History
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel– Kenockee Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in the area. The forty acres of land was donated by Mr. Michael Harrington, who also owned property to the west, across from Bricker Road. In 1851 a cemetery and a mission was established about two miles east of the present village of Emmett in Kenockee Township. Father Lawrence Kilroy was the first pastor and oversaw the construction of the first little log-cabin cabin church in 1853. That church was located in the small clearing in the northwest corner of the cemetery. To accommodate the increase in the congregation, Father Kilroy investigated the building of a frame church, which was completed in 1865 and cost approximately $2,000. It was built on the same spot where the log church had been. The parish officially became known as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. In the mid 1890’s it became apparent that a new larger church building was needed. There soon arose a difference of opinion as to where the new church should be built, for some thought it should be located two miles away in Emmett. Among other members of the parish, sentiment for the old site remained strong. However, after the Right Reverand John Foley, Bishop of Detroit, sent a letter to the parish in November of 1895, giving his blessing to the new location, “as it could better serve the needs of the majority of the people,” ground was broken for the new church at the Village of Emmett in the spring of 1896. About this same time, tragedy struck, when on the second of May 1896, the old frame church in Kenockee burned to the ground. The fire was discovered just as the children were starting home from their catechism classes. At that time, the loss seemed like a great misfortune, but in the end was perhaps a blessing, as it redoubled efforts to complete the new church. For map and directions please click the link below.
Sacred Heart Cemetery
Fr. Cullinane purchased 7.7 acres of land on February 19, 1902. The new cemetery had many buried stumps and boulders in it, and it took several work-bees over the next years to remove them all. Fr. Cullinane stated: “It appeared like a battlefield in France after World War I, covered all over with shell craters.” It was laboriously leveled with hand-scrappers pulled by teams of horses, and seeded with grasses. 100 loads of stone was brought from the Hiram Holcomb farm at $1.00 per load to make the fence along the front of the cemetery. As soon as the cemetery was completed and even as late as the 1930’s members moved their loved ones from the Seven Sorrows Cemetery to the new cemetery, including their gravestones and markers. The old church of Seven Sorrows was moved to Sacred Heart Cemetery. It was rebuilt, and refinished in 1986 under the direction of Fr. Lawrence Dunn, where it is currently used as a chapel. For a map and directions please click the link below.
goo.gl/maps/d3uE5o3jR129VYXT9
Fr. Cullinane purchased 7.7 acres of land on February 19, 1902. The new cemetery had many buried stumps and boulders in it, and it took several work-bees over the next years to remove them all. Fr. Cullinane stated: “It appeared like a battlefield in France after World War I, covered all over with shell craters.” It was laboriously leveled with hand-scrappers pulled by teams of horses, and seeded with grasses. 100 loads of stone was brought from the Hiram Holcomb farm at $1.00 per load to make the fence along the front of the cemetery. As soon as the cemetery was completed and even as late as the 1930’s members moved their loved ones from the Seven Sorrows Cemetery to the new cemetery, including their gravestones and markers. The old church of Seven Sorrows was moved to Sacred Heart Cemetery. It was rebuilt, and refinished in 1986 under the direction of Fr. Lawrence Dunn, where it is currently used as a chapel. For a map and directions please click the link below.
goo.gl/maps/d3uE5o3jR129VYXT9
Photos of the Sacred Heart Cemetery entrance, the statue of St. Joseph in the St. Joseph section, and the reconstruction of the Chapel.
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Cemeteries of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Sacred Heart Summary of the Rules and Regulations
General Rules
· The use of a lot is for the lot holder or the lot holder’s relatives for right of burial only.
The lot holder may not resell, transfer or exchange a lot unless done so according to the rules of the cemetery.
· Each plot (grave) may contain up to two remains, one full casket and one cremains. Only one casket may be placed in each plot.
· All work and improvements must be approved by cemetery management.
· Throwing of trash on roads or any part of the cemetery is prohibited.
· No alcoholic beverage shall be consumed or brought on the cemetery property.
· The management may remove without notice all items that in the determination of the cemetery sexton have become unsightly or dangerous or are encroaching onto another grave.
· Visitors are not permitted to bring animals into the cemetery or into any buildings in the cemetery. The only exception being animals trained to aid the physically impaired.
Since Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Sacred Heart Cemeteries are Catholic Institutions, it is customary that interments are provided for Catholics. As a sign of the bonds of family unity, non-catholics may be buried in a Catholic cemetery alongside the Catholic members of the family.
Memorials
· The lot holder or memorial dealer must obtain permission from the management before any memorial work is done in the cemetery. If permission is not obtained the memorial may be removed.
· Cemetery Management has the right to determine the appropriateness of any memorial placed in its cemeteries. Items which are found offensive, improper or inappropriate for such a setting will be removed without prior notice.
· Memorials must have a permanent Christian emblem on it (at minimum a cross). We will not allow any emblem, inscription, or insignia which is inconsistent with the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church.
· All memorials shall be installed on a concrete foundation, which cost is borne by the lot holder, these are installed by cemetery staff twice a year.
· It is recommended to wait a minimum of 4 months after burial to install foundations.
· One above ground headstone and a flush mounted footstone are allowed per single grave lot.
Monument Size Restrictions:
Single Foundation Maximum: 44 inches wide
Double Foundation Maximum: 72 inches wide
Height maximum: 60 inches from ground level
Grave Decorations
· The management has the right to regulate the method of decorating lots.
· Due to the possible hazards they may cause to employees and visitors, the placing of chairs, benches, toys, edging, fences, curbing, hedging, bricks, borders or enclosures of any kind shall not be allowed around the grave or burial site. The management reserves the right without prior notice to remove the same if so erected, planted or placed.
· In-ground planting of annuals are permitted on each side of the headstone (not to exceed 48” per grave) Annuals may also be planted in pots, which are then to be up off the ground hung from a shepherd’s hook or other like stand of wrought iron. The shepherd’s hook should be placed touching the side of the monument so as not to hinder ordinary maintenance of the cemetery.
· Lot holders are not permitted to plant perennials, shrubs or trees.
· The cemetery shall not be responsible for vases, floral pieces, markers, monuments, or any other personal property left in the cemetery.
All winter decorations should be removed by April 1st.
General Rules
· The use of a lot is for the lot holder or the lot holder’s relatives for right of burial only.
The lot holder may not resell, transfer or exchange a lot unless done so according to the rules of the cemetery.
· Each plot (grave) may contain up to two remains, one full casket and one cremains. Only one casket may be placed in each plot.
· All work and improvements must be approved by cemetery management.
· Throwing of trash on roads or any part of the cemetery is prohibited.
· No alcoholic beverage shall be consumed or brought on the cemetery property.
· The management may remove without notice all items that in the determination of the cemetery sexton have become unsightly or dangerous or are encroaching onto another grave.
· Visitors are not permitted to bring animals into the cemetery or into any buildings in the cemetery. The only exception being animals trained to aid the physically impaired.
Since Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Sacred Heart Cemeteries are Catholic Institutions, it is customary that interments are provided for Catholics. As a sign of the bonds of family unity, non-catholics may be buried in a Catholic cemetery alongside the Catholic members of the family.
Memorials
· The lot holder or memorial dealer must obtain permission from the management before any memorial work is done in the cemetery. If permission is not obtained the memorial may be removed.
· Cemetery Management has the right to determine the appropriateness of any memorial placed in its cemeteries. Items which are found offensive, improper or inappropriate for such a setting will be removed without prior notice.
· Memorials must have a permanent Christian emblem on it (at minimum a cross). We will not allow any emblem, inscription, or insignia which is inconsistent with the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church.
· All memorials shall be installed on a concrete foundation, which cost is borne by the lot holder, these are installed by cemetery staff twice a year.
· It is recommended to wait a minimum of 4 months after burial to install foundations.
· One above ground headstone and a flush mounted footstone are allowed per single grave lot.
Monument Size Restrictions:
Single Foundation Maximum: 44 inches wide
Double Foundation Maximum: 72 inches wide
Height maximum: 60 inches from ground level
Grave Decorations
· The management has the right to regulate the method of decorating lots.
· Due to the possible hazards they may cause to employees and visitors, the placing of chairs, benches, toys, edging, fences, curbing, hedging, bricks, borders or enclosures of any kind shall not be allowed around the grave or burial site. The management reserves the right without prior notice to remove the same if so erected, planted or placed.
· In-ground planting of annuals are permitted on each side of the headstone (not to exceed 48” per grave) Annuals may also be planted in pots, which are then to be up off the ground hung from a shepherd’s hook or other like stand of wrought iron. The shepherd’s hook should be placed touching the side of the monument so as not to hinder ordinary maintenance of the cemetery.
· Lot holders are not permitted to plant perennials, shrubs or trees.
· The cemetery shall not be responsible for vases, floral pieces, markers, monuments, or any other personal property left in the cemetery.
All winter decorations should be removed by April 1st.
For more information please email [email protected]
or call the offices at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (810)384-1338 OR Sacred Heart (810)387-9800
or call the offices at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (810)384-1338 OR Sacred Heart (810)387-9800