Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Evanston IL

10/15/2026

Please take note of the following adjusted Cemetery hours for the fall and winter months: October 16th - February 28th

FALL & WINTER VISITING HOURS:

CEMETERY VISITING HOURS:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

MAUSOLEUM VISITING HOURS:
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

OFFICE HOURS:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Sundays: CLOSED

For more information about our hours of operation, please visit our website: https://www.catholiccemeterieschicago.org/hours-of-operation/.

10/09/2026

🍂 Fall Decoration Clean-Up Reminder:

A Catholic cemetery is more than a place of rest. It is consecrated ground, set apart for prayer, remembrance, and the reverent care of those who have gone before us.

We understand that the decorations families place for their loved ones are heartfelt expressions of love and remembrance. It is with that same care and respect that we tend to the sacred grounds entrusted to us. Our scheduled cemetery clean-up is an essential part of that commitment, allowing our Grounds Staff to safely and thoroughly maintain each cemetery while upholding the high standards of care and reverence that define our Catholic Cemeteries.

Through this shared commitment, we help preserve sacred places where families can continue to visit, pray, and honor their loved ones for generations. 🙏

🗓 Please note the following important dates:

From October 15th through October 31st, our Grounds Staff will remove ALL decorations and items remaining throughout the cemeteries. If you wish to keep your decorations, please remove them before October 15th.

Please do not place any new decorations during the scheduled clean-up period.

Fall and winter decorations may be placed beginning November 1st.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

For our Decoration Rules & Regulations, please visit:
https://www.catholiccemeterieschicago.org/cemetery-policies/

09/24/2026

🍂 FALL DECORATION CLEAN-UP:

A Catholic cemetery is more than a place of rest. It is consecrated ground, set apart for prayer, remembrance, and the reverent care of those who have gone before us.

We understand that the decorations families place for their loved ones are heartfelt expressions of love and remembrance. It is with that same care and respect that we tend to the sacred grounds entrusted to us. Our scheduled cemetery clean-up is an essential part of that commitment, allowing our Grounds Staff to safely and thoroughly maintain each cemetery while upholding the high standards of care and reverence that define our Catholic Cemeteries.

Through this shared commitment, we help preserve sacred places where families can continue to visit, pray, and honor their loved ones for generations. 🙏

🗓 Please note the following important dates:

From October 15th through October 31st, our Grounds Staff will remove ALL decorations and items remaining throughout the cemeteries. If you wish to keep your decorations, please remove them before October 15th.

Please do not place any new decorations during the scheduled clean-up period.

Fall and winter decorations may be placed beginning November 1st.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

For our Decoration Rules & Regulations, please visit:
https://www.catholiccemeterieschicago.org/cemetery-policies/

07/24/2026

07/22/2026

06/25/2026

While Cremation is permitted in the Catholic Church, the scattering of ashes is NOT. Here's why:

The Order of Christian Funerals states (Appendix no. 417): "The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come." When choosing cremation, the Catholic Church tells us to bury or entomb cremated remains on consecrated grounds. Choosing a Catholic Cemetery ensures your loved one is laid to rest following the Catholic Church's guidelines.

Beyond doctrine, psychologists also affirm that as human beings, we need a physical place to grieve, to remember, and to heal. Scattering ashes may feel symbolic in the moment, but it leaves no sacred space to return to, no lasting tribute, and no historical connection for future generations. Families who scatter cremated remains often regret this decision in future years when there is no viable remembrance of their loved one or no place of memorial.

📍 At Catholic Cemeteries of Chicago, we provide sacred burial and entombment options for cremated remains. From peaceful cremation gardens to indoor glass-front niches, our consecrated grounds ensure your loved one is laid to rest in a holy place, surrounded by prayer, and honored for generations to come.

06/09/2026

Public Service Announcement: Buyers Beware of Cemetery Graves being Sold on Open Marketplaces

Thinking about purchasing a cemetery plot or grave space through an online marketplace or classifieds site?

The purchase, sale, or transfer of cemetery graves, crypts, or niches through any online marketplace or e-commerce platform is prohibited by the Catholic Cemeteries of Chicago and must be conducted directly through our cemetery office.

Before you exchange any money, please understand the facts. Buying a grave is not like buying a used piece of furniture, and proceeding without caution can lead to significant financial loss and heartache.

⚠️ Key Risks & Regulations

Easement Rights from the Catholic Cemeteries of Chicago, are not transferable, except with the prior written consent of the grantor (Catholic Cemeteries). When you buy a cemetery plot, you aren't actually purchasing the physical land; you are purchasing a Right of Burial. This right is conveyed by an easement. Cemetery Rules and Regulations strictly regulate these rights. An easement cannot be transferred, gifted, or donated to a new owner without the explicit, written consent of the Catholic cemetery authority. An easement cannot be sold to a new owner.

There is a risk of fraud when purchasing graves, crypts, and niches without verifying the lot holder through the official Catholic cemetery office. There is no guarantee that the online seller actually controls the interment rights, or that the space hasn't already been used or promised to someone else.

📋 What You Should Do Instead

If you find a plot for sale online that you are interested in, protect yourself by taking the following steps:

Contact the Catholic Cemetery Directly: Before agreeing to anything, contact the specific cemetery's administration office.

Complete the Official Transfer: All legal transfers of interment rights must be processed directly through the Catholic cemetery office, subject to their specific rules, paperwork, and transfer fees.

Bottom Line: Never hand over cash or electronic payments to a private seller on an open marketplace for a Catholic cemetery grave. If the transfer does not happen officially in the cemetery office, your purchase is invalid.

Please share this post with family and friends who may benefit from this information. Thank you.

04/16/2026

📍Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Evanston IL

With the skyline of Chicago rising in the distance, Calvary Cemetery stands as a sacred bridge between the life we live and the promise we hold in faith. Since 1859, these consecrated grounds have offered a place of history, faith, and lasting remembrance.