promise ⛏️🪦), that we had a half dozen open graves available for casket burials (and even more for cremation burial), in existing family plots in Archdiocese of Philadelphia cemeteries.
This post is specific to Philadelphia Roman Catholic cemeteries, but it is certainly worth checking on your eligibility and status of unused graves in cemeteries owned by other entities.
Philadelphia Roman Catholic Cemeteries
There are 12 active Philadelphia-area Catholic cemeteries owned by the of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and operated by its contract management company, StoneMor. This makes up most of the Catholic cemeteries in the five counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia). Those active cemeteries are:
- All Saints Cemetery (Newtown, PA)
- All Souls Cemetery (Coatesville, PA)
- Calvary Cemetery (West Conshohocken, PA)
- Cathedral Cemetery (Philadelphia, PA)
- Holy Cross Cemetery (Yeadon, PA)
- Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (Philadelphia, PA)
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery (Linwood, PA)
- New Cathedral Cemetery (Philadelphia, PA)
- Resurrection Cemetery (Bensalem, PA)
- Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery (Springfield, PA)
- St. John Neumann Cemetery (Chalfont, PA)
- St. Michael Cemetery (Chester, PA)
What if the cemetery I want isn’t on the list of 12?
Not all Roman Catholic cemeteries/graveyards in the area are owned by the Archdiocese itself or operated by their management company.
For example, Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery and St. Peter’s Cemetery (both in Philadelphia) are owned and operated by Redemptorist Cemeteries, part of the Baltimore Province of the Redemptorists, a separate Catholic organization based in Washington, D.C. Also, not all cemeteries or church graveyards are still accepting new burials. You will need to contact the cemeteries not on the list individually.
Don’t I need to be listed on the deed?
No. You inherit the rights to the plot, unless the plot buyer limited who can be buried in the plot (the Archdiocese keeps affidavits of these instructions, if someone requests this kind of arrangement).
Don’t I need the physical deed?
Not for Archdiocese cemeteries, no. Some other cemeteries owned by other entities DO require a physical deed, but the Archdiocese does not, since they recognize these easily become lost or destroyed over the decades, among other reasons. At least one major cemetery in the Philadelphia area requires a physical deed, but it is an independent cemetery organization, beyond the scope of this post.
Don’t I need to be baptized Roman Catholic myself?
No.
Where do I find out more?
You should contact the cemetery where you’d like to find out how many available graves your family plot has. The Archdiocese operates a website for its active locations: PhiladelphiaCatholicCemeteries.com.