ABSTRACT
The main reasons for cemetery visitation incorporate expression of grief, while grief repression is a major factor in much non-visitation. Typical patterns of cemetery visitation behavior are indicative of healthy bereavement outcome; while abnormal behaviors, including the extremes of avoidance and chronic daily visitation indicate significant unresolved issues. Sadly, many mourners denied a meaningful locus for the expression of their grief, as often occurs through the scattering or non-interment of cremated remains, may be expected to retain unresolved grief issues indefinitely. Common reasons for not visiting were found to include non-interment of remains, inability to access the cemetery, grief repression, religious restrictions, and no perception of any need to visit.
