Jan Dexter photo.

Fairhaven woman alerts locals about extreme policy change at the New Bedford cemeteries

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“My sisters and I just got back from the Rural Cemetery. We went there to put flowers on our mom’s grave for her birthday and Mother’s Day and we discovered that the two small cement statues we had placed on the grave along with the perpetual light candle holder had all been removed.

I called the cemetery office and was told ALL decorations, no matter what they are, had been removed from ALL the graves and if not picked up within 30 days will be disposed of! No notification was sent out as far as I know. Lucky for us we were within the 30 days to get our items back.

While I understand that some people may go overboard with decorating the graves of their loved ones the pamphlet the cemetery workers gave us states that not even PERENNIAL FLOWERS will be allowed! This is a picture of our parents’ grave.

I’d like to know who’s going to dig all those perennial flowers up and why that would even be necessary since we paid for that plot and should be allowed to have tasteful flowers & decorations. Also, see the pictures of the pamphlet we were given telling us what is now “acceptable.” What’s acceptable?? According to the new rules, basically nothing!

Also, see the picture of the inside of the garage where everyone’s items are being temporarily stored. Folks, you better get a move on if you have any decorations on the graves of your loved ones in any of the city-run cemeteries! The time to reclaim your items grows short.”-Jan Dexter.

All photos by Jan Dexter:

About Michael Silvia

Served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Owner of New Bedford Guide.

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3 comments

  1. Thank you for your post. I thought my dad’s grave was vandalized.

  2. This is obsurd!!
    I havent heard anything about this until now, and I will be contacting the Mayors office! So, we cannot plant flowers?? If I could dig my family up, I would have them ALL buried elsewhere!!!
    “New Bedford, making friends, & infuencing people”! SMH ?

  3. The same thing happened to us at the Saint Sauveur cemetery. Bunch of crooks. They want us to buy only the church’s white flowers when certain ones have sentimental value. Even when asking if we could pay the same ridiculous price they have set for the white ones but plant our own, they said no and continue to rip out the flowers every year. They changed the policy, and it’s not like we can relocate. Terrible people out there.

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