What to Consider When Making End-of-Life Decisions

Three Beliefs Guide for Maine Catholics offers valuable assistance and information regarding end-of-life issues. The cluster office has physical copies of this guide. Call the office to request a copy OR download printable version here .

Funeral & Memorial Masses

To schedule a funeral or memorial Mass, contact the Cluster 4 Business Office of 532-2871 to speak with the pastor.

Contact St. Mary's organist, Steve Martin, to set up music for funeral and memorial Masses. His contact information can be found here.

In addition to Masses, St. Mary's Bereavement Ministry offers families a reception after Mass and burial services. Please let the administrative assistant know if your family would like a reception.

Funeral/Memorial Costs

To purchase a plot, call 532-2871 and ask to speak with the Administrative Assistant.

St. Mary's Cemeteries

General Information about Plots, Vaults & Columbaria

1. Grave plots are available in sections 22 and 23 of St. Mary's cemetery on Smyrna Street in Houlton. See prices above.
   • The $500 base price of the easement entitles one person to be buried in that burial plot - either a full burial OR one cremains.
   • NOTE: An additional two cremains may be buried in that plot, but an additional $350 burial fee must be paid for each of the two additional cremains. (Prices are subject to change.)
2. Columbarium Niches & Burial Urns: St. Mary's columbarium has two sizes of niches available (see prices above).
   • Smaller size: 111/8" W x 6" H x 15 1/2" D
   • Larger size:111/2" W x 12" H x 15 1/2" D (this is reserved for two urns, such as husband & wife).
   • Persons purchasing a burial right in the columbarium should ensure their particular urn will fit in one of these two niche sizes.
   • NOTE: Urns must be made of a material that will not deteriorate - such as brass, ceramic or heavy composite plastic. No pasteboard, coffee can, or wooden urns are allowed.
   • Urns must be sealed.
   • Ashes may share the same urn; however the remains should never mix. 

The funeral director handles all burials - full or cremains.

What is an Easement?

In regard to cemeteries, an Easement is a legal document conveying the right to be buried in a specified plot of ground. No right of ownership is conveyed by this Easement. Easements are purchased from The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, ME, via St. Mary of the Visitation.

Easements cannot be bought or sold between private individuals, however, easements may be transferred to other individuals - contact the church office to do so.

The Easement certificate is an important legal document and should be kept with the receipt holder's other important papers.

Perpetual Care

Perpetual Care refers to the care and maintenance of the Cemetery itself, such as mowing, seeding, and landscaping. It does not include any care for stones or memorials. Perpetual Care fees are one half of the purchase price and are included in the price of the Easement.

How to Switch from the Older Sections of St. Mary's Cemeteries

1. Produce a document of easement that matches church documents.
   • If you DO NOT have original documents, there is a $150 document search fee.
   • Produce evidence of payment of original fees.
2. Any transfer from St. Mary's existing lot/plot will require payment of the difference of the original cost to the new cost.
   • The cost of the new section will be: new lot payment - old lot payment (documented)
   • The new cost will be further reduced by $150 if a search was needed concerning the old lot easement and/or payment.
3. The cost of the new lot will be required. Note that any $150 document search fee will not be refundable or applicable to the new cost of a plot.

How are Cemeteries Laid Out?

Cemeteries are divided into Sections, and Sections are divided into Lots. The Lots are divided into individual graves. At St. Mary's Cemeteries the lots are divided into six graves each. The graves are laid out side by side and numbered 1 through 6 in a north to south fashion. A burial plot (grave) is ten feet by 4 feet and its location is chosen at the time of purchase.

The "foot" of each grave points to the east. Burial rights may be purchased for any number of graves that the individual requires.There is no requirement to purchase all six of the plots contained in one Lot.

Headstones & Foot Stones

All stones (memorials) must be placed within the four foot by ten foot plot.The headstone is placed at the head (western) end of the plot and the foot stone is placed over the foot (east) end. A foot stone may be substituted for a headstone. Foot stones are flat and are placed flush with the ground so that the lawn mower will pass over them Frequently three inch square granite corner markers are placed at the four corners of a plot or group of plots. These granite markers must be placed flush with the ground so that the lawn mower will pass over them.

Flowers, Decorations, Fencing, Shrubs, & Trees

All flowers must be placed next to the stone for ease of mowing. Decorations must likewise be placed next to the stone or mounted upon the stone. Reasonable care is taken when mowing, but damage to decorations may occur and is at the owner's expense. At the end of the season, all flowers and decorations must be removed unless they are mounted upon the stone itself. Shrubs and trees are not allowed in the cemetery due to the difficulty of mowing around them and the fact that over time the roots and branches encroach on neighboring plots. Fencing is not allowed.

Burial Requirements 

1. Human remains must not be interred in a wooden box or any other material that will biodegrade. 
2. Children, by proxy, can be permitted to be buried in the parents grave site as long as there is room and the parents are the lot owners. 
3. The lot owner must consent to any future burials in their grave site(s).
4. If the owner is deceased, siblings must all consent to future burials in the grave site of the deceased owner. 

Additional Information

For more information on the Diocese of Portland, ME, cemetery rules and guidelines, follow this link.