Temporary Markers in Cemetery (Prior to Headstone)

[Carol Hochstadt]

Friends:
As Chairperson of a group that manages three cemeteries, I'd be interested in knowing whether any Jewish cemeteries place temporary markers (with the deceased's name) on graves prior to the placement of the headstone or footstone. If so how, specifically, do you do it? We are thinking of making a laminated index card and attaching it to a plastic "stake" -- but to this point we have not addressed this issue.

Also, what if family members do not follow through with erecting any monument? We have been leaving such graves unmarked, hopefully keeping the cemetery maps updated to avoid accidental disturbance in the future. Our purchasing individual markers would be financially prohibitive. If you have any other ideas, we'd be interested in hearing from you.

Many thanks, and best regards,
Carol (Utah)

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[MIMI MAIZLECH]

Hi Carol ~
I work in a small Jewish FH in Pittsburgh, PA and in all of the 50+ Jewish cemeteries in our area it is the funeral home who arranges for the temp. marker, its built into our contracts, so it is the families who pay for it.
As far as families not erecting a monument...I think that is a question that requires a rabbinic ruling; there could be circumstances why one couldn't or wouldn't (G-D forbid) get a monument.
I do believe that it is 100% WRONG to leave a grave unmarked. 
I  hope you find a way to fix this issue.
Good luck to you and your community!
Good Shabbos!
Mimi Maizlech, Pittsburgh

Mimi E. Maizlech mi...@usa.net 412-608-0418

[CDJ]

Hi, Carol,

 

Kol haKavod on your concern about these matters.

 

Temp markers: funeral home does this for us. It consists of a small (about 3 x 5) rugged plastic rectangle, afixed to a sturdy post (about 1/4" diameter, 18" long), with a plastic laminate on which the deceased's name and date of death is printed.  I'll photo one tomorrow and add it to this correspondence.

 

As for unmarked graves, once it becomes certain that there is nobody willing, able, extant, etc. to place a marker I order one for about $80: smaller (like flat military markers) than typical markers, on which is inscribed the person's name in English and Hebrew and the date of death in English and Hebrew.  If the family is reachable I send a bill with a nice letter - to date none has been paid for.  So it goes; but it's anathema to leave them unmarked and the occasional less-than-big-bucks expense is well worth it.  How often does this occur in SLC?  Have the clergy of Kol Ami and Chabbad been told about this?

 

Cantor David Julian

Beth Sholom Synagogue

Memphis, TN

(901) 683-3591  ext 212

 

[Daniel Mandel]

Hi Carol,

 

I agree with the others that graves should not be left unmarked.  Kelco carries a nice variety of these temporary markers and some will hold for fairly long periods of time.  I have put a supply in to serve cemeteries that do not provide them.  you can reach Kelco at (800) 328-7720.

 

Daniel A. Mandel

Mandel Funeral Services

Of Northern California

   (866) 962-6335

Carol Hochstadt <cste...@animail.net> wrote:

[Sandy Rife]

We always place a temporary marker. The family is asked by the Jewish funeral home, and if they want a marker, the funeral home brings it to the cemetery. It is metal with the name and date in letters that can be placed to form the name,etc. I have also seen the laminated card on a stake used in Toronto.

Sandy Rife

Mt. Sinai Cemetery

Phoenix, AZ

(480) 585-6060

 

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[z...@ns.sympatico.ca]

Hi there,

I am chair of our small Cemetary in the small Jewish community in
Halifax, Canada. We use outsource to have monuments made and for
their deliveries, and we have found that temporary markers work. We
had them made by our shul caretaker - a simple item made from plywood
with a plexiglass cover simply screwed on the face, and we slide in
the name to mark the spot. We too keep a map to keep everything in
order. Fortunately for us, all our graves have or will have a
monument. I believe anyone who is a little handy, can make up some
markers for you at very little cost.

Best wishes,
Mitchell Zusman,
Shaar Shalom Congregation,
Halifax, NS, Canada