Memorial Garden
The Memorial Garden of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Palmerton is available for the placement of ashes following cremation.
All questions of eligibility are to be resolved by the clergy in consultation with the wardens. In the absence of clergy, the wardens will resolve questions of eligibility.
Procedure:
1. Burial preference forms may be obtained from the church office at any time. This form may be filed as advance planning for the disposition of a person’s remains.
2. Any disposition of remains in the Memorial Garden is to be maintained in a file in the parish office with the following information: name, last address, date of birth, name and address of funeral director, date of burial, date of placement of ashes, any other relevant information.
3. Upon delivery of the ashes, the manner and time of their placement in the memorial Garden shall be determined by the clergy in consultation with the next of kin.
4. Ashes will be put directly in the ground with no container and no markers or indication as to the location of the ashes.
5. All ashes upon incorporation with the earth become indistinguishable from the ground and are the property of the church.
6. A name plate shall be mounted on a tablet for each person whose ashes have been placed in the garden.
7. Care, planting and maintenance of the Memorial Garden shall be determined by the vestry.
8. No flowers, decorations, or any other objects may be put in the garden, either permanently or temporarily except by approval of the clergy and wardens.
Monetary Charges:
There is no charge for the disposition of ashes in the garden.
Cost of the name plate will be made known to the financially responsible person in the estate of the deceased.
In the event there are no funds readily available to make payment for the same, the cost will be borne by the church.
Consider also Endowments and Memorials
An endowment or gift is given for a specific purpose.
Money comes from parishioners and friends of the church and include: cash; appreciated stock; bequests in wills; as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy; IRA’s and 401k plans, living trust, wills, annuity trust, charitable lead trust, retirement funds, tax sheltered annuities, etc.
There are a variety of ways to give to an endowment or memorial and these should be discussed with your tax attorney or CPA to secure the best tax advantages.