Helpful Resources · Flower Policy
Flowers & decorations,
placed with care.
Guidance for honoring loved ones with fresh-cut flowers and seasonal tributes — including holiday placement and removal schedules, permitted items, and our policies for Advent, Lent, Easter, and All Souls' Day.
Holiday Schedules · 2026
Placement & removal
by holiday
Our schedules for this year's holidays have been finalized. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
General Policy
Catholic Cemeteries
Flower & Decorations Policy
Catholic Cemeteries recognizes families' desire to honor their loved ones who are interred in our cemeteries. The following rules and regulations ensure visitor safety and maintain the cemetery's beauty and aesthetic appeal. Please review carefully — if you have any questions or concerns, please contact the cemetery office.
Fresh Flowers
Fresh-cut flowers only
Catholic cemeteries permit only fresh-cut flowers. Artificial flowers and decorations are prohibited. The cemetery is not responsible for the care, safekeeping, or condition of the flowers.
Vases
Cemetery-approved vases
Flowers are to be placed in vases approved and installed by the cemetery. Vases may be purchased through the cemetery office. Using outside vases or any other type of flower container is not allowed — this includes, but is not limited to, glass vases, ceramic jars, and plastic or clay pots.
Removal
Weekly removal every Thursday
Flowers placed on gravesites, crypts, and niches are removed every Thursday to support cemetery maintenance. Flower removal schedules are posted at the entrances and are available from the cemetery office. Exceptions apply during certain holidays — please check with the cemetery office or consult our website for specific holiday schedules, as they may vary year to year.
Please note that flowers at Saint Thomas Aquinas Cemetery will be removed on Wednesdays.
Funeral Flowers
Two days after service
Funeral flowers will be removed two days after the funeral service, or sooner, to ensure visitors' safety and prevent interference with cemetery operations. Families who wish to keep the funeral flowers are encouraged to collect them from the gravesite before leaving the cemetery. Please note that the cemetery is not responsible for the care, safekeeping, or condition of flowers on the premises.
Flags
Small United States flags
Catholic Cemeteries allow small United States flags to be placed in vases throughout the year as part of floral arrangements. There are exceptions for Veterans Day and Memorial Day, during which visitors may place small flags directly on gravesites. Please note that all flags will be removed on scheduled flower removal dates. Removed flags are handled in accordance with the United States Government's flag-handling guidelines. Families who wish to keep their flags must remove them before the scheduled removal date.
Standing
Decorations
Not permitted at any time
No standing decorations of any kind are allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, potted plants, artificial flowers, helium balloons, whirligigs, pinwheels, vigil candles, toys, and other similar objects. Please refer to our Advent and Lent policy for potential exceptions during these seasons.
The Cemetery encourages the use of fresh-cut flowers only and advises against leaving items of sentimental value.
Adhesives
Strictly forbidden
Attaching or adhering items to memorials, crypts, or niche fronts is prohibited. Glue, tape, or other adhesives are strictly forbidden as they can damage the surface. If you would like to personalize your memorial, crypt, or niche, religious emblems are available for purchase at the cemetery office.
Landscape
Altering the grounds
To preserve the cemetery's landscape, the following practices are not permitted: decorating the landscaping, trees, shrubs, lawns, statues, or other features; installing decorative fencing around gravesites or creating trenches in the grass to outline boundaries; using flowers, garlands, or other items to mark the boundaries of gravesites, crypts, or niches; planting trees, shrubs, grass, flowers, or any alteration of the cemetery landscape.
Permitted &
not permitted items
For holiday periods — please check the schedule for your specific observance
Advent & Christmas
Seasonal Allowance
A 2.5 ft Christmas tree (one per space)
Tree ornaments made of plastic, fabric, wood, rubber, or paper (one per space)
Poinsettias and other plants in plastic pots (one per space)
Christmas wreaths (one per space)
Small nativity scenes made of plastic, fabric, wood, rubber, or paper (one per space)
Advent & Christmas
Seasonal Allowance
Christian crosses, no larger than 2.5 feet in size, may be made of styrofoam, fabric, paper, wood, or plastic (one per space)
Easter lilies in plastic pots (one per space)
All Soul's Day
Día De Los Muertos
A 2.5 ft arch (one per space) of natural flowers, plastic, fabric, wood, rubber, or paper (one per space)
Seasonal flowers and other plants in plastic pots (one per space)
Seasonal wreaths (one per space)
Christian crosses, no larger than 2.5 feet, made of natural flowers, styrofoam, fabric, paper, wood, or plastic
Never Permitted
At Any Time
Decoration of cemetery landscaping, including trees, shrubs, lawns, statues, and other features
Decorative fencing around gravesites or creating trenches in the grass to outline boundaries
Use of flowers, garlands, or other materials to mark the boundaries of gravesites, crypts, or niches
Music boxes and other battery-operated or electrically powered items
Glass or other fragile ornaments
Standing decorations including Santa Claus, snowmen, candy canes, nutcrackers, Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, Easter baskets, or artificial grass
Important Notes
A few final points
It is important to note that the cemetery is not responsible for the care, maintenance, or condition of any items left on gravesites, crypts, or niches. The cemetery is not obligated to reimburse or replace any removed, broken, or stolen items from these locations.
The cemetery can remove flowers or decorations for ongoing operations, including funerals and maintenance. It may also remove items without prior notice if they lack explicit permission from the cemetery.
We appreciate your cooperation and understanding. If you have any concerns or questions, please get in touch with the cemetery office.
