The Church, through its Funeral rites, commends the faithful departed to God’s merciful love and pleads for the forgiveness of their sins.  At the funeral rites, especially at the celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice, the Church affirms and expresses the union of the Church on earth with the Church in heaven in the one great Communion of Saints.  Though separated from the living, the dead are still at one with the community of believers on earth and benefit from their prayers and intercession.  At the rite of Final Commendation and Farewell, the Church acknowledges the reality of separation and commends the deceased to God.  In this way, it recognizes the spiritual bond that still exists between the living and the dead and proclaims its belief that all the faithful will be raised up and reunited in the new heavens and a new earth, where death will be no more.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let the Perpetual Light shine upon them. 
May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

St. Mary’s & St. Martin’s Cemeteries


Cemetery Regulations
• Flowers (live or artificial) in elevated containers or vases of metal, wood, or plastic may remain on the grave from May 1 to October 1.
• Memorial Day decorations may remain on the grave through June 10.  Winter decorations may remain on the grave from November 1 to April 1.
• Maximum size of decorations or flower containers may not exceed 36 inches wide by 8 inches long.
• One container elevated off the ground is permitted for each headstone.
• The family is responsible for removal and disposal of depreciated flowers, containers, vases, and decorations.
• Cemetery personnel retain the right to remove flowers, containers, vases, and decorations that are in violation of cemetery regulations or are not properly maintained.
• Planting of trees, shrubs, bushes, etc. is strictly prohibited.
• Keep the cemetery grounds clean and do not throw any wreathes or old plants into the surrounding fields. Please only use the parish dumpster in the lower parking lot.
 
Cremation Regulations
• Upon purchase of burial rights, the grave must be designated for the burial of one casket or up to three cremated remains.
• Burial of cremated remains must be arranged through the parish office.
• A maximum of three cremated remains may be buried in one grave.
• Locations for the burial of cremated remains are designated1-2-3 from the head of the grave.
• Each cremated remains must have a distinct marked burial location.
• The location of previously buried cremated remains must be marked by the family and cemetery personnel.
• When the location of previously buried cremated remains has not been identified by the family, to respect the previously buried cremated remains only one burial per grave is allowed.
• Questions regarding the burial of cremated remains should be referred to the parish office.

Miscarriages may be placed on an existing plot of a family member. In the future, we will have a dedicated area for miscarried babies so they may have a proper burial area.

Every year in May and November we take up a collection for our cemeteries. The funds go to our perpetual care fund and the interest earned is used for the upkeep of our cemeteries. Please use the envelopes provided in your packet for the perpetual care of our two cemeteries, St. Martin's, Cherma and St. Mary’s, or mark an envelope “Cemetery” with your name and amount and drop it in the Sunday offertory collection basket. 

Administrative Assistant - (Cemetery plot/deed questions or purchases) 715-629-0154 or email at [email protected]

St. Mary's Parish has the care of two cemeteries:
St. Mary's Cemetery is located next to the St. Mary's church building.
St. Martin's Cemetery is located by the former location of the old St. Martin's church in Cherma, WI.