How to Find Where a Relative Is Buried

Cemetery landscapes change as more pathways and stones are added over time.

Over a long period of years, the exact location of the burial site of a loved one may become difficult to find in areas with many cemeteries. To further complicate matters, the visual landscape of a cemetery changes over time as trees are removed or planted and due to hundreds more burial sites being installed. With the expansion of any cemetery, the pathways and roads may be changed, removed or added to. Armed with a little specific information on where to turn can help in locating your loved one's burial location in the least time possible.

Instructions

1. Determine in which cemetery your loved one is buried. If you have the person's Social Security number, or if you can get it, contact your state department of vital statistics and inquire about ordering a certified copy of your relative's death certificate. The location where the burial presided should be listed on the death certificate.

2. Drive to the cemetery where your relative is buried and locate the caretaker (sometimes called the 'undertaker') central office. Ask for assistance in locating your relative's gravesite by providing the person's full name and Social Security number. Most well-run cemeteries maintain location records for each of the gravesites present in the cemetery and will be able provide you with a map of the cemetery with a mark on it indicating where your relative's site is to be found.

3. Drive or walk through the pathways of the cemetery, following the directions on the map leading to your relative's gravesite.

Tips & Warnings

• Some cemeteries have offices off-site and independent of the cemetery grounds themselves. If so, inquire where this main office is located, as the records should be kept there.

References

• Colorado Cemetries: Sexton Records