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  The Parish of Saint Thomas of Aquin owns and operates an active cemetery located on our tranquil and lovely parish grounds.
  
  It is always best to consider and take steps to provide for a final resting place when we are at leisure and peaceful rather than in moments of crisis and sorrow.
   

  CATHOLIC FUNERALS
  The Catholic Order of Funerals Has Three Stages:
  
  1. The Vigil is referred to as the wake and is a time for grieving. The only death people can really prepare for is their own. The death of a loved one has a finality that cannot be experienced beforehand. The Vigil is the first ritual event after death. It deals with the rush of grief that death brings. It is a time to look back at all that will be missed, and to tell stories of all kinds, with tears, laughter, savored memories, and prayers.
  
  2. The Funeral Liturgy is a time to reach down to the depths of one's faith and come to terms with belief after death. The dying and rising of Jesus is celebrated — made present — in the Eucharist, and the death of this person is joined to his. Those grieving not only look back to what was, but ahead to what is. There are few moments of liturgy that touch so deeply on the truths of Christianity.

  
  3. The Rite of Committal —Held at the Cemetery: After the tears, memories, and laughter, it is time to let go and know that it can never be as it was. One has to summon the strength to say goodbye to what was and maintain the faith to look ahead to a future that is better, but so hard to accept right now

  
  Information About Cremation

  Since 1963, cremation has been an acceptable option for those of the Catholic faith. When cremation is chosen, the Church expects families to seek an appropriate resting place for the cremains. The scattering or keeping of cremains at home is not the reverent entombment the church requires. Niches or graves are appropriate choices. Saint Thomas of Aquin  Cemetery has a Cremains Grave  Section  for the appropriate burial of your loved ones cremains.
  
  If we can be of any assistance to you with questions you may have regarding "at need" or "pre-need" burial arrangements, please feel free to call our Cemetery Office (973.827.3190) on Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM and we will happy to assist you.