As Catholic people, we are called by the Father through Baptism to be new people of God.  Though the time of death is traumatic, it is always and primarily a moment of religious significance. The final expression of our faith is the blessed and sacred burial in a Catholic Cemetery.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery is located at the corner of E 2351^st Rd (Hoxsey Road) and 47th Road, one mile south of the Church. The earliest record of a land transfer for the purpose of establishing a church burial ground appears in the Lasalle County Courthouse records of 1854. One acre was donated by Louis Ulrich and ½ acre was donated by Concorde Hisler Mourlam. Later acquisitions brought the cemetery up to its present size of slightly over 6 acres. The parish pastor is considered the “competent authority” in administering the cemetery and is assisted by various members of the staff.

The cemetery is platted in several sections with graves presently being sold in Section F, the northern most location in the cemetery. In addition, there is a Columbarium used for interment of cremated remains, Mary’s Garden of Holy Innocence where pre-born babies are interred, and a Community Columbarium where cremated remains abandoned at local funeral homes may be interred.

Graves are presently being sold at a cost of $550 of which $200 is deposited in a perpetual care account maintained at the Diocese of Rockford. The cost of interment is presently $650 and is generally coordinated through the funeral home handling the burial. There is no charge for the interment of pre-born babies in Mary’s Garden of Holy Innocence.

Inquiries should be directed to the parish office at 815-498-2010.