ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an account of self-reported common reasons why mourners actually visit cemeteries. The principle reasons for visiting are to fulfill a sense of obligation, to maintain a significant emotional bond, and to seek solace from the emotions of grief. A few mourners commented on a perceived duty of respect as a reason for visiting the cemetery. Several visitors discussed other reasons for going to the cemetery, including taking or accompanying a principal visitor, being in the vicinity with time to spare, inspecting the monument, and visiting out of habit. Mourners visit graves and memorials at cemeteries for several reasons. Three principal reasons are to fulfill a perceived sense of obligation, to maintain a significant emotional bond, and to seek solace. These principal reasons appear to be universal, as none was unique to informants of any specific social or cultural identity, and they were identified broadly across a diverse group of general cemetery visitors.
