4 sources of funding for your cemetery restoration project
by Antonio Robertson
Several years after losing a loved one, you may need to carry out maintenance work on the gravesite to keep it in good condition. Tombstones tend to wear out under extreme weather, and the ground near the burial site may need landscaping.
These activities come with associated costs. For example, restoring a tombstone can be quite expensive, depending on the nature and design of the original stone. This is why identifying sources of funding can help with your cemetery restoration project.
If you're unable to afford the maintenance of your loved one's burial site, here are 4 options that you can turn to for funding.
1. Workplace/union insurance policies
If your loved one passed away as a result of work-related activity, you might be able to claim compensation for cemetery maintenance costs. Workplace insurance policies are designed to cover employees from injuries or fatalities that may occur in the line of duty.
While most families claim compensation for funeral costs, your loved one may also be eligible for cemetery expenses. Consult a worker's compensation lawyer to find out if your loved one's former employer can provide funding for gravesite maintenance.
Workers' unions are another potential source of funding. Many unions advocate for the well-being of their members, including posthumous care. You can use this approach to obtain resources for cemetery restoration.
2. Personal life insurance policies
If your loved one had taken out life insurance, you might be able to claim compensation for cemetery expenses. Each policy works differently. However, the main aim is to take care of the policyholder (and their beneficiaries) after the policyholder passes away.
The insurance company may provide special coverage for funeral-related expenses (including cemetery restoration).
3. Museums
Museums (and other historical preservation groups) may provide funding for cemetery restoration projects. A cemetery is often considered to be rich in culture. As a result, these groups invest resources for gravesite maintenance and beautification. Because their funds come from the government, private donors and other stakeholders, your loved one's burial location may be able to benefit from such funding.
4. Veterans affairs groups
If your loved one was a service member in the country's military, they might be eligible for cemetery maintenance funding. Most service members are given an honourable send-off after death, which should include maintenance of their gravesite preceding the burial ceremony.
Consult the veteran affairs branch in your loved one's place of residence to inquire about cemetery restoration funding.
To learn more about your options, contact a cemetery near you.
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About Me
Funerals can bring forth such a range of emotions: melancholy, grief, regret, relief and nostalgia. As an assistant at a funeral parlour, I am privileged to help people with organising their loved one’s final journey. I have learnt that a good funeral parlour can make the occasion truly commemorative. When I attend funerals for friends, I am saddened to see that so many ceremonies are traditional and joyless. I later find out that the family members simply weren’t aware of options such as a graveside memorial service. I love the fact that one of my tasks involves showing family members various venues and demonstrating what can be done. In this humble little blog, I hope to make it my mission to share some of the ideas – big and small – from the best funerals I have seen. Perhaps it will give you some inspiration at a difficult time. Bless.