Memorial Garden


The Avon Lake United Church of Christ Memorial Garden will be a place of natural beauty and eternal remembrance and used for the inhuming of ashes from cremations and as a place for prayer and meditation.

I.    The ashes are spread directly in the soil of the planting areas and become a part 
      of the life of the garden.  The church building will not be a repository for
      cremains.

II.   There will be no buried containers, no scattered ashes uncovered, and no record
      to be kept of the exact location of an individual’s ashes.
   
III.  No memorial markers, plaques, cut flowers, real or artificial, will be permitted as
       this is to be a living garden.
           
IV.    Inhuming will be carried out by the pastor.

V.    The names of the interred will be recorded in a “Book of Memories,” a plaque or
       another permanent type of display.  In addition, a permanent record of the
       names of the interred shall be maintained.  Duplicate records will be kept in the
       church office and updated regularly.

VI.  The fee for interment will be $400.00 for members and $500.00 for
      non-members.  This fee may be waived at the discretion of the pastor.  The fee is
      to be deposited in the name of the “Memorial Garden Fund.”  It does not include
      any gratuity for pastoral services.  All gifts and fees will be used at the discretion
      of the Memorial Garden Committee for the care and maintenance of the Memorial
      Garden.

VII. Interment arrangements will be made with the Pastor or the church office.  An
      information sheet is to be filled out and the “Terms and Conditions” document
      signed.

VIII. Care of the Garden will be in the hands of the Memorial Garden Committee. 
        Church parishioners and others who assist will be under the direction of the
        Memorial Garden Committee.

IX.    Funds for maintaining the garden will come from fees and other donations;
        there is a bequest specifically designated for this purpose.


X.    The Memorial Garden Committee will consist of the Memorial Garden
       Chairperson and at least two other members.

        A. The committee will be renewed or replaced at the Annual Meeting on                         recommendation of the congregation’s nominating committee. 

        B. The Memorial Garden Chairperson will convene meetings as needed, at least             annually.

       C. The memorial Garden Committee is responsible to the Board of Trustees and  
           will submit an annual report.  The report shall include the names of those 
           interred, the total number of interments, a financial report, and any other
           information relative to activities or prospective plans of this committee. 

XI.    Any request for change in the physical design of the Memorial Garden requires
        the approval of the Memorial Garden Committee.

XII.    All monies will be deposited in the Avon Lake United Church of Christ Memorial
         Garden Fund account.  This money will be used exclusively for the operation
         and improvement of the Memorial Garden.

XIII.  Recommendations for amendments to these Guidelines may be made at any
         meeting of the Memorial Garden Committee by a 2/3rds vote of those present, 
         provided the amendment has been submitted in writing to all members two
         weeks in advance of such meeting.  Changes in the Guidelines must be
         submitted to and approved by the Church Council and will become effective as
         of the date of the Council approval.

Click Here to download the Memorial Garden Application.