Parish Cemeteries

Sacred grounds maintained with dignity and respect

Our Mission

To provide and maintain a dignified and proper burial place for our deceased. To maintain these sacred grounds in a respectful, desirable, peaceful, and spiritual manner.

St. Joseph's Cemetery

St. Joseph's Cemetery Entrance
St. Joseph's Cemetery

St. Joseph's Cemetery is the primary burial ground of St. Joseph's Parish, Port Hawkesbury. It serves the residents of Port Hawkesbury and the surrounding communities, providing a peaceful and sacred resting place for our deceased parishioners and their families.

The cemetery is maintained by the St. Joseph's Cemetery Committee, which operates under the direction of the Parish Pastoral Council. The committee works diligently to ensure the grounds are kept in a respectful and welcoming condition for families and visitors.

Cemetery Inquiries

For all cemetery inquiries including plot information, burial arrangements, and general questions, please contact the Parish Office.

Cemetery Committee Chair: Gelas Boudreau

Parish Office: 902-625-1045

Email: st.joe.ph@gmail.com

Chapel Hill Cemetery

Chapel Hill Cemetery Entrance
Chapel Hill Cemetery Cross

Chapel Hill Cemetery is a historic landmark located at the corner of Granville Street and Sydney Road in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia. The site holds special significance as the location of the community's first Catholic church, originally built around 1848.

Today, the cemetery is all that remains of the original church grounds, offering a quiet reminder of the area's early heritage. While it is no longer open for new burials, Chapel Hill Cemetery is carefully maintained by the parish and continues to serve as an important part of Port Hawkesbury's rich history.

Cemetery Inquiries

For all inquiries regarding Chapel Hill Cemetery, please contact the Parish Office.

Parish Office: 902-625-1045

Email: st.joe.ph@gmail.com

Cemetery Guidelines

The following guidelines are in place to ensure the respectful care and maintenance of our cemetery grounds and to provide for the safety of all visitors.

Decorations & Grave Markers

  • Glass or ceramic decorations of any kind are not permitted unless securely fastened to the headstone.
  • No landscape rocks, bricks, carpet, or fencing may be placed on the grave.
  • No trees, plants, shrubs, or other embellishments may be placed upon the grave site.
  • Flowers and saddles are permitted on the headstone only.
  • Floral tributes placed on graves will be removed when deemed unsightly.

Headstones & Monuments

  • Monument companies and funeral homes must contact the cemetery overseer prior to placement of any headstone or marker.
  • All headstones and markers must be placed at the head of the grave.
  • There should be only one upright monument on each plot.
  • The family is responsible for maintenance and upkeep of headstones.

Burial Requirements

  • The parish office must be notified prior to an interment taking place.
  • A copy of the Burial Permit must be provided for all burials.
  • A Certificate of Cremation must be submitted with a cremation interment.
  • All burials must be supervised by a funeral home or the cemetery overseer.
  • Grave liner (rough boxes) must be used for both traditional and cremated burials.

Winter Burials

  • The cemetery closes for burials in the winter months and re-opens in the spring.
  • The timing of closure and re-opening is at the discretion of the cemetery overseer.
  • During the closed season, caskets may be placed in The Strait Receiving Vault.
  • Special arrangements for winter burials may be made with permission from the Cemetery Committee.

Plot Ownership

  • Purchasing a burial plot means acquiring the right to interment. Title remains with the Diocese of Antigonish.
  • There shall be no resale or transfer of existing or reserved plots.
  • Unwanted plots must be transferred back to the parish.
  • A transfer to an immediate family member may be allowed with written approval from the Cemetery Committee.
  • All sales are HST exempt.

Contact & Inquiries

  • For plot availability and burial arrangements, contact the cemetery overseer or parish office.
  • Payment for plots is made during regular business hours at the Parish Office.
  • The Cemetery Committee meets regularly to review and update cemetery policies.
902-625-1045