Repairing Mausoleum 3.
The interior of Mausoleum 3 (the large chapel mausoleum in the southeast corner of the mausoleum section of the cemetery) bears superficial damage to the ceiling, floor, doorways, and crypt shutters and trim. Unlike previously thought, however, this damage is not symptomatic of underlying structural failure. Through the generosity of Mr. David Huval, Sr., and Complete Engineering and Construction, Inc., repairs to the mausoleum will begin soon.
For more information, please visit our dedicated webpage by clicking this link: Mausoleum Repairs.
CEMETERY RULES AND REGULATIONS
September 3, 2019
These Rules and Regulations are founded upon the idea that those who have selected or will select burial spaces in the St. Francis Regis Cemetery will wish to see the preservation of a dignified and peaceful atmosphere. These Rules and Regulations will be carefully enforced and will be revised when necessary. Further, these Rules and Regulations shall apply, not only to all the owners of the rights of interment within St. Francis Regis Cemetery, but also to all visitors, employees and any others who may enter these sacred grounds.
USE OF CEMETERY
1. St. Francis Regis Cemetery considers that it is of the utmost importance that there should be strict observance of all due properties, whether embraced in these Rules and Regulations or not; and no improprieties will be tolerated.
2. Any private altering of tombs and all business entities performing work in St. Francis Regis Cemetery must obtain a permit from Cemetery office BEFORE work is performed.
3. In an effort to prevent pilferage, theft, vandalism and the possible desecration of memorials, visiting hours are set as the daylight hours. Any unauthorized person who is found within the cemetery after dark will be considered a trespasser.
4. Children must be accompanied by adults at all times.
5. No dogs or pets will be permitted in the cemetery except as may be needed to assist a handicapped person while visiting the cemetery.
6. No peddling or offering for sale or selling of flowers, plants, commodities, services, trinkets, souvenirs, pictures, etc., shall be permitted within the cemetery and no solicitation of any kind may be done within the cemetery.
7. No signs, notices or advertisement of any kind shall be placed within the cemetery, unless the same is placed by St. Francis Regis Cemetery or with its permission.
8. No beer or intoxicating liquors shall be allowed in the cemetery.
9. Automobiles and other vehicles shall be driven solely on the roadways and in a manner which provides for the safety of persons and property. The only vehicles allowed off the roadways are contractors who have obtained a permit. The roads may be used for visitation only, or while conducting business, or while attending a funeral, and are not available for public parking except when deemed necessary by St. Francis Regis Cemetery.
10.Visitors within the Cemetery shall use only the avenues, roads and walks allotted by the Cemetery for ingress or egress. Management expressly disclaims liability for any injuries sustained by anyone violating this rule.
11.Management reserves the right to regulate the method of decoration of plots so that uniform beauty and utility of the cemetery is maintained. Vases, solar lights and any other decorations are not to be placed in grass.
12.Management shall not be liable for vases, floral pieces or baskets in which or to which such floral pieces are attached.
13.Management reserves the right to remove or demand the removal of any flowers, vases, frames or designs. If floral frames are not collected within three days after a burial, or in time to allow access by other plot owners as needed for interment, by those entitled to them, Management may remove and dispose of them in any manner it sees fit.
14.St. Francis Regis Cemetery reserves the right to enlarge, reduce, re-plat or change the boundaries and/or grading of the cemetery, as well as any portion or portions thereof and, to modify or change the locations of, or remove or grade any of the roadways within the cemetery, and to lay, maintain and operate or change any pipes, including water or drainage pipes and/or electrical lines. St. Francis Regis Cemetery may use any portion of the cemetery property in connection with the operation of the cemetery.
15.No bicycles or motorcycles shall be permitted into or operated upon the cemetery property, except in the attendance of a funeral or having legitimate visitation or business in the cemetery.
USE OF RIGHTS OF INTERMENT OR MEMORIAL
1. St. Francis Regis Cemetery complies with all the laws applicable to the governing of cemeteries in the State of Louisiana.
2. St. Francis Regis will always respect the private property of the owner of a memorial within the cemetery and will, at all times, refrain, as far as possible, from unnecessarily touching or handling the property of others within the cemetery; and all other persons who enter the cemetery will be expected to do likewise.
3. St. Francis Regis Cemetery is not an insurer, nor will it be responsible for the loss, theft or damage of anything that may be placed in the cemetery with or without the permission of St. Francis Regis Cemetery.
4. The right to use any memorial shall be limited to the interment of the remains of the human dead, regardless of the nature, right or extent of ownership of the memorial.
5. The St. Francis Regis Cemetery must be notified whenever memorials are to be installed in the cemetery so that it will be assured that memorials are installed on the proper interment space and, also does not exceed the size provided for in the interment space.
6. Owners of plots are required to maintain tombs. Tombs must be hand washed. Pressure washers cannot be used in the cemetery. When a tomb requires painting, care must be taken not to damage or dirty nearby tombs.
7. In order that improvements be kept uniform, St. Francis Regis Cemetery reserves the right to regulate the size of all markers, monuments and other construction of any grave in said cemetery and to prevent the erection of any monument which may conflict with the regulations and which may distract from the general appearance of the grounds and St. Francis Regis Cemetery reserves the right to remove the same, if necessary.
8. All trees, shrubbery or flowers growing or planted in the cemetery shall remain the property of the cemetery and cannot be removed without the written consent of St. Francis Regis Cemetery. Only employees of the cemetery may embellish the grounds of the cemetery unless prior written permission is given by St. Francis Regis Cemetery.
9. Cement vaults are required on all burials. Coffins cannot be placed directly in the ground.
10.Temporary burial vaults must be positioned away from the street. In the Little Flower Garden section, temporary burial vaults must be placed in areas designated by St. Francis Regis Cemetery personnel.
11.No fences, chains or walls are permitted around memorials.
12.Extra dirt is to be removed from the cemetery to areas designated by St. Francis Regis Cemetery personnel at the time the permit is issued. Contractor must contact appropriate personnel each burial to learn designated areas.
13.Graves must be twelve (12") inches from the walkway.
14.In the Little Flower Section of the cemetery, tombs may not exceed more than twenty (20") inches above the ground and can be no higher than Grave 1, Row 1. Above-ground double tombs are not permitted. Further, tombs in the Little Flower Section must open from the top and not the side.
15.Whenever two burials are intended on one plot, work is to be done at the time of the first burial in order to protect the coping of nearby tombs.
16.Ground level, grass-covered burial places are not permitted in the Little Flower Garden Section.
17.Coping is required on all tombs. All coping, apron or skirting must be installed at the time the tomb is built and can be no higher than sidewalk level. A special permit must be obtained to add coping on an existing tomb. The coping must cover the entire plot.
18.A second tomb cannot be stacked on top of an existing tomb.
19.Cremains are allowed to be placed on top of an existing tomb in the proper vessels by a licensed contractor with a permit obtained through the office of St. John Francis Regis Church.
BABYLAND
1. In the area designated as BABYLAND II, the coffins cannot exceed 30” x 16” and no vaults are to be put in this area.
2. No graves above ground, grass tops only; grave has to be buried deep enough to have a minimum of 18 inches of ground cover on top
3. Ground markers only
4. No flowers/no candles
5. No walking spaces
6. No cost for right to burial in Babyland II; if larger, above ground headstone is wanted, then burial must be in a normal plot with normal regulations and normal cost of right to burial
OWNERSHIP AND ANNUAL FEES
1. A deed or certificate of ownership is to be produced at the time of interment. (Please call the office at 337-754-5912 if you cannot locate your deed.) If a deed cannot be found, the name of the person to whom the certificate was issued must be furnished and the date the plot was purchased must be given. The holder of the deed has the right to control the interment and will be responsible for making any necessary decisions.
2. Plot owners shall not permit interments to be made in their plot or plots for remuneration, but may sell said plot with all rights, privileges and obligations which accompany ownership thereof, provided the Cemetery is so notified and the new owner(s) are identified in the Cemetery records.
3. The cemetery administrator has the right to correct any and all errors that may occur in or in connection with the operation of the cemetery, as stipulated in Louisiana R.S. 8:813. This shall include the right to substitute other interment rights, approximately equal in value.
4. An annual cemetery fee of Twenty ($20.00) Dollars per tomb is charged by St. Francis Regis Cemetery.
CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
1. Plot owners must advise their burial company of the St. Francis Regis Cemetery Rules and Regulations.
2. Before any work is to begin in the cemetery, all contractors must obtain a permit in the parish office.
3. All contractors must furnish St. Francis Regis Cemetery with a current certificate of insurance naming Diocese of Lafayette and St. John Francis Regis Church as an additional insured before a permit will be issued.
4. Violating contractors may be sued for any resultant damage.
5. Violating contractors may be refused further access to the cemetery.
6. Cemetery work should be done in a timely manner, weather permitting. The timely manner shall be set forth by St. Francis Regis Cemetery personnel.
RIGHT OF DISPOSING OF REMAINS
1. The interment of a deceased person must be in accordance with his/her specific directives set forth in a written and notarized declaration. If no such declaration was executed by the deceased person, the right to control interment rests upon the following in the order listed:
a. The surviving spouse, if not judicially separated from the decedent.
1. The majority of the surviving adult children of the decedent, not including grandchildren or other more remote descendants.
b. The surviving parent(s) of the decedent.
c. A majority of the surviving adult brothers and sisters of the decedent.
d. A majority of the adult persons in the next decree of kindred.
PERMISSION TO REMOVE REMAINS
1. Unless other directions, in writing, have been given by the decedent, the remains of that deceased person may be removed (disinterred) upon written consent of the cemetery authority and one of the following in the order named:
a. The surviving spouse, if not judicially separated from the decedent.
b. All of the surviving adult children of the decedent, exclusive of grandchildren or other more remote descendants.
c. The surviving parents of the decedent.
d. All of the surviving adult brothers and sisters of the decedent.
2. No disinterment may be made without the written consent of St. Francis Regis Cemetery.