What is the role of a cemetery sexton?

• A. Management and maintenance of the cemetery.
• B. Administering funerals.
• C. Preparing bodies for viewing.
• D. Handling cremation permits.

Answer: (A)

The cemetery sexton is primarily the person in charge of the cemetery’s operation and upkeep. This includes coordinating and overseeing burials, opening and closing graves, keeping accurate records of plots, internments, and rights, and ensuring the grounds, headstones, fences, and equipment are well-maintained and safe. They often serve as a point of contact for families seeking information about plots, cemetery rules, and available services, and they may supervise staff or contractors who care for the grounds.

Funeral services, embalming for viewing, and issuing cremation permits are not typically duties of the sexton. Those tasks are usually handled by licensed funeral directors or mortuary professionals, and by appropriate regulatory authorities for permits. So the role most accurately described is the management and maintenance of the cemetery.