Epiphany Lutheran Wins State Grant

In it are members of the Epiphany Lutheran Church Memorial Garden and Columbarium Committee, as well as Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing Superintendent Daphne Hawk (black sweater) and Cemetery Registration & Resolution Chief Laura Monick (red top). *Photo by Jerrod Clay, Ohio Department of Commerce*

October 11, 2023
From the Ohio Department of Commerce

On October 11, the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing presented a $2,500 check to Epiphany Lutheran Church Memorial Garden and Columbarium (286 Hill Road North) for the repair of the pond by their columbarium.

The division registers more than 4,100 cemeteries in the state and administers the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission which assists in resolving complaints against registered cemeteries through mediation and conciliation. It awarded $104,000 in grants to 45 Ohio cemeteries through the Fiscal Year 2023 Cemetery Grant Fund.

“This is the fifth year the Division has awarded the grant for registered nonprofit cemeteries. We hope the award will help our stakeholders tackle projects that are never addressed due to lack of funding,” Division Supt. Daphne Hawk said. “We are honored to provide funds to help Ohio’s cemeteries improve recordkeeping, restore monuments, repair fencing, and improve signage, all of which will help preserve a piece of the state’s history.”

The grant is funded by $1 of every $2.50 from burial permit fees received by the division. Cemeteries that applied and did not receive funding this year are encouraged to apply again next year.

Grants were awarded this year to cemeteries in 32 Ohio counties.