FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 3, 2023

SEN. OSTEN WELCOMES $10,000 IN STATE GRANTS FOR MAINTENANCE OF NEGLECTED CEMETERIES IN COLUMBIA AND MARLBOROUGH

State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) today welcomed state grants totaling $10,000 for the maintenance of neglected cemeteries in Columbia and Marlborough, which have nine cemeteries between them.

Most cemeteries in Connecticut are run by private cemetery associations or by a church’s ecclesiastical society.

“I think most people believe that when a family goes through the process of purchasing a final resting place and having a funeral, that the cemetery will be kept up in a condition that reflects the love and care that the family had for their deceased loved one. But, for some reason, that is not always the case,” Sen. Osten said. “Thankfully there is state aid available to these private groups that need help maintaining their cemeteries. My hope is these grants are a reminder to cemetery associations all across Connecticut of the obligation they have to the families that put the eternal care of their loved ones in their hands.”

The state grants are part of Connecticut’s Neglected Cemetery Account Grant Program, which is administered by the state Office of Policy and Management. This program was established in 2014 and is funded by revenue collected by the state Department of Public Health from the issuance of death certificates. Columbia and Marlborough will receive $5,000 each.

Cities and towns can use grants to support basic maintenance of cemeteries, including the clearing of weeds, briars, and bushes; mowing of the ground’s lawn areas; repairing fences and walls; or straightening, repairing, and restoring memorial stones.

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