Cemeteries serve as sacred spaces for communities, providing places for reflection, remembrance, and reverence. For dioceses—regional administrative divisions of the Catholic Church—managing multiple cemeteries can be a complex task. A diocese oversees the spiritual and operational needs of numerous parishes and cemeteries, often spread across a large geographical area. This can involve everything from maintaining burial records to ensuring cemetery maps are up to date.

At CIMS, we understand these unique challenges and offer tailored cemetery management solutions to meet the needs of dioceses, whether they oversee cemeteries centrally or operate independently. Below, we’re excited to highlight a few diocesan case studies showcasing how our software has empowered clients across the country to efficiently manage their cemeteries.

Planning a cemetery addition is a significant undertaking that requires careful consideration, strategic planning, and meticulous execution. Whether you're expanding an existing cemetery or establishing a new section, master planning is essential to ensure the project meets current needs and anticipates future requirements. Though every cemetery and master planning process is different, approaching your planning process with efficient guidance will help make your cemetery visions come true. This guide will walk you through the typical steps in master planning your cemetery addition, helping you create a space that honors the deceased and serves the living.

At CIMS, we offer three distinct levels of cemetery software: CIMS Light, Gold, and Platinum. Selecting the right tier for your cemetery involves considering various factors to meet your specific needs. In this blog, we will explore the differences and advantages of CIMS Gold and CIMS Platinum, guide you on upgrading from CIMS Gold to CIMS Platinum, and present a case study from Comstock Township, MI, illustrating a successful upgrade.

Burial Search is an application developed by the CIMS team to share cemetery data with the public. It is available to all CIMS clients as an add-on that allows the public to easily access and navigate a cemetery’s information via the web, a smartphone, or an on-site kiosk. When a cemetery administrator adds a new burial, or makes a change in CIMS, that information is immediately available to the public on the cemetery’s Burial Search Website. At the end of April 2024, the new CIMS Burial Search update went live for all cemeteries currently using this application.

With a longstanding presence in the Nashville area, The Temple Cemetery has been a cornerstone of Jewish faith and community since the mid-1800s. Over the years, the cemetery has evolved alongside the congregation, adapting to the changing needs of its community while preserving its rich historical legacy. Today, The Temple embraces modern innovations in cemetery management, notably integrating CIMS to simplify operations and uphold its commitment to honoring the memories of generations past.

One of the longstanding traditions of honoring veterans on Memorial Day is the solemn practice of placing American flags on their grave sites, a gesture that symbolizes gratitude and remembrance for their service and sacrifice. CIMS makes it easy to generate lists and maps that speed up the process and ensure accurate flag placement.

When it comes to furry friends, saying goodbye is never easy. It’s a moment that pulls at the heartstrings, leaving us with cherished memories and a profound sense of loss. Our pets, more than just animals, are integral parts of our families, sharing in the highs and lows of our lives.

Few places hold the secrets of a community quite like historical cemeteries. They offer glimpses into the lives, stories, and aspirations of those who walked the same streets we tread today. Yet, the struggle to preserve their legacy is undeniable. With each passing year, the inscriptions on gravestones fade and the memories etched in stone grow faint. Cemetery record-keeping, though invaluable, poses a challenge when facing the relentless march of time.

In this case study, we will delve into the remarkable journey of one historical township cemetery: Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Norwich Township, Ohio. Since implementing CIMS software over 20 years ago, this cemetery has made remarkable progress in safeguarding its precious data and streamlining its operations.