If you’ve missed our first two cemetery posts, you should check them out! Our first one was on cemeteries in Newton Co, and our second was over grave-markers and their meanings! Today’s post will be over etiquette when visiting a cemetery!
First, DO be respectful of the cemetery and its property. It’s important to keep the cemetery in good condition and a peaceful place for both the passed and the ones who visit. This means DON’T move anything! Moving any rocks, or grave markers is not just disrespectful, it’s cruel; you should also avoid moving or removing any flowers, goods, or decorations that someone has set up for their loved one.
Second, you DO want to clean your loved ones stone. You should do this with a very soft brush and plain water, and make sure to be gentle! DON’T clean the gravestone with soap, bleach, or any other harmful chemicals. You should avoid scrubbing to hard, as well.
Make sure after you’ve purchased a gravestone, you DO document the condition of the stone. Take note of the inscription and the layout; you could do this by taking a photo to make sure it comes out the way you want – use a mirror to be sure inscriptions are legible by reflecting the light.
DON’T use tape, flour, or chalk to make rubbings of the stones! The pressure could damage them forever. If the stone is damaged, DON’T make repairs on old stones using modern materials. DO hire a professional. If you follow all of these rules, you should be good to go visit your loved one in Newton!
