Prices & Regulations

Woodlawn-North Purchase Cemeteries Associations (“WNP” or the “Cemetery”) is a private nonprofit cemetery corporation organized under Massachusetts Law, with the power and duty to provide for the care and management of its properties.  In accordance with such power and duty, WNP promulgates the following Rules and Regulations so as to assure its preservation, improvement and protection as a resting place for past generations and as a place of serenity and beauty for quiet enjoyment by the families and friends of the deceased.  A deed or certificate of a cemetery lot, columbarium niche or mausoleum crypt does not convey a fee or grant any ownership interest in the land or soil of the Cemetery; it conveys a right of burial or an easement to use the lot, niche or crypt for the remains of the deceased for so long as WNP’s property continues to be used as a cemetery, subject to the present and future rules and regulations of the Cemetery.

Visitors

Visitors are welcome to walk, bicycle or drive (at no more than 10 mph) on the Cemetery property.  Visitors are to wear proper attire, including shirts and footwear, and respect the privacy and solemnity of graveside services.  No walking of pets without a leash and not immediately cleaning up after them, fast bicycling, rollerblading, sunbathing, lounging or picnicking is allowed on Cemetery grounds.  Jogging and fast walking are acceptable but, for safety reasons, no earphones should be worn at any time when doing so on Cemetery property.

Visitors when on the grounds are at their own risk, and WNP assumes no responsibility or liability for any injury that visitors may sustain during their visit.

Children under 16 years of age are welcome to visit but must be accompanied by an adult who shall bear responsibility for their conduct.

Pedestrians are expected to walk only on the roadways or on lanes designated for pedestrian use.  If the only access to a lot is across another lot, then the necessary crossing is permitted.

Vehicular travel shall be limited to the Cemetery roadways, and shall be done slowly and as quietly as possible.

The Cemetery property, including its roadways, is closed to visitors from dusk to dawn.

Prohibited Activities

The following are strictly prohibited on Cemetery property:

1. Bringing, leaving, consuming or using alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs on Cemetery property.
2. Dumping, littering of any kind, or lighting fires.
3. Use of drones.
4. Instructing persons in motor vehicle use and operation.
5. Performing any work within the Cemetery without the WNP Superintendent’s permission.
6. Soliciting or selling any product or service.
7. Placement of any signs, political banners, notices or advertisements.
8. Weapons of any kind (military funerals and law enforcement officers excepted).
9. ATVs, snow mobiles, dirt bikes, go karts, sleds, skis, toboggans, and skateboards.
10. Disturbing or damaging any structure, tree, plant, shrub or grass area.
11. In an effort to protect the privacy of persons on Cemetery property, photography, videography or recording of persons other than those in your own party is prohibited. The installation and use of trail or game cameras is also prohibited.

Individuals wishing to film or take photographs or video on Cemetery grounds intended for public or commercial publication are prohibited from doing so without the written permission of the Superintendent.  Such permission shall be in writing and any film, photograph or video that is intended to be used in such manner must also be approved prior to its publication.

Maintenance of Cemetery Grounds

Trees, shrubs and flowers are placed throughout the Cemetery by WNP for the overall beauty and serenity of the grounds.  No planting or removal of any trees, shrubs or flowers may take place without the approval of the Superintendent.  The Cemetery reserves the right to remove all unsightly faded or artificial plants, dead plants, flowers, wreaths or other decorations.

Glass containers, artificial lighting, candles, wind chimes, pinwheels, balloons, toys, garden ornaments, banners, metal rods, birdhouses, hand-made monuments, etc., unless approved by the Superintendent, are not allowed and shall be removed.

Fences, hedges, curbing enclosures, ironwork, wire work, seats, vases, landscape lighting and corner posts above grade require approval, and may be removed by the Cemetery without notice.

Cemetery personnel may at any time enter upon any lots or graves or other Cemetery property to keep the same neat and clear of grass, weeds, and debris, as well as to remove any artifacts from gravesites and other Cemetery property, including artificial flowers, stuffed animals, ribbons, bows, balloons, as well as other items determined to be offensive or improper in a cemetery setting.  The Cemetery reserves the right to use its discretion in making these determinations.

Objects whose appearance, condition or safety warrant removal or violate Cemetery Rules and Regulations shall be removed, and the Cemetery shall not be liable for any keepsake, souvenir, flower, grass, shrub, decoration or other item that is damaged or removed.

No items may be placed beyond 18 inches from the front of a monument or on the sides or behind a monument without the approval of the Superintendent, and the encasing, enclosing or surrounding of a cemetery lot by any means is not allowed.

General

1. An order in writing is required from the owner of the right to use a lot or plot for interment, or from his or her representative, whenever grave work is to be done.
2. The Cemetery reserves the right at all times to approve and prescribe the kind, size, design, symbolism, craftsmanship, quality and material of memorials, inscriptions, monuments, or markers placed or to be placed in the Cemetery.
3. The location and position in which a monument or marker is to be placed or erected on a lot shall be subject to the approval of the Cemetery, and shall be under the supervision of the Cemetery.
4. Private contractors and others shall be held responsible for any damage done to lots, graves, paths, roads, plantings, trees, structures, or to the lawn, and all necessary precautions shall be taken to avoid damage.
5. The Cemetery reserves the right to resurvey and subdivide unsold lots or plots or parts thereof.
6. The use of one grave space shall be limited to interments as follows, unless otherwise permitted by the Cemetery:
   1. a) One adult burial, or
   2. b) One adult burial and one infant burial, or
   3. c) One adult burial and three urns of cremated remains, or
   4. d) Four urns of cremated remains.
7. The right of interment in a plat or lot or any unoccupied portion thereof may not be sold, but may only be resold to the Cemetery at the price originally paid. The Cemetery shall have no obligation to purchase a lot or any portion thereof offered for sale by a lot holder.  Such right of interment shall be transferable (but not salable) by the lot holder pursuant to definite, reasonable and practical written instructions filed with the Cemetery, pursuant to the lot holder’s duly probated last will, or pursuant to the intestate laws of Massachusetts.
8. In the event the Cemetery has erred either in making interments or in the placing of structures or in any inscriptions or records, the Cemetery shall have the right to make necessary corrections.
9. It is the duty of each owner of the right to use a plot or lot for interment, or his or her representative, to notify the Cemetery of any changes in the owner’s or representative’s mailing address and of any other contact information changes.
10. The Cemetery should be contacted in regards to any and all questions which may arise under its Rules and Regulations, as well as any matters which are not specifically addressed therein.
11. The Cemetery Rules and Regulations are intended to be in conformity with the by‑laws of the Cemetery and with the charter through which it exists.
12. All interments, disinterments, cremations, dispositions and removals shall be subject to the laws, ordinances and regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and of the City of Attleboro which are now or from time to time hereafter may be in force.
13. The Cemetery shall have the right to enforce its Rules and Regulations by taking such actions as it deems reasonably necessary so as to ensure that its properties are maintained in a safe, attractive, serene and dignified manner for all families and friends of the deceased and for all other visitors to its properties.
14. The Cemetery reserves the right to amend, suspend, revise, alter or modify any of its Rules and Regulations at any time, with or without notice, as it shall deem necessary or appropriate for its purposes as a private nonprofit cemetery association.