ABSTRACT
Cemetery visitation activities are here defined as either the physical or mental actions performed by visitors within a cemetery, and in association with a specific grave or memorial. The identified principal activities are: placing flowers, maintaining the grave or memorial, and talking to the decedent. Crying and prayer appear as somewhat less-common or secondary activities, and several other activities are identified as occurring even less. Several other gravesite activities were found to appear less often within the Bereavement Study than did the above principal and secondary activities. Other activities identified from the study include performing various religious rites, kissing the memorial, feasting or drinking with the decedent, placing gifts or ornaments, silent contemplation, talking with other mourners, and imagining the decedent. Crying and praying generally occur less frequently, while several other activities were identified as being undertaken by fewer people.
