Hi Joan, Yes, embalming is very common in the US, although cremation is becoming more and more popular now that the Catholic Church doesn't seem to be so against it as in days gone by. In some states, embalming (or cremation) is mandatory if a body cannot be buried within 72 hours. Also, it's my experience that grave lots which have been purchased but unused can be reclaimed by the cemetery after 80 years (although cemeteries seldom do this). I don't know of any cases where bodies have been removed to make room for others. Maybe that will begin to change in the larger metropolitan areas of the US. Marjorie ---------- From: K & J Vivian <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: Fw: [SWITZ] Cemetery use and embalming Date: Thursday, September 19, 2002 5:42 PM While reading the various comments on cemetery use, I get the impression that embalming is very common in the U.S. Can someone give me an answer on this? Here in Australia I believe it is done very rarely, the only time I have heard of embalming being done was for a man who died in Europe and was flown home. I am the secretary of our local cemetery trust and there is no limited tenure on the plots, but in the bigger cities, I know that some only have a tenure for 20 - 30 years. Our cemetery is looked after by the community and we hold regular working bees to look after it. Joan Vivian [email protected] Searching for VIVIAN/VYVYAN, MORESI, TURIN, HOLMES, JUDD, JENKYN, QUICK ==== SWITZERLAND Mailing List ==== Going on vacation? Gone longer than 4 days? Go to http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/CHE/SWITZERLAND.html to unsubscribe