Author: Jessica Smithers

Donations

Jessica Smithers

The Davis Cemetery & Arboretum is always in need of continuous care and restoration. Donations are tax deductible (Tax ID# 472353081) and always appreciated.  Please make checks payable to Davis Cemetery District and mail to:

Davis Cemetery & Arboretum

820 Pole Line Road

Davis, Ca 95618

For more information e-mail the Davis Cemetery & Arboretum or call (530) 756-7807.

If you are interested in volunteering your time to restoring the gardens or assist at the numerous cultural and educational events please email Jess Smithers at jess@daviscemetery.org

Memorial Day Ceremony May 29th

Jessica Smithers

The Davis Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6949 and the Davis Cemetery District will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29th, at the Davis Cemetery & Arboretum, 820 Pole Line Road. The Davis Brass Ensemble will perform a medley of patriotic music from 9:30am-10:00am.

Davis Boy Scouts , Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts will place the flags on the graves of veterans early that morning and pick them up that evening.

The ceremony will feature the Davis Brass Ensemble, Davis Children’s Chorale and the Davis High School Madrigals, Carol Kessler, and a keynote speaker.
We will be in need of volunteers to aid in the handing out of programs and the removal of flags later in the afternoon. Please contact cemcod@dcn.org if you would like to help.

 

Death Cafe

Jessica Smithers

Everyone is welcome to come to talk about life and death at the upcoming Death Cafe at the Davis Cemetery & Arboretum on Saturday, May 14th 1:30-3:30pm. Every Death Cafe provides a new opportunity to meet with others and each has been unique experience. A Death Cafe provides an open, respectful and friendly atmosphere where people can express views about death, dying and life. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session. There is no program, agenda or speaker.

Our objective is ‘to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives’.

All are welcome and encouraged to bring friends and contribute to the potluck.Cake and other refreshments will be served. Space and hospitality will be provided by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis and the Davis Cemetery District.

Learn more at www.deathcafe.com or contact Laura Thompson of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis at campusministry@uudavis.org or 530-753-2581, ext. 202 or Kristi Dvorak at cemcod@dcn.org and www.daviscemetery.org

 

Death Cafe

Veterans Burial

Jessica Smithers

The Yolo County Veterans Services Office (VSO) has purchased a variety of cremation and casket plots on our grounds. These plots are made available for no cost on an “at need” basis to qualified veterans upon verification by the VSO. Interment for the veterans spouse into the same plot is permitted.

Burial Costs:

While there is no cost for the plot, it is the family and/or friend’s responsibility to pay the interment fee and cost of the vault associated with the burial type selected.

Military Honors:

Typically, the funeral home will help families coordinate graveside military honors. If you are not working with a funeral home, branch contact information is listed below.

US Army: 1-888-634-7496

US Marines: 1-866-826-3628 or 1-703-432-9524

US Navy: 1-800-326-9631 or 1-619-556-7178 (or 9790) or 1-916-380-8449

US Air Force: 1-800-586-8402

US Coast Guard: 1-510-437-3334

Volunteer Honor Guard

Headstone, Marker, and Medallion Regulations:

Veteran markers are provided at no cost through the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Only flush military markers no larger than 12″ X 24″ are permitted on cremation plots. Upright military markers may be placed on casket plots.  A second flush 12″ X 24″ marker for a spouse is permitted on casket plots only. All fees associated with the second marker must be paid by family and/or friends. Eligibility and application materials can be found here.

Contact Information:

Yolo County Veteran Services Office 

137 N. Cottonwood Street
Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: (530) 406-4850

Veterans Affairs Regional Office

1301 Clay St, North Tower
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (800) 827-1000

Green Burial

Jessica Smithers

Green Burial

WHAT IS A GREEN BURIAL? Green (or natural) burial emphasizes simplicity and environmental sustainability. The body is neither cremated nor prepared with chemicals such as embalming fluids. It is simply placed in a biodegradable container or shroud and interred without a concrete burial vault.

WHAT IS THE GREEN BURIAL PROCESS? The body or container is lowered into the earth without the use of a burial vault. Earth is then packed directly around and over the body or container.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE GREEN BURIAL OPTION? The Davis Cemetery District offers the green burial option for either single or companion interment.

Embalmed bodies and/or those in non-biodegradable caskets, such as metal, are not eligible for the green burial option. Green burial is not an option for the second interment into a companion plot in which a companion vault is already in place.

For a full list of services go here

 

Ten things to do during your visit

Jessica Smithers

Ten Things To Do During Your Visit…

  1. Inventory, photograph, paint or view our wildlife.
  2. Bring a sketchbook or a notebook and spend some quiet time on one of our benches. Let the beauty and the history inspire your creativity.
  3. Hike or jog the perimeter of the cemetery, enjoying the view from many perspectives. Climb our hill for a fresh look.
  4. Check out our historic swale, our perennial mounds, and our wildflower meadow (all located in the eastern half of the grounds).
  5. Check out our scent garden and our bulb and wildflower garden (both on the historic side of the cemetery). Enjoy our changing foliage. (Where else can you find a Nepal Camphor, native to the Himalayas, in Davis?)
  6. Soothe your soul listening to our Veteran Memorial Fountain.
  7. Take a meditative walk on our labyrinth.
  8. Participate in our 10 stop scavenger hunt, designed to educate children regarding our history.
  9. Explore the lovely statues and historic stones. (Can you find the one that came all the way from China? Hint: it has wonderful dragons.)
  10. Discover Davis history through our self-guided history tour. A copy of our map can be found here.   (Can you find the headstone of the woman born in 1796?)

DID YOU KNOW?
We have six markers over 12 feet tall, four that range from 8-12 feet, and some thirteen between 6-8 feet high; they include eight obelisk markers and four full figure statues. 28% of all city council members are buried here, as are 24% of all persons for whom UC Davis buildings are named.