Frequently Asked Questions

What are the cemetery costs for lots and niches?

Costs vary by choice of location, and type of burial option.  Our preplanning staff will provide you with a detailed list and answer any questions you may have on your options and costs.

What assurances do I have that the cemetery will be kept up in the future?

A percentage of the cost of each grave or niche goes into a permanent care fund which insures that our cemetery will be maintained.

What is perpetual care and maintenance?

Perpetual care and maintenance provides for regular care and maintenance of the cemetery, which can include mowing, regrading, planting and maintaining trees, water supply system maintenance, roads, drainage, and more.   In addition to a portion of each sale being set aside for this fund, Saint John's has a cemetery fund for memorial donations or contributions to help with the continued care and improvement of the cemetery and landscaping.

Do I have to pay in full now for cemetery property?

No.  Convenient payment plans designed with no interest or finance charges are offered if full payment is not possible.  Major credit cards are also accepted.

Is there a time limit after a death for a person to be buried?

States have different laws; some limit the maximum time before final disposition.  Things that must be considered: securing official permits and authorizations, notifying friends and family, preparation of the burial site, and religious requirements.  Your funeral director will be well-versed on the regulations.  In addition, with cremation, a cemetery interment can take place at a time and date that is convenient to the family.  Sometimes, because of extenuating circumstances, or choice, the cemetery service can be held even years after the actual cremation.

What about embalming – is it required? 

No.  Embalming is a matter of choice and is not required.  Your decision will be influenced by several factors: 1) length of time between death and burial; 2) if you plan to have an open coffin or casket for a public visitation; 3) to enhance the deceased's appearance in an open casket for public viewing or private viewing by family members; 4) public transportation of the body by plane or train.

What are interment fees?

Fees for interment cover the cost of many separate services performed by cemetery personnel. They include administering and permanent recordkeeping – we determine ownership, obtain permission and complete all other necessary documents, enter the interment details in the interment register, and maintain all legal files.  The fees also include opening and closing the grave – we locate and lay out the boundaries of the grave, excavate and fill the space.  We also level, tamp, regrade and sod or seed the grave site, and level and re-sod it if the earth settles.

What is a burial vault?

A burial vault is the outside container into which the casket or urn itself is placed.  It is designed to protect the casket or urn and keep the grave surface from sinking in.  Burial vaults vary – they can be built of one or more of the following materials: concrete, stainless steel, galvanized steel, copper, bronze, plastic, and fiberglass.

May I make the necessary arrangements in advance?

Yes.  You can purchase a cemetery space in advance.  Planning ahead lets you consider the options you prefer.  As an informed consumer, you can make the decisions about your funeral, your cemetery arrangements, and the kind of memorial you want.  It's also a wise economical choice, because you purchase at today's prices, free from future inflationary pressures.

Who should be involved in funeral preparation?

Today individuals and families often purchase cemetery space decades before it is expected to be needed.   Preplanning for a cemetery need is quite similar to preparing a will.  It is done for those who will be left behind and will have to handle end-of-life details.  We also have literature on hand to provide step-by-step funeral planning.

When I buy a grave, do I receive a deed?

Rather than a deed, you will receive a Certificate of Burial Rights.  The purchase of a grave or a niche is actually a purchase of the right to designate who may be buried in that space – subject to what the cemetery's rules permit. You're not actually purchasing the space itself – that remains the property and responsibility of the cemetery. Purchasers will receive a Certificate of Burial Rights as proof of purchase to inter the individual's remains. 

Can I mail cremated remains to Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery?

Yes.   Cremated remains may be shipped through the U.S. Postal Service, but they must be shipped by registered mail with return receipt requested. UPS and FedEx will not accept cremated remains for shipment.

The United States Postal Service has the following rules for shipping human ashes:

Cremated Remains

462.2 Human ashes are permitted to be mailed provided they are packaged as required in 463b (SEE BELOW.) The identity of the contents should be marked on the address side. Mail pieces must be sent registered mail with return receipt service.

Packaging and Marking - The following conditions apply:

463b. Powders. Dry materials that could cause damage, discomfort, destruction, or soiling upon escape (i.e., leakage) must be packed in siftproof containers or other containers that are sealed in durable siftproof outer containers.

What is the proper procedure for mailing cremated remains to Saint John’s Abbey?

Mail to:

Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery Office, PO Box 2400, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321

Step 1: Get the proper container. The cremation remains must be in a container that is sealed and resilient enough to withstand shipping. The container also must be spill-proof.

Step 2: Fill out a Registered Mail Return Receipt Requested form. This is a green and white card offered by the United States Postal Service to request proof of delivery. The card will be mailed back to you with the signature of the person who received the cremation remains.

Step 3: Identify the package as containing cremation remains. This must be noted on the address side of the shipping label.

Step 4: Go to the nearest post office and ship the cremation remains either by Express Mail, Priority Mail or Package Services. All three of these options allow you to ship using the Registered Mail Return Receipt Requested feature.