In 1965 on my way from Italy to Germany (military), I saw my grandparent's grave in Goschenen. The cemetery was about 20 ft by 20 ft. As a 30 year old youngster, not into genealogy, I was curious as to why my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins were showing me numerous cemetery plots of my relatives. In 1998 after I started genealogy and went to visit these same sites, they were gone. Space is the key. If there is suffient land, a person will be buried for some time. If space is limited, "first in, is also the first out". Needless to say, you can not go back in time. I do have 2 Uncles and 2 Aunts still in Schweiz. One uncle is in Kussnacht am Rigi. His wife died in 1968. Her plot is still there. Why? Uncle Paul , now 92 , has been paying about 1000 Sfr a year to keep this plot even though the cemetery is crowded. When he passes away, he will be buried where his wife is. After 20-25 years the remains will be exhumed unless his sons and daughter work out some arrangement. As to the other uncle and aunts, in Sisikon, being a smaller cemetery, once they pass away, the time frame is about 15-20 years. Tombstones are stacked along part of the fences at the cemeteries. They can be re-used if someone wants them or some are broken up into small pieces for a walkway. I must say there is a lot of granite walkways in Swiss cemeteries. I know cemeteries is not a normal conversation. I do remember my mother saying when her time comes, to think back and remember the good times. Earth is for the living. With the amount of space available, and not knowing how the upkeep of a plot will be, I have made it known to my wife and kids that cremation is the way I want to go. Since I won't be around for it my ashes will either " help the flowers grow or have very strong weeds". Grusse zum Alle Anton "Doni" Flecklin Louisiana