How to find a grave?

the_matrix

Hi

How do I go about finding the grave of person who recently passed away with only the name of person and town?

Thanks in advance :T

peachyprice

Check with the cemetery office, they'll have a record of the plot number.

Ms_Chocaholic

I only know from a village perspective but didn't want to read and run.

When my FIL died, we had to agree a plot in the churchyard with a representative from the Parish Council and the fees were paid to them. When we were looking round, the rep had a map with her of all the graves etc.

I'm unsure who will do the same in a town, could it be someone from the Town/City/District Council?

Alternatively, post the area and someone could pop and have a look for you. A long shot but you never know.

Savvy_Sue

I don't know if there is a central record kept of burials, but you could google, or search on the local paper's website, and see if there was an announcement which would narrow down where the burial took place (churchyard, local authority cemetery, woodland burial etc).

Failing that, getting a list of local funeral directors might be the way to go, but that would depend on the size of the town!

madbadrob

Sue,

Funeral directors wont divulge that information due to the Data Protection act. I have tried that on a few occasions for clients. I have always gone to the municipal burial ground and if they werent there I have then checked local churches. If they are in church yards you usually find the parish clerks are great at divulging the information

Rob

getmore4less

madbadrob wrote: »

Sue,

Funeral directors wont divulge that information due to the Data Protection act. I have tried that on a few occasions for clients. I have always gone to the municipal burial ground and if they werent there I have then checked local churches. If they are in church yards you usually find the parish clerks are great at divulging the information

Rob

The location of a dead person internment plot would not be covered by the DPA.

lavalamp

Are you sure they are buried in the same town they died? That is certainly not always the case and I'm not sure how you would trace a grave if they were elsewhere....

~Beanie~

Are you certain that they were buried, could they have been cremated?

Ms_Chocaholic

Just another thought, if it's a recent death, it's unlikely you will easily find the grave as it may be unmarked/not visibly marked until a gravestone is erected which can over 6 months afterwards as they have to wait for the plot to settle, if at all, dependent on the financial situation of those left.

bongonaut

I would approach things as follows:
1.Check with the local crematorium. They will let you know if a named person has been recently cremated there. They should also be able to give you some idea of what happened to the ashes afterwards.
2. If there is a local cemetery for the town, contact the town or parish council who run the cemetery. A google search should give you this info.
3. If there is a churchyard where the person lived that is still open for burials, get in touch with the vicar or church office for that church.
4. You could also speak to local funeral directors to see if they conducted the funeral in question. FDs often place death notices in local papers, so the basic details may not be private.

If the burial took place recently, there may not be any memorial or marker on the plot, but the town/parish council or the church should keep records of all burials with details of their location.

I do hope this is of some help.

madbadrob

getmore4less wrote: »

The location of a dead person internment plot would not be covered by the DPA.

You are right to some extent however the plot is usually paid for by a living person and that is therefore covered by the DPA. This is an argument I have on a weekly basis and one that frustrates the hell out of me. The FD's argue that their clients ie the living relative that paid for the funeral is the only person who can give them permission to divulge this information and when I argue that I understand their details are protected by the DPA they always argue back that because they own the grave that is also. I therefore throw back at them that the grave is a public monument and therefore shouldnt be. Some back down many dont. Its far easier to go to the municipal graveyard and ask the staff. They are more forthcoming and will if they have the grave there take you to it as well

Rob