Many people aren’t sure how to behave in a cemetery setting. This lack of knowledge can be a cause of stress for some people who decide to visit their loved one’s gravesite. At Sunset View Cemetery, our staff is dedicated to fostering a peaceful and respectful cemetery atmosphere. We encourage our neighbors in El Cerrito, Kensington, and Berkeley to treat any cemetery they visit with respect and care.

 

Here are some helpful tips for cemetery etiquette:

 

Respect the silence.

From the moment you arrive on cemetery grounds, try to keep the noise levels to a minimum. If you’re pulling up to the cemetery parking lot, be sure your car windows are up, and you’re not blasting loud music to everyone nearby. As you walk through the graveyard, try to keep your voice to a minimum and avoid using your phone or even turn it on silent or do not disturb. If you’d like to listen to music or something else while you walk around the cemetery, use headphones so as not to disturb other visitors.

 

Mind your pets.

Dogs are allowed in many cemeteries, so if you decide to bring your pet with you to visit a gravesite, be sure they’re on a leash. Clean up after them and do your best to keep them quiet and contained as you explore the cemetery.

 

Try not to touch monuments or gravestones.

Many years-old monuments and gravestones are fragile and can be sensitive to even the lightest touch. Try not to lean on or touch the monuments or headstones during your cemetery visit. It’s a way of showing respect to the families who place flowers and other mementoes at their loved one’s memorial.

 

Give a funeral service space.

If you encounter a funeral procession or ceremony during your visit to a cemetery, step aside and let the procession pass or avoid getting too close to the site of a funeral service. Giving people who are actively mourning space and quiet is a wonderful way to demonstrate reverence for the dead.

 

If you’re looking for a final resting place for you or a family member, stop by our funeral home to visit our state-of-the-art cemetery and grounds. Before your visit, view photos of our beautiful cemetery here. Contact our friendly staff to learn more about our funeral or cremation services or to schedule a time to tour our cemetery.