(520) 888-0860 info@dotcc.org

Decoration Policies

The Diocese of Tucson Catholic Cemeteries welcomes all families and friends to visit with their loved ones and bring tributes to help honor the deceased. These gifts are often beautiful and help to make the cemetery a truly colorful and sacred place. We do, however, have some policies and regulations in place that not only help ensure the cemetery stays a holy place of prayer and remembrance but also a safe place for everyone who visits.

Why Are There Decoration Policies?

As meaningful and personal as some decorations can be, there have been instances where they can pose a serious risk to visitors. A simple glass candle or even a wooden crucifix can cause injury if accidentally damaged by our grounds staff and their equipment. In addition, unfortunately theft is a very real occurrence. We sympathize with families when either of these situations occurs, but realistically the cemetery cannot be held responsible for these losses or in the event an item is stolen.

We all have a common purpose, remembering the memorializing our beloved deceased at their graves, crypts, and niches while maintaining an overall order and beauty to our cemetery grounds and buildings. Thank you for your continued cooperation.

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Our Decoration Policies

Vases that are purchased with memorials are the approved vases of the cemetery. Decorations must always be placed in these secured vases and should not be stuck in the ground or placed on the floor of the mausoleum.

Flowers placed at memorials must not exceed 18″ in height.

Floral tributes which are a part of funeral offerings will be left on the grave for five days after the service before being removed.

We observe the same flag protocol as the National Cemeteries. Flags may be placed directly behind or in front of a memorial. Please keep in mind that the U.S. Government and our cemeteries strongly regulate the disposal of flags.

The following items are not permitted at any time on or near a memorial or to be hung by the landscaping of the cemetery.

  • Candles
  • Glass
  • Metal
  • Wood
  • Ceramic
  • Plastic Toys
  • Alcohol
  • Potted Plants
  • Pictures

Families and friends are not allowed to place borders of any kind around a loved one’s grave as it disrupts our grounds crew from maintaining our beautiful cemetery landscape.

The cemetery reserves the right to remove any decorations that do not conform to our decoration policies or become unsightly or diseased.

Cemetery Cleaning

February 1-15th
August 1-15th

Items can be put back in vases beginning February 16th and August 16th

Mark your calendars!

In order to keep our cemetery as beautiful and sacred as it is, we routinely clean and maintain our grounds. However, twice a year, we perform an extensive cleaning to help ensure the cemetery stays looking the best it possibly can for all visitors. This cleanup is done between February 1-15 and again between August 1-15. Our Cemetery Grounds Staff remove ALL decorations and items left out during these dates. If you wish to save your decorations, please remove them before January 31 and July 31. Decorations may be placed after February 16 and August 16.

Holiday Adornments

We observe the following holidays:

  • Easter
  • Mother’s Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Father’s Day
  • Veteran’s Day
  • All Souls Day
  • Christmas