Hillside Cemetery

HISTORY

John Wilson Clark purchased five acres for a burial ground on April 14, 1885.  It was originally named “Hillside Cemetery of the Village of Belleville.”  The name was changed to the Hillside Cemetery Association on May 5, 1905, when Clark deeded the Cemetery to the Association.  This was the same month and year that the Village of Belleville was first incorporated.

On November 7, 1924, five more acres were added to the Cemetery.

On February 20, 1951, Hillside Cemetery was deeded from the Association to the City of Belleville, which has operated and maintained it since that time.

REGULATIONS

Hillside Cemetery is open daily from dawn to dusk.

Non-potable water is provided at pumps throughout the cemetery.  Please do not drink the water.

Please respect other visitors engaged in quiet meditation at grave sites.  Rowdy behavior, loud music or noise, profane language, and the use of alcohol or drugs is prohibited in the Cemetery.

If you observe objectionable or destructive behavior while visiting the Cemetery, please call Police dispatch immediately at 734-699-2395.

Flowers in containers and live plantings must be within one foot of the headstone, and on the front side only.

Pets are allowed in the Cemetery only if kept in a vehicle or on a leash.  Pet owners must immediately pick up and dispose of droppings.

For a complete list of regulations, please contact the City Clerk’s office.

OPERATIONS

Grave Locating:

• To find the location of a person buried at Hillside Cemetery, please CLICK HERE for the Occupant Listing and CLICK HERE for Cemetery Maps.
  • Occupant listings are updated on a monthly basis. If you do not see a particular individual listed, or if you have further questions, please call the City Clerk’s office.

Grave Purchasing:

• To purchase a grave, please call the City Clerk’s office to set up an appointment. (See Cemetery Fee Schedule for current rates*).
  • Full Graves will accommodate:
    • • One casket, and one additional cremains container (in addition).
      • Four cremains’ containers (no casket).
  • Cremains Graves will accommodate:
    • • One cremains container.

Please note: There are no longer any FULL graves available for sale from the City, ONLY Cremains Graves are currently available  – Hillside Cemetery is nearing capacity.

Burials:

• To schedule a burial, please call the City Clerk’s office.
• The City does not conduct burials on Sundays or holidays.
• Additional fees apply for Saturday burials and weekday burials after 3 p.m. (See Cemetery Fee Schedule for current rates*)
• On date of burial, please bring a burial permit and payment for the burial (checks only) to the grave site.
  • For more information on obtaining a Burial Permit, contact the funeral home handling the services, or the crematorium handling the cremation.

Deeds (Transfers/Copies):

• To transfer a deed, or to get a copy of a current deed, please call the City Clerk’s office to get more information.
  • Fees apply for all Deed Transfers (See Cemetery Fee Schedule for current rates*)

Foundations:

Concrete Foundations, or “footings”, are required before setting a monument (headstone) or marker on a grave site. Foundations are poured twice a year; once in the Spring, and once in the Fall. (Exact dates are not provided, as all pours are weather permitting).

• Foundation ordering process:
  • Order your headstone/marker from the monument company of your choice – the City does not sell headstones.
    • Before ordering, be sure that the monument does not exceed the maximum foundation sizes provided below.
    • The City cannot provide recommendations of monument companies.
  • Complete the Foundation Order Form (CLICK HERE for the form).
  • Once the order form is complete, you or your monument company will submit the form, along with payment, to the City of Belleville. (See Cemetery Fee Schedule for current rates*).
  • Following the foundation pour, your monument company will set the marker/headstone – the City does not set monuments.

MAXIMUM SIZES FOR FOUNDATIONS: