Sandusky parishes offer free burial for cremated remains

The Catholic Parishes of Sandusky are offering free burial for cremated remains at Calvary Cemetery, with applications due Nov. 13.

The program is open to anyone in the community, regardless of faith or parish affiliation, according to the parishes' announcement. It provides burial in an in-ground memorial crypt and an optional inscription of the person's name and birth and death years on a memorial stone.

A committal service for family and friends of those being buried is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 21 at Calvary Cemetery.

The application must be received by Nov. 13 at Catholic Cemeteries of Sandusky, 2020 Sanford St. Only original paper forms are accepted; electronic submissions are not.

The form requires a signature from someone authorized to make the burial decision and a valid cremation permit. It also specifies container requirements and permanent burial, including a waiver of requests to remove or relocate the remains. Applicants should read both pages before signing.

The parishes say the program begins a broader $250,000 charitable initiative funded by the Rupert and Maud Vogel Helping Hand Fund. Further projects have not yet been detailed in the announcement.

Questions may be directed to cemeteries administrator JoAnn Didion at jdidion@sanduskycatholic.org or 419-625-7500, the contact number listed in the announcement.