History: History of the St. Michael Cemetery written by Rev. C.J. Farrell, Pastor – July 1, 1940
Shortly after the removal of the old church building from Spring Lake in 1908 to its new site in Prior Lake, there grew a need that a local cemetery be secured. Some years later, four acres of land situated north east of the village of Prior Lake was purchased for a cemetery. Due to a disastrous church fire Easter Sunday, 1921, very little additional work was done to the cemetery.
In 1936, a popular move to perpetuate the revered memory of the late Father John Deere who had served the Catholics of Credit River and the vicinity of Prior Lake for thirty years was begun in the raising of a magnificent crucifix in the center of the cemetery.
Costs:
Grave cost for single grave:
Single Regular Grave: $800 (parishioner) & $1,100 (non-parishioner)
Grave open/close cost: (parishioner & non-parishioner rates are the same)
$500 Full casket burial
$250 Cremation burial
$175 Cremation vault if handled by Cemetery Committee
Additional Cost for Open/Close for Frost November-March
$200 Regular
$100 Cremation
Frost fees are not automatic due to the time of year. Parish to advise if fee is applied.
Columbarium cost: (price includes name plaque front of niche & open/close)
Parishioners
$2,000 Double
$1,150 Single
Non-Parishioners
$2,300 Double Niche
$1,450 Single Niche
Staking fees:
$50 staking fee for new monuments, foot markers and service markers placed on graves in cemetery. Committee member stakes out new monument, foot markers and service marker placement for monument companies.
Rules & Regulations:
St. Michael Cemetery is holy ground. In order to help maintain the sanctity of the cemetery, the following guidelines are issued to help maintain the dignity and reverence of this holy place.
Flowers, plants and shrubbery may not be planted on the gravesites or anywhere in the cemetery.
Wilted flowers and faded artificial flowers will be removed.
Toys, figurines, statues, memorabilia and vigil or solar lights are prohibited on gravesites. Maintenance personnel will remove these items. Items will be stored and can be retrieved by calling the chairman of the Cemetery Committee.
All live plants or artificial flowers must be in baskets or vases and placed on grave monuments or placed in a plant stand within close proximity to the side of the monument. Single pole plant stands are recommended.
The Church of St. Michael Cemetery Rules and Regulations give monument specifications.
Shepherd's hooks are prohibited.
Potted plants and flowers are prohibited on or around the Columbaria. Flowers within vases must not infringe on adjacent niches.
The cemetery is open from dawn to dusk. Rules and Regulations can be reviewed at the Church of St. Michael Business Office or at the Cemetery main entrance.
The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity, in faith and hope of the Resurrection. The burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy; it honors the children of God, who are temples of the Holy Spirit. There is so much to accomplish. We are in need of help in all areas. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a part of this committee.