Explaining The Process of Finding a Grave

Finding the grave site may be a part of the process of remembering a loved one, genealogical research or visiting a family member. To find a grave is now much easier because of online services to search for a dead body, cemetery records and contacting the cemetery management services. The information in this guide outlines the basics of locating graves and what tools and aids are available to assist in making this task as easy as possible.

Important steps involved in finding a grave

Gathering the right information before searching

Having as much information about the deceased at the start of a grave search helps to increase the probability of a correct and quick search. Any bit of information can make a huge difference for those searching online for cemetery records, taking the guess work out of the process when searching by name, date, or location. Before starting a search for any grave, you need to have this information:

• Full name of the deceased: Including the first and last name and also any middle names and/or alternate spellings that may be found on the register of births.
• Approximate year of death: Gives an approximate year of death in cases where the same name appears in the database for more than one cemetery and there is some uncertainty regarding the year of death.
• Cemetery or suburb name: Any details of the cemetery or suburb where the burial was made will restrict search to that organization’s records.
• Date of birth if known: You put your birth date with your death year, so that it will be easier to identify the correct birth date and/or death date.
• Family relationship details: If the basic data is not complete, it can be helpful to have the names of the family members buried close by in order to match up the records.

Contacting the cemetery directly for assistance

If an online search fails to yield results or the records in the search don’t answer all the questions, the next best course of action is to contact the management team of the cemetery concerned directly. The cemetery will have historical data, physical archives and internal maps that are not available on the public online portal. There are several ways that staff can help you find a cemetery:

• Manual record searches: Records of older burial that haven’t been digitized and are not available can be accessed by searching the hands-on registers or historical archives.
• Section and row guidance maps: Giving the user, both printed and digitally, a map of the cemetery with the location of the grave indicated relative to the access and features of the cemetery.
• On-site assistance for difficult locations: This involves having someone onsite to help find a particular grave, when the section is extensive, poorly marked, hard to find on its own, etc.

Visiting the cemetery to locate the grave

The location of the grave itself in the cemetery is easy to find if the correct reference information is available, once it is established which grave it is. Usually the larger cemeteries have adopted a grid-based system of sections, rows and plot numbers making physical navigation possible with a map. A number of practical tips to assist with finding a grave while visiting a cemetery are:

• Use the cemetery map at the entrance: Most cemeteries will have a physical map or map that is posted at the entrance that will indicate labels on the section and where to find them within the cemetery.
• Follow section signage through the grounds: Walk the path between sections, using section markers to find your way to the appropriate part of the grounds; only find the row and plot after you reach the correct part of the grounds.
• Check the headstone inscription carefully: Be sure to check the name, birth and death years on the gravestone are consistent with the description in your search.

Summary

Finding a grave is to access correct personal information, access a deceased online search portal, contact the cemetery, if necessary, and then work with the cemetery to find the specific location through using the section and plot reference. These steps being taken in a sequence will make the process of searching less daunting and more trustworthy for both the family and the researchers.