Cemetery Record Keeping: Modern Solutions for an Ancient Need
Cemetery records are irreplaceable. Yet thousands of cemeteries still keep them in filing cabinets, card indexes, or fragile spreadsheets. Here's how to modernize.
The problem with paper records
Paper cemetery records are vulnerable to fire, flood, misfiling, and simple deterioration. When a family calls asking where their grandmother is buried, someone has to flip through binders or card indexes to find the answer.
Spreadsheets are a step up, but they have their own problems: no connection to a map, no public search, no backup strategy beyond whatever lives on one person's computer.
Paper vs. spreadsheets vs. cemetery software
What good cemetery record keeping looks like
Centralized
Every record in one place. Not split across binders, boxes, and spreadsheets on different computers.
Searchable
Type a name and find the record instantly. Search across deceased name, plot number, date, section, or owner.
Connected to the map
Click a plot on the map and see who’s buried there. Search a name and see exactly where the plot is.
Backed up automatically
Cloud-based software backs up your data automatically. No USB drives, no forgetting to save.
Accessible to families
A public search page lets families find their loved ones without calling you. They see the name, dates, and location on the map.
How to get started
The hardest part is the first step: getting your existing records into a digital system. After that, maintenance is easy \u2014 you just add new records as burials happen.
If your records are in spreadsheets: Most cemetery software (including CemeteryBase) can import CSV or Excel files directly. Our smart mapper auto-detects columns. Most imports take under 10 minutes.
If your records are on paper: You'll need to digitize them first. Type them into a spreadsheet, then import. For large volumes, CemeteryBase offers assisted setup packages starting at $499 where we do the data entry for you.
Digitize your cemetery records today
Import your spreadsheets in minutes. All features included, no setup fees.