| PRE-PLANNING Q&A |
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| Fall 2004 View of the grounds |
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| Fall 2004 View of the grounds |
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| Fall 2004 View of the grounds |
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| Fall 2004 View of the lake |
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| Fall 2004 View of the grounds |
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| Fall 2004 View of the grounds |
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| Fall 2004 View of the grounds |
| PRE-PLANNING (Advance of Need Planning) |
| Planning in advance of need is a gift of love. |
| Having the memorial site already selected and paid for, eliminates concerns of surviving loved ones over what is available, what the deceased loved one really would have wanted and how much should be spent. |
| It eliminates emotional overspending and hardships that can occur at the time of loss. Knowing that your cemetery arrangements are established and paid for, according to your wishes, provides everyone with peace of mind. |
| 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. |
| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
| Here are some frequently asked questions about Wooster and Great Plain Cemeteries. |
| If you have a question that is not listed here, please feel free to email us at and we will promptly respond to your inquiry. |
| I thought Wooster was all filled up. Is Wooster a working cemetery? |
| Yes! In addition to over 90% of families making advance of need purchases at Wooster each year, there are many burials, cremations and entombments every year, 7 days a week, year round. There is space left for thousands of burials throughout the cemetery and above ground entombment in our Grandview Mausoleum. |
| Who owns Wooster Cemetery? |
| It is owned by the Danbury Cemetery Association, Inc. consisting of individuals and families having deeds to cemetery property. |
| Who is the Primary management company of the cemetery? |
| Wooster and Great Plain Cemeteries are managed by Magner Management, LLC. The owner, William E. Magner, Jr. has 20 years of cemetery management experience in Fairfield County. |
| When is the cemetery office open? When is the cemetery open? |
| The cemetery office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 3:30. We are open earlier or later by appointment. The office is closed on most Federal and national holidays. However, the cemetery itself is open from dawn to dusk. This is an ideal location for joggers, strollers and nature lovers. It is also very educational for students. |
| Is the office open on a weekend? |
| For your convenience, we are open by appointment or if there is an emergency need for burial arrangements. If you wish to make an appointment for an upcoming weekend, please email us at or call us at 203-748-8529 at any time. |
| Do you bury in the winter? |
| Yes. Since September 1, 1998 Magner Management, LLC made year round burial available at Wooster and Great Plain Cemetery. |
| There are cemeteries in the Greater Danbury Area that do not make interments in wintry conditions, which results in persons being kept in holding vaults delaying closure for loved ones. However, Magner Management, LLC believes that making interments as needed helps in the process of closure for those that are left behind. |
| Why Should I make arrangements ahead of time (Preplan)? |
| When you make your arrangements ahead of time (preplan) you take full control emotionally and financially of your own arrangements, while you protect those you love from confusing and expensive emergency arrangements. |
| 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. We will tell you all the facts about cremation and traditional burial so you can make an informed decision. |
| Will my insurance policy pay for the cemetery expenses? |
| In many cases yes, but a loved one would still have to make all the decisions needed for the emergency. The funeral home may work with life insurance. However, cemeteries must be paid in full for the property and interment or entombment before the service is provided. |
| Remember, insurance policies are designed to stabilize the lifestyle of the deceased’s loved ones. There could be unexpected medical bills that the insurance policy may have to pay first before your beneficiary receives the benefits. Your foresight in pre-planning increases the benefits from life insurance for your loved ones when you will not be there to provide for them. |
| Keep in mind with the ever increasing costs of overall funeral arrangements, the insurance may not even be enough to cover last minute arrangements. |
| What if I move? Will I get stuck with the cemetery property? |
| Wooster Cemetery belongs to the ICFA (International Cemetery and Funeral Association) and its exchange plan with more than 900 other cemeteries in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. We participate in a credit exchange plan with other member cemeteries. |
| I am a Veteran – Am I entitled to be buried for free? |
| Most veterans are entitled to be buried in a State or National cemetery. The nearest State cemetery for veterans is in Middletown, CT, which is over an hour travel time each way, from Danbury, making visiting difficult. |
| That is why you are entitled to receive your complimentary space in our beautiful veteran’s section in advance of need or at the time of need. We encourage you to reserve your space in advance – which is something most veterans cannot do in a national cemetery. |
| More importantly we would also be able to provide for other family members. In a State or National Cemetery only your spouse, a child under the age of 21 or a handicapped child can be buried with you due to the severe shortage of burial space for veterans in the tri-state area. |
| Is it possible for me to be buried at Wooster if I am Catholic? |
| Wooster Cemetery has always been a non-sectarian, non-denominational cemetery welcoming all faiths. We have people of all faiths buried here. |
| For a Catholic burial, a priest will typically accompany the funeral and bless the gravesite or mausoleum. A monument can be purchased to reflect your faith and beliefs. Nonsectarian 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. |
| If you have your property at Wooster Cemetery, there is no need to use separate cemeteries due to religious reasons. |
| Can the Cemetery accept donations? |
| Donations are always appreciated. Over the years thoughtful individuals and families have been supportive of the cemetery. Many have made annual contributions or a one time gift, others have remembered us in their wills or estate planning. |
| We have special programs to perpetuate the gift or memory of loved ones and organizations which include handsome bronze memorial plaques, granite benches, fountains and new specimen trees. |
| What ever the amount, your tax deductible donations help greatly with the planting and maintenance of specimen trees, care for the ponds and preservation as well as restoration of historical valuable monuments and cemetery buildings. |
| What is Perpetual Care? |
| It is the mowing and trimming of lawn as well as leaf removal. Perpetual Care is included with the purchase of interment space or entombment property. This eliminates the need to bill families annually for care of the grounds. |
| Once I purchase a grave, lawn crypt mausoleum, niche or above ground mausoleum at Wooster, does it belong to me forever? |
| Yes. Once the notarized deed is issued, there is no change of ownership or rights of interment or entombment without the written permission of the lot owner or his/her duly authorized representative. |
| What is the difference is between interment and entombment? |
| Normally “interment” refers to in-ground burial. ”Entombment” refers to burial in a ventilated above-ground mausoleum. |
| What is a vault? |
| A vault is a concrete box with an inner plastic lining, which is installed in a grave at the time of burial. The casket is then lowered into the vault and then the lid of the vault is put in place. A vault prevents sunken graves and eliminates yearly maintenance charges to the lot owner. |
| Does State Law require or mandate a vault or liner for casket burials? Why do most modern cemeteries require a vault or liner for earth burials? |
| Many people are inappropriately led to believe that vaults or liners are required by Connecticut State Law. They aren’t. |
| Progressive cemeteries, such as ours, require vaults and liners for in-ground burials to protect against the weight of the earth from crushing the casket, which causes the grave to sink. This is unsightly and dangerous for visitors and maintenance. |
| Where are vaults and liners required? |
| Vaults and liners are required for all in-ground burials except for the Lawn Covered Mausoleums and the Grandview Mausoleum. |
| If I currently have a grave, can I upgrade to a lawn covered mausoleum or an above-ground option? |
| Absolutely. The purchase price of the grave will be fully credited towards the purchase of a lawn crypt or the above ground mausoleum. This encourages families to preplan in a dignified and affordable manner. |
| Can a lot owner plant flowers, shrubs or a garden at lawn crypt sections, above ground mausoleums or designated cremation sections? |
| No. The cemetery provides planting for these sections to keep these areas uniform and beautiful. Flowers are permitted and welcomed at all monument sections of the cemetery for all to enjoy. Shrubs of any kind other than what is provided by the Association or its Management Company are prohibited. |
| What ornamentation may I place on my relative’s grave? |
| Fresh flowers only are permitted. Flowers can be planted at monument sites provided that the family weeds and cultivates them on a weekly basis. |
| Are artificial or plastic flowers or decorations allowed? |
| No, they are not permitted at any time so as to preserve the dignity of the natural settings. However, from Thanksgiving through March 1st, winter holiday decorations are permitted. |
| Does Wooster Cemetery allow customized monuments or private mausoleums and should I order one before a death occurs? |
| Yes, we do, provided that the customized monument or mausoleum is in keeping with the location and will not offend visitors and owners or detract from the historical and natural setting. We welcome obelisks, large monuments, benches and granite statuary to compliment the array of existing customized tributes. |
| There are several benefits of ordering customized monuments, benches or private mausoleums before a death occurs. First, you get what you want, not someone else’s taste. Second, you save a lot of money. Finally your burial is ensured to be properly marked to your wishes. |
| I don’t want to be cremated and I am concerned about the rising costs and affordability of traditional burial. What can I do? |
| Before going to your funeral home, the smartest thing you can do is make an appointment with one of our staff members to learn about the options and payment plans that Wooster Cemetery offers. |
| Have many families chosen Wooster and Great Plain Cemeteries? |
| Yes, we have had well over 20,000 interments over the last 150 years. Wooster Cemetery has a historic heritage and has been a prominent choice for many of Danbury’s founding families. |
| How much does a plot, lawn crypt mausoleum, or above ground mausoleum or niche
cost? How much does a monument or private mausoleum cost? How much does it cost to open or close a grave? |
| For information on pricing, please call us or send us an email at |
| Which highway is Wooster Cemetery near? |
| Wooster Cemetery is off Eastbound I-84 (exit 5) Westbound I-84 exit 6. The Danbury Hospital is across from our cemetery. Railroad and bus station service is close by within a mile. This makes travel from Connecticut and New York convenient. |
| Are pets allowed in the cemetery? |
| Yes, we are pet friendly. Pets are allowed as long as they are on a leash. They must stay on cemetery roads not on the grass or garden areas. |
| Of course, all waste must be picked up and disposed of by the person walking/watching the pet. |
| How early or late in the day can a burial service take place? |
| Depending on the time of year, a burial service can be provided as early as 8:00am until dusk. For the convenience of families, we do offer sunset services; these are subject to overtime costs. We provide for burials 7 days a week to meet religious needs, except for Federal Holidays where the cemeteries are closed for interment and entombment services. |
| How long is a burial service permitted to extend? |
| Monday through Friday a burial service is required to be complete by 2:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday a burial service is required to be complete by 11:00 am. Services that run beyond these times are subject to an overtime charge. |
| When making burial arrangements, how much notice does the cemetery require? |
| Wooster Cemetery is very flexible when making burial arrangements. We accommodate all religious needs, 7 days a week, except for Federal holidays. |
| Is Cemetery property tax deductible? |
| No, the purchase of cemetery property is not tax deductible. |