The Perpetual Care Funds are legal entities overseen by the state for the care of cemeteries.  The money from the Perpetual Care funds that churches have comes from part of the sales of graves, and here at Immaculate Conception and St. Patrick’s, $50 paid at the time of the actual burial is also added to that fund.  The original monies from these sales cannot be used.  Only the interest earned may be used in the upkeep of the cemetery.

Notice the wording,  “upkeep” of the cemeteries.  That means upkeep of the grounds in the mowing and trimming, and keeping the ground level in places where there may be frost heaves.  It can also cover the wages of the person doing the upkeep.  However, the gravestones in a cemetery belong to the family of the deceased.  These are not kept up by the church or from the earnings of the Perpetual Care Fund.  That is why, when a stone falls over, the family is the only one that can hire someone to re-stand the stone.  That way, if the stone cracks, or if other damage is done, that becomes the responsibility of the family to repair.