Norwalk Union Cemetery - Frequently Asked Questions

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Why Should I make arrangements ahead of time (Preplan)?

Most deaths are unexpected. Making the right decisions now allows you to take full control financially and protext those you love from making difficult emotional and expensive choices later..

Call Norwalk Union Cemetery first and learn about all the options available to you, so that you can make an informed decision free of pressure or obligation.

Knowing all the options and securing arrangements at the cemetery first can make the difference between saving thousands of dollars now or spending thousands of dollars later.

I thought Norwalk Union was all filled up. Is Norwalk Union a working cemetery?

Yes! Although Fairfield County is faced with an alarming shortage of burial sites, there is space left for thousands of burials throughout the cemetery and room for future above ground mausoleum crypts and niches.

When is the cemetery office open?

There is no office currently located at Norwalk Union Cemetery, we can arrange to meet with you at your home or at the cemetery. For your convenience, weekends or evening appointments are available. To arrange for a meeting or in the vent of an emergency, please call us at 203-854-6602 and someone will return your call promptly. You may also email us at .

When is the cemetery open?

The cemetery itself is open from dawn to dusk and is an ideal location for joggers, strollers and nature lovers. It is also very educational for students. Norwalk Union Cemetery has an historic heritage and has been the resting place for many of Norwalk's funding families.

When can burial services take place?

Burial services may be scheduled from 8:00AM until dusk. Services are expected to be completed by 2:00PM Monday through Friday, and 11:00AM, Saturday and Sunday. Sunset services and those that extend beyond these hours are subject to an overtime charge.

Do you bury in the winter?

Yes. There are cemeteries in the Greater Norwalk Area that do not make interments in winter months, but Union Memorial Management, LLC believes that making interments as needed helps those that are left behind find the necessary and has made year round burial available since 1999. There is an additional seasonal charge for burials from December through March.

Is it possible for me to be buried at Norwalk Union Cemetery if I am Catholic, Jewish or Muslim?

Norwalk Union Cemetery has always been a non-sectarian, non-denominational cemetery welcoming all faiths.

We had the very first Catholic burial in Norwalk. Mr. Michael Cooney's grave is recognized by the Diocese as the first Catholic burial in Norwalk. For a Catholic burial, a priest will typically accompany the funeral and bless the gravesite.

Non-sectarian cemeteries are more popular today than ever before because of the ability and comfort of acknowledging each individual's faith, while keeping the heritage of loved ones together.

An affordable monument can be purchased through Union Memorial management to reflect your faith and beliefs.

I am a Veteran - Am I entitled to be buried for free?

Most veterans are entitled to be buried for free in a State or National cemetery. Unfortunately, the nearest CT State cemetery for veterans is a 90 minute drive from Norwalk to Middletown, and a 6 hours round trip to the National Cemetery on Cape Cod. May families would prefer to have their loved ones buried closer to home. In recognition of the service of you or a loved one - regardless of branch of service, length of time served, or where you live - we are honored to provide a free single depth burial space in our cemetery. You will receive a deed for a single depth burial site valued at $1,280.00 for only $228.00. Perpetual care is required by Connecticut State Law and this fee includes all perpetual care charges and a one-time $100.00 conveyance fee for deed processing.

We encourage you to reserve your space in advance, which is something most veterans cannot do in a national or state cemetery. We believe in the importance of keeping families together and offer adjacent burial spaces of other family members.

Police Officers, Firefighters and Emergency Medical Personnel are also eligible for a complimentary burial space in Norwalk Union Cemetery in recognition for the services they provide. Additional adjacent spaces are available for their family members as well.

No other private cemetery in Southern Connecticut offers this incentive to keep service men and women and their families together.

I don't want to be cremated and I am concerned about the rising costs and affordability of traditional burial. What can I do?

Whether you have the need or desire to plan in advance, before going to your funeral home, make an appointment with one of our staff members and learn about the options, great savings and payment plans that Norwalk Union Cemetery offers. We will tell you all the facts about cremation and traditional burial to help you make an informed decision. Knowing all the options and securing arrangements at the cemetery first can make the difference between saving thousands of dollars now or spending thousands of dollars later.

Will my life insurance policy cover my funeral and cemetery expenses?

In many cases the funeral home may accept the life insurance policy, but there could be unexpected medical bills that have to be paid first before they receive the benefits.

Cemeteries require paymetnt in full for the use of the grave and burial services rendered before the service is provided. With the increasing costs of funerals, your policy may not be enough to cover final arrangements. Insurance policies are designed to stabilize the lives of those you leave behind, and your foresight in planning arrangements in advance and increasing the life insurance benefits your loved ones receive when you're not there is the best way to provide for them.

Once I purchase a grave or Family plot, at Norwalk Union Cemetery, does it belong to me forever?

Yes. Once the notarized deed is issued, there is no change of ownership or rights of interment without the written permission of the lot owner or his/her duly authorized representative.

What if I move? Will I get stuck with the cemetery property?

Norwalk Union Cemetery is one of only three cemeteries in Connecticut belonging to the ICFA (International Cemetery and Funeral Associaion) and participating in its credit exchange plan with more than 900 other member cemeteries in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

What is Perpetual Care?

It is the permanent maintenance of the property, including mowing and leaf removal. Perpetual Care is included with the purchase of each interment space and eliminates annual maintenance charges.

What is a burial vault?

A burial vault is an outer container made of concrete, metal, or polymer plastic, into which a casket is placed for internment. The vault is placed in the ground, the casket is lowered into it at the time of burial, and the lid of the vault it then put into place. The purpose of using burial vaults is to prevent the ground from crushing caskets as they deterioate over time.

Many mistakenly believe that burial vaults or grave liners are required by Connecticut State Law. Progressive cemeteries like ours require their use for all internmentsnto prevent the collapse of a grave after burial, protecting visitors and maintenance crew from the hazards of sunken graves.

The same heavy duty ABS Polymer vaults used in many national cemeteries are available from Union Memorial Management for far less than concrete ones and includes a 100 year warrenty.

Does Norwalk Union Cemetery allow customized monuments and should I order one before a death occurs?

We do allow customized monuments that are compatible with the location, historical and natural setting and will not offend visitors or other lot owners.

Ordering customized monuments in advance of a death gives you complete control and greater selection of choices from the lasting tribute to you or a loved one.

We welcome private mausoleums, obelisks, large monuments, benches and granite statuary to compliment the existing customized tributes. These can all be ordered through the Union Memorial Management group for far less than other sources.

What are the costs of buerial services, including plots, vaults and fees? How much does a monument or memorial costs?

For information on pricing, please call us at 203-854-6602 or send us an email at

Is Cemetery propoerty taxable or tax deductible?

There is no sales tax on the purchase of cemetery property. The purchase of cemetery property is not tax deductible.

Can the Cemetery accept donations?

Donations are always gratefully appreciated and are tex-deductible. Over the years thoughtful individuals and families have been supportive of the cemetery. Many have made annual contributions or donated gifts; others have remembered us in their wills or estate planning. Whatever the amount, your tax deductible donation will go towards the purchase of veterans flag, the preservation and restoration of historically valuable monuments, or the planting and maintenance of flowering shrubs and trees to beautify the cemetery.

Who owns and operates Norwalk Union Cemetery?

It is owned by the Norwalk Union Cemetery Association Inc. consisting of individuals and families holding deeds to cemetery property and is managed by Union Memorial Management, LLC. The owner, William E. Magner, Jr. has over 20 years of cemetery management experience in Fairfield County.

Which highway is Norwalk Union Cemetery near?

Norwalk Union Cemetery is located near I-95 and the Merritt Parkway at the corner of Ward Street and Union Avenue in Norwalk. The main entrance to the cemetery is located on Ward Street. Also see our Contact Us page for further directions.

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