5 Common Summer Graveside Challenges—and How to Solve Them

For cemeteries, summer brings a sigh of relief as employees no longer have to deal with frozen soil, grave markers that are hidden by the snow, or icy pathways. However, the heat, mud, and fast pace of summer can bring its own common graveside challenges.

Often, summer is the busiest season for burials. And while there are numerous challenges to overcome—often in very short timeframes—each service still needs to be treated with the dignity, honor, and respect it deserves.

The right systems and supplies are key to conducting numerous graveside services while minimizing hassles and optimizing the experience of your guests. Here are some of our top tips for staying prepared during the busiest months and overcoming those all-too-familiar graveside challenges of summer.

5 Common Summer Graveside Challenges

1. Managing Heat at the Service

Unfortunately, no one gets to choose the weather on the day of a funeral service, and sometimes services fall on the hottest days of summer. This can present major challenges for families, staff, and other guests, especially the elderly or those with medical conditions.

Even on sweltering, 100°F days, the service must go on.

Thankfully, there are ways to create a much more comfortable gathering place even if the sun is beating down on your services.

Here are a few top strategies to consider:

• Offer fans and cold water for guests.
• Print extra handouts in cause guests want to use them for fans.
• Shorten the outdoor portion of the service (if possible).
• Provide shade with umbrellas, canopies, or tents.

Our Holland Supply tents are both easy to setup and mobile, so staff can quickly deploy them on hot days as needed.

Top choices include:

• Hillside Tent – Durable and ideal for any terrain.
• 15′ x 15′ Aluminum Roll Around Tent – Lightweight and portable.
• Steel Roll Around Tent – Extra durable – ideal for both sun and rain.

2. Keeping the Burial Area Stable on Uneven Ground

Another common summer challenges is uneven ground or muddy, soft ground. While the hard ground of winter can sometimes make above-ground tasks easier, in some cases, summer soils can make setup slower or less secure.

Here are some ways to optimize unstable ground and help staff work confidently, even on difficult terrain.

• Focus on grading and leveling ahead of time. Even if it’s only in the immediate graveside zone, make it a priority to grade and level before the schedule gets packed.
• Use temporary graveside grass or plywood walkways. This helps to keep equipment and foot traffic from sinking into soft spots.
• Mark edges clearly with cones, stakes, or ribbon so staff can work safely around uneven terrain.
• Use a mobile stand for lowering devices. The large wheels of a quality mobile stand roll smoothly even on uneven terrain.
• Use a burial platform to keep debris and water out of grave openings.
• Opt for a strong, stable tent that works well on any terrain.

3. Improving Guest Comfort

Family members and guests deserve to mourn and celebrate the life of their loved one no matter the weather. Small measures can go a long way to improve their comfort and help facilitate a dignified, comfortable service.

• Offer bottled water. Use coolers or ice buckets so guests can hydrate easily and quietly.
• Build in shorter standing periods and more opportunities to sit, especially for older guests. Provide extra folding chairs at the graveside in case guests need them.
• Utilize chair covers as a simple way to improve both comfort and presentation.

4. Preparing for Sudden Weather Shifts

Another somewhat common challenge during the summer months is the sudden weather shifts that some days can bring. In some cases, weather can change in just minutes, bringing wind, sun, or rain with little warning.

It’s important to prepare staff so that they can act quickly when these weather changes occur, setting up quick-deploy tents, or lowering tent sides if needed.

Other helpful protocols can help prepare for weather shifts in advance, including:

• Having ponchos or umbrellas easily accessible for sudden rain.
• Securing a backup indoor location.
• Maintaining well-secured signs that can withstand heavier winds.
• Educating staff on a clear shelter-in-place plan.

5. Presenting a Clean, Respectful Graveside

Creating a consistent presentation across graveside services–and even within the same service–can sometimes be difficult with changing weather. On days with multiple services, potential weather challenges, and many footprints trekking across the ground, tools like graveside grass and matting can help improve the look of the site and create a more consistent appearance.

Other simple ways to create a clean appearance during busy graveside seasons include:

• Use a simple, consistent setup for each service so everything feels uniform.
• Coordinate staff positioning so helpers are present but not visually crowded around the gravesite.
• Ask staff to avoid walking across the most visible part of the setup after it has been arranged.
• Wipe down chairs before setup or use chair covers so everything looks neat and consistent.

Reliability in Peak Burial Season

Some summer graveside challenges are inevitable, but proper preparation can significantly reduce the distractions that they cause. In the busiest months, you need equipment that’s easy to clean, quick to deploy, durable, and consistent.

The proper strategies and equipment can mean the difference between stressed-out staff piecing together a cluttered service and a calm team with the tools they need to create a respectful presentation that comforts those present.

At Holland Supply, we understand the importance of creating a calm, prepared, and professional atmosphere for your families and guests. For three generations, we’ve been serving customers all over the country, providing valuable products while offering caring, personalized advice as you set up your cemetery to better serve visitors.

Whether you’re ready to order or need help deciding what products are best for your business, we’re here for you.

Browse our products or give us a call at 800-527-8818.