ABSTRACT
Common patterns of visitation behavior are here identified, considering several factors, including frequency, duration, anniversary visits, and a long-term visitation trajectory. While cemeteries are often considered simply as places for the disposition of human remains, the main, ongoing use of what are arguably our most significant cultural sites is actually for subsequent memorial visitation. The Visitation Study revealed that 77% of cemetery traffic relates to commemorative visits, and funeral corteges were found to represent the remaining 23%. General patterns of cemetery visitation reflect several factors, including the mourner’s frequency and duration of visits, their relative position on a long-term visitation trajectory, and the incidence of special occasion visits. The Visitation Study revealed different frequencies of visitation to be most evident by duration of bereavement, relationship to the decedent, family ethnicity, and service type. Funeral corteges were found to comprise some 23% of the total weekly traffic volume, with the bulk of visits representing memorial visitation.
