Flower and Decoration Regulations
Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Homes (DOPCCFH) has an obligation and responsibility to all the owners of burial rights to maintain and preserve the appearance of its cemeteries. The following rules and regulations are made in the best interest of all concerned so that the cemeteries may continue to be a refuge for those seeking a serene location for reflection, meditation and/or prayer.
DOPCCFH is not responsible for items, including vases, which are missing or stolen from a grave, mausoleum or columbarium location or space.
Clean-Up Policies
- Removal of all floral arrangements, including those that are in the prescribed vase units, decorations, plants and shrubs, will take place at certain specified times during the year for the purpose of a complete maintenance cleanup of the cemetery.
- The dates for the general cemetery clean up are located on website at http://www.dopccfh.org/events and posted at cemetery locations.
- DOPCCFH shall not be responsible or liable for decorations not removed by the burial right owner or a visitor after the removal date occurs.
- All flowers and decorations must allow trimming around the gravesite, access for maintenance or for nearby burial. DOPCCFH will remove flowers and decorations not conforming with these rules and regulations as necessary at any time.
Cemetery-Specific Flower Clean-Up Dates
- Flower removal at St. Francis, Queen of Heaven, Holy Redeemer and Holy Cross Catholic Cemeteries is quarterly. Cleanup is scheduled for the second week in January, seven days after Easter, the second week of July, and the first week of October. Dates may be subject to change due to holidays. Please refer to our events page for more details.
- Flower removal for Calvary and All Souls Catholic Cemeteries is 7 days after Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.
Special Holidays
Placement of decorations for special days (Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and All Souls Day) may be placed seven days before those days and are deemed removable by DOPCCFH seven days after. All holiday decorations may only be placed in approved cemetery vases. Any decoration not in a vase will be immediately removed and discarded.
The only exception to the special holiday rule is Christmas when decorations are permitted immediately after Thanksgiving with regularly scheduled removal commencing in January. Christmas wreaths may be placed on gravesites if they are no more than 24 inches in diameter and are on an easel. Christmas trees must fit in a cemetery approved vase and measure no more than 24 inches in height and may not encroach on another gravesite or grave marker.
Prohibited at All Times
- The digging of holes, etching, or mowing of designs, borders, etc. for any purpose whatsoever is strictly prohibited.
- Artificial borders on or around the grave space are not permitted, including granite chips, marble chips, gravel, stone, cement and trenching.
- No planting of flowers, bushes, shrubs or trees will be permitted.
- Memorialization of any kind may not be installed without written consent from DOPCCFH.
- The following items, along with others, are never allowed in the cemetery: Glass, balloons, pinwheels, candles, metal cans or decorations, chimes, wooden or metal crosses, toys, statues, pictures, cards, personal items, beverage containers, fences, loose objects, incense sticks, solar lights, vigil lights, boxes, cans, shells, lawn ornaments, signs, non-approved vases, concrete urns, potted plants and food.
- Floral arrangements and decorations not in DOPCCFH-approved vases will be removed and discarded.
- Management will remove and discard any items immediately if they pose a potential danger to the maintenance crews and visitors.
- Decorations on surrounding trees and shrubs are not permitted
Floral Displays at Interment Services
- Floral stands, wreaths, baskets and other floral tributes, which are part of floral offerings at the time of interment, will be left for a period of three days.
- DOPCCFH does not accept responsibility for any damage to floral pieces, baskets or frames at the graveside committal services.
- During the general clean up, the only floral arrangements and decorations permitted will be those that are placed for the purpose of a burial and funeral service.
- DOPCCFH is not responsible for floral arrangements damaged by the elements, thieves, vandals or any other causes beyond our control.
Mausoleums and Columbariums
- Fresh flowers are not permitted in the enclosed mausoleum areas.
- All artificial flowers on crypts or niches must be placed in DOPCCFH-approved vases.
- Floral arrangements that encroach on other crypts or niche fronts are prohibited.
- Decorations, cards, pictures, stickers, tape or other material may not be affixed to the crypt or niche front.
- DOPCCFH reserves the right to remove and dispose of any decoration from a crypt or niche that management deems inappropriate.
Our Flower Tribute Program
As a convenience to our families, Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes offers a flower tribute program that assists you in providing your loved ones with beautiful silk arrangements for special occasions, on a seasonal basis or year-round.
You can select from the following:
- Yearly Tribute (6 Times Per Year)
Flowers are placed quarterly based on our clean-up dates, plus two additional dates. This provides you with beautiful silk flowers all year long. - Seasonal Tribute (4 Times Per Year)
A seasonal silk flower arrangement is placed every three months. - Special Occasion Tribute (2 Times Per Year)
Select two special dates, such as a birthday, holiday or anniversary to have flowers placed. - Single Occasion Tribute (1 Time)
If you prefer, we can place a silk flower arrangement on the date of your choosing.
For more information on this program, please contact Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes at (602) 267-3960 or visit our Cemetery Flower Store.
