Cemetery

We provide the community with cemetery services at Avondale Cemetery. We are dedicated to helping families and individuals understand and make decisions regarding cemetery services and products. We do this in a manner that is sensitive, caring and comforting. Please call 519-271-0250 extension 244 or email us to learn how our dedicated team can assist you.

Our office is located at 4 Avondale Avenue, and our Hours of Operation are Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 12:00pm, and 1:00pm - 4:30pm.

How can we direct you?

Cemetery FAQ

Honouring your Loved Ones: First Steps
Burial Options
Cemetery Facilities
Pre-planning
Fees and Charges
Genealogical Information/Family Trees

Find a Person
Other Resources
Read our by-law (fees, rights, lots)
View our cemetery map

Cemetery Map

A map outlining the grounds of the cemetery is now available.

Cemetery Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Honouring your loved ones: First Steps

We have experienced a loss in the family, what do we need to do to now?

Call us at 519-271-0250 extension 244 to schedule an appointment. We will walk you through how to select a property location, and draw up a contract. Payment in full may be due at the signing of the contract.

When I buy a plot, do I own the land?

No. What you own is the right to determine who may be buried in your lot. These rights are called interment or burial rights. The land remains the property and the responsibility of the Cemetery.

How long do I own my burial rights?

You and your heirs will own the burial rights forever. To protect your rights, a percentage of the burial sale is placed in a "care and maintenance" trust fund. See What is "Care and Maintenance Fee" (also known as perpetual fee) under Fees and Charges.

Do you resell the land after a long time?

No. In Ontario, cemeteries are intended to be operated forever. Once you purchase a grave, the burial rights are registered in the name of the owner forever.

Can I sell my plot to someone else?

Yes you may, however there are specific conditions and certain steps required to ensure the transfer of ownership is registered in the Cemetery's records. Please contact us at 519-271-0250 extension 244 for details.

Can anyone in my family use the grave, niche, or cremation lot?

Yes. The written permission of the registered burial rights holder is required before anyone can make use of a grave, crypt, niche or urn space.

Can we plant a tree, bush, or flowers on our family grave?

Bushes and flowers are allowed in certain areas and situations. If allowed, the care of bushes and flowers is your responsibility. Trees are not allowed.

Can I put any grave marker on my family grave?

No, as we have restrictions with regards to size and style. Commerical grave markers are available, and most are allowed. Please discuss your wishes with our cemetery staff.

Burial and Memorial Options

What burial options are available for purchase at the Avondale Cemetery?

Single Plot - 4 cremations or 1 burial and 2 cremations
Cremation Lot Single - 1 cremation
Cremation Lot Double - 2 cremations
Columbarium Niche - up to 2 cremations (as space permits)
Mausoleum Crypt - 4 cremations or 1 casket entombment

Do you have other Memorial Options?

Memorial Bench - You can memorialize your loved ones with a bench, which can be placed at specific locations around Stratford. We can assist you in choosing the best location for your bench. Your purchase of a Memorial Bench includes an 8" x 5" bronze plaque. Refer to our schedule of fees and charges.
Memorial Tree - Commemorate your loved one with a tree from a list of trees specifically chosen for their hardiness and esthetics. We can assist you in choosing a strategic location for the placement of a tree which will become a living memorial to your loved one. Please note, we do not plaque trees. Refer to our schedule of fees and charges.
Scattering Garden - We have created a large scattering garden that is a designated area where cremated remains are meant to be scattered. Families often choose to scatter a portion or all of their loved one's remains in the cemetery scattering garden even if their loved one wished to be scattered in an alternative personally meaningful location. Families can choose to memorialize their loved ones within the garden on a plaque. The garden is close to Section 25.

Cemetery Facilities

Periodically as part of regular cemetery maintenance, items that are wilted or deteriorating are cleaned up by cemetery staff, including artificial flowers.

What is a Columbarium?

A columbarium is a structure specifically designed and constructed to hold urns containing cremated remains in numerous small compartments or niches. The Avondale Cemetery has a Columbarium.

What is a Mausoleum?

A mausoleum is an above-ground structure for the placing of human remains. Mausoleums have been used for hundreds of years, and modern building methods allow the construction of enduring beautiful mausoleums at prices affordable to nearly everyone.

Within a mausoleum, crypt spaces exist. A crypt space is where a casket is placed. This space is dry, vented, clean, and safely sealed. The Avondale Cemetery has a mausoleum.

What is a Scattering Garden?

We have created a large scattering garden that is a designated area

where cremated remains are meant to be scattered. Families often choose to scatter a portion or all of their loved one's remains in the cemetery scattering garden even if their loved one wished to be scattered in an alternative personally meaningful location.

Families can choose to memorialize their loved ones within the garden on a plaque. The garden is close to Section 25.

Pre-planning your Wishes

Why should I pre-arrange my cemetery needs?

By pre-arranging your burial, your wishes are made clear. Advance planning is the best way to avoid heavier financial burdens in the future, and decisions are made apart from the emotions and stress of a death. We will assist you and respect your preferences. We will make a full, unhurried, in-depth disclosure of all costs, so you can make prudent and informed choices in an atmosphere free from the grief that accompanies a death.

I would like to pre-plan and pay for my final resting place. How would I go about doing this?

To make your personalized arrangements, please call us at 519-271-0250 extension 244.

What happens if I pre-purchase at Avondale Cemetery, but change my mind or move away from the area?

In accordance with Provincial law, money received for pre-planned cemetery services such as a burial is deposited in a trust fund. If you change your mind within the first 30 days of purchase, you will receive a full refund. After 30 days, you can still cancel your purchase as long as the supplies and/or services contracted for you have yet to be provided. In this case, an administrative fee is charged - again, as allowed by law.

Fees and Charges

How much does a burial lot cost?

Within our cemetery, burial lot prices vary by size and intended use (traditional casket or cremated remains). Refer to our schedule of fees and charges.

What is "Care and Maintenance Fee" (also known as perpetual fee)?

We charge a one-time care and maintenance fee, known as a perpetual fee. The income generated from this fund is used to maintain, secure and preserve the cemetery grounds. Services provided through this fund include:

re-levelling and sodding or seeding of lots
maintenance of cemetery roads
sewers and water system
maintenance of perimeter walls and fences
maintenance of cemetery landscaping;
maintenance of mausoleum and columbarium
repairs and general upkeep of cemetery maintenance buildings and equipment

What types of payment options are available?

We accept cash or cheques at the Cemetery Office.
We offer a no obligation consultation and provide full disclosure of property and services prices. We have pre-arrangement options. Call us at 519-271-0250 extension 244 for more information or refer to our schedule of fees and charges.

Does it cost more to have an interment on a Saturday?

Yes, an additional charge will be added for Saturday grave-side services. Refer to our schedule of fees and charges.

Genealogical Information/Family Trees

I'm making a family tree. What information can you give me?

For genealogical information, check our Cemetery Listings section.

Alternatively contact our office at 519-271-0250 extension 244 to make family history Requests. Please note that not all of our records have been brought up-to-date electronically so there are some pieces of information that we require in order to conduct a comprehensive search through our records. The items listed below is information we would required at a minimum:

Name of Deceased
Cemetery
Burial date

Unfortunately, our records do not always document maiden names, birth dates, occupations, next-of-kin, or children's names.

Cemetery By-law

The cemetery by-law describes all pieces of our operations including fees, rules, how to purchase a site and/or monument, entitlements and restrictions.

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Cemetery Listings

Search our records electronic database by last name to access information regarding interment date, section, row and grave.

Cemetery Fees and Charges 2024

Download Cemetery Fees and Charges (2024) - Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3

Lot Type	Dimensions	Cost of Land	Perpetual Care Fee	HST	Total Cost
Single Grave	1m x 3m	$1,037.04	$691.36	$134.82	$1,863.22
2 Grave Plot	2m x 3m	$2,074.09	$1,382.72	$269.64	$3,726.45
3 Grave Plot	3m x 3m	$3,110.88	$2,073.92	$404.42	$5,589.82
6 Grave Plot	3m x 3m	$6,222.28	$4,148.18	$808.90	$11,179.36
Child Plot Upright	3ft x 7ft	$291.06	$194.04	$37.84	$522.94
Infant Plot Flat Marker	2ft x 4ft	$256.09	$170.73	$33.30	$460.12
Stillborn Plot Flat Marker	2ft x 4ft	$256.09	$170.73	$33.30	$460.12
Cremation Plot Flat Marker	2ft x 2ft	$385.18	$256.79	$50.08	$692.05
Cremation Plot Flat Marker	4ft x 4ft	$770.36	$513.58	$100.15	$1,384.09

Type of Niche	Dimensions	Cost of Land	Perpetual Care Fee	HST	Total Cost
Columbarium Wall	144 cubic inches	$2,228.43	$393.25	$289.70	$2,911.38
Bronze Scrolls	Not applicable	$875.50	Not applicable	$113.82	$989.32

Each niche accommodates two regular urns in the bottom level. For each level located above the bottom row, add a $51.23 charge plus taxes.

Avondale Garden Mausoleum	Level	Cost of Crypt	Perpetual Care Fee	HST	Total Cost
Section 1 - Premium	E	$6,444.90	$1,611.23	$837.84	$8,893.97
Section 1 - Premium	D	$7,733.88	$1,933.47	$1,005.41	$10,672.76
Section 1 - Premium	C	$9,882.18	$2,470.55	$1,284.69	$13,637.42
Section 1 - Premium	B	$8,808.03	$2,202.00	$1,145.05	$12,155.08
Section 1 - Premium	A	$6,015.24	$1,503.81	$781.99	$8,301.04
Section 2 -Interior Courtyard	E	$5,157.08	$1,288.98	$670.42	$7,116.48
Section 2 -Interior Courtyard	D	$6,444.90	$1,611.23	$837.84	$8,893.97
Section 2 -Interior Courtyard	C	$8,593.20	$2,148.30	$1,117.12	$11,858.62
Section 2 -Interior Courtyard	B	$7,519.05	$1,879.76	$977.48	$10,376.29
Section 2 -Interior Courtyard	A	$4,726.26	$1,181.57	$614.42	$6,522.25
Section 3 - Exterior Courtyard	E	$4,726.26	$1,181.57	$614.42	$6,522.25
Section 3 - Exterior Courtyard	D	$5,585.58	$1,396.40	$726.13	$7,708.11
Section 3 - Exterior Courtyard	C	$7,304.22	$1,826.06	$949.55	$10,079.83
Section 3 - Exterior Courtyard	B	$6,293.07	$1,556.94	$818.10	$8,668.11
Section 3 - Exterior Courtyard	A	$4,296.60	$1,074.15	$558.56	$5,929.31

Type of Memoriam	Dimensions	Service Fee	Perpetual Care Fee	HST	Total Cost
Sale of Scattering Services	Not applicable	$422.30	$30.00	$54.90	$507.20
Single Memorial Plaque	1" x 6"	$278.10	$0.00	$36.15	$314.25
Double Memorial Plaque	2.25" x 6"	$329.60	$0.00	$42.85	$372.45
Double Plaque with Text	3.5" x 6"	$381.10	$0.00	$49.54	$430.64
Replacement Certificate of Interment Rights	Not applicable	$30.90	$0.00	$4.02	$34.92

Interment Type	Base Rate	HST	Total Cost
License Fee (if applicable)	$10.00	$0.00	$10.00
Adult Regular Depth	$939.82	$122.18	$1,062.00
Adult Double Depth	$1,100.43	$143.06	$1,243.49
Child 3ft x 6ft Opening	$356.90	$46.40	$403.30
Child 2ft x 4ft Opening	$237.93	$30.93	$268.86
Stillborn 2ft x 20" Opening	$237.93	$30.93	$268.86
Mausoleum Entombment Opening	$702.66	$91.35	$794.01
Cremation Remains 1ft x 1ft	$376.33	$48.91	$425.24
Cremation Remains - over 1ft x 1ft	$513.04	$66.70	$579.74
Cremation Remains in Columbarium Niche	$342.02	$44.46	$386.48
Winter Storage	$327.16	$42.53	$369.69

Type of Service	Base Rate	HST	Total Cost
For Burial in Another Cemetery	$1,813.67	$235.78	$2,049.44
For Burial in Another Plot in Avondale Cemetery	$2,901.84	$377.24	$3,279.08

Please note that disinterment charges for cremated remains is the cargo stated for internment.

Foundations
Type of Service	Base Rate	HST	Total Cost
Priced per cubic foot at minimum cost of $242.00 plus taxes	$28.74/cubic foot	Applicable	Contingent on size
Inspection fee (not to exceed $84.52)	$78.80	$10.25	$89.05
Flat marker Installation	$56.65	$7.36	$64.01
Flat marker Installation over 173 square inches	$100.00	Not Applicable	$100.00
Upright markers up to 4' x 4'	$200.00	Not Applicable	$200.00
Upright markers over 4' x 4'	$400.00	Not Applicable	$400.00

Other Fees and Charges

The standard charges as indicated above shall apply to funerals held in the cemetery within the times, as specified in By-law #128-2022.
Saturday burials permitted in Schedule "C" to By-Law #128-2022 will be subject to an additional charge of $422.12 ($373.55 + $48.57 HST), taking place before noon.
The use of the Chapel for committal service is $115.58 ($102.28 + $13.30 HST).
The transfer of certificates of interment rights is $118.21 ($104.61 + $13.60 HST).
Funerals entering the cemetery after the hours specified in Schedule "C" to By-Law #128-2022 may be charged an additional $47.03 ($41.62 + $5.41 HST) per each fifteen (15) minutes or part thereof that they remain in the cemetery. Saturdays $422.12 before noon, and $422.12 after twelve noon plus above will apply.