ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Cemetery Laborer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Washington Memory Gardens

Be Seen First

Groundskeeper Seasonal help

Homewood, IL · On-site

$17.40/hr

... labor as assigned, and snow removal as needed. Must have a valid drivers license To apply send ... Washington Memory Gardens 701 Ridge Road Homewood, Il 60430 Company Description We are a Cemetery ...

All JobsCemetery Laborer JobsCemetery Laborer Jobs in Illinois

Cemetery Laborer information

What is a cemetery laborer?

Cemetery laborers are workers responsible for maintaining cemetery grounds and assisting with burial services. Their duties often include digging graves, setting up burial plots, landscaping, trimming grass, and caring for trees and shrubs. They may also operate machinery such as backhoes and lawn mowers, and help set up tents and chairs for funerals. Cemetery laborers play a key role in ensuring that cemetery grounds remain respectful and well-kept for visitors and families.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a cemetery laborer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cemetery Laborer, you need physical stamina, attention to detail, and experience with grounds maintenance, often supported by a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with landscaping equipment, power tools, and sometimes small machinery like backhoes is typically required. Reliability, respectfulness, and the ability to work collaboratively are important soft skills in this role. These abilities ensure cemetery grounds are well-maintained and services are conducted with dignity and professionalism.

What are some common challenges cemetery laborers face and how can they prepare for them?

Cemetery Laborers often face physically demanding tasks, such as digging graves, maintaining grounds, and operating heavy equipment in various weather conditions. Emotional resilience is also important, as the work environment involves sensitivity to grieving families and maintaining respect for burial sites. To prepare, candidates should be comfortable with manual labor, have good communication skills for interacting with coworkers and the public, and be adaptable to outdoor work year-round. Developing a strong sense of attention to detail and respect for the setting is essential for success in this role.

What is the difference between Cemetery Laborer vs Cemetery Groundskeeper?

AspectCemetery LaborerCemetery Groundskeeper
ResponsibilitiesAssisting with burial preparations, digging graves, maintaining equipmentMaintaining lawns, trimming trees, landscaping, general grounds upkeep
Required SkillsPhysical stamina, basic equipment operationLandscaping skills, knowledge of horticulture
Work EnvironmentOutdoor cemetery sites, physical laborOutdoor grounds, landscaping areas
CertificationsNone typically requiredOptional horticulture or landscaping certifications

The main difference between a Cemetery Laborer and a Cemetery Groundskeeper lies in their primary duties. Cemetery Laborers focus on assisting with burial-related tasks and physical labor, while Groundskeepers handle landscaping and grounds maintenance. Both roles require outdoor work and physical stamina, but Groundskeepers often have additional horticultural skills. Understanding these distinctions can help job seekers find the right position in the cemetery industry.

What are popular job titles related to Cemetery Laborer jobs in Illinois?

For Cemetery Laborer jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Cemetery Laborer jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Cemetery Laborer jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Cemetery Laborer jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Cemetery Laborer job openings:

Cemetery Laborer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cemetery Laborer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, and 27% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Grounds Specialist

Service Corporation International

Bloomington, IL • On-site

$17/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 21 days ago

Service Corporation International rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 97 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 9 rated funeral services

Job description

Our associates celebrate lives. We celebrate our associates.

Entry-level role maintaining the grounds provided at a cemetery or funeral home location(s). Performs all groundskeeping and maintenance matters on the properties and maintains the overall appearance of a cemetery, mausoleum or funeral home location. Incumbent gains an understanding of how a cemetery operates.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Mows grass, plows snow, waters lawns, fertilizes and trims shrubs, tends flower beds and regularly inspects assigned work areas to ensure proper standards are maintained
  • Operates lawn and grounds equipment including push and power mowers, snow blowers, weed eaters, leaf blowers and other related power equipment
  • Removes debris and trash from grounds. May include turning down vases and removing wilted flowers
  • Participates on teams for openings and closings for interments, entombments and inurnments
  • Assists in determining the location and layout of individual graves with assistance, complying with verification procedures
  • May perform minor repairs to the cemetery, building systems or equipment
  • May perform some of the duties associated with cremations such as maintaining inventory and complying with federal and state cremation regulations under supervision
  • May assist in moving and installing burial vaults
  • Must follow safety rules and ensure compliance with the operating procedures of corporate, federal, state and local regulations, including OSHA regulations and Safety and Environmental guidelines
  • This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the essential functions or duties related to this job

MINIMUM Requirements

Education

  • High school diploma or equivalent required

Certification/License

Experience

  • Minimum (6) months relevant experience in landscaping, general construction, warehouse, physical labor demonstrating steady employment
  • Funeral industry experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Ability to operate hand-held tools and equipment, including, but not limited to a shovel, pick, rake, sledgehammer, lawn mower, weed trimmer and leaf blower
  • Ability to accurately use measuring devices (i.e. tape measure, yard-stick, etc.)
  • Ability to work in extreme weather conditions
  • Physically agile and dexterous
  • Ability to operate equipment in a safe and careful manner
  • Ability to effectively work with others to accomplish tasks
  • Ability to communicate effectively with associates, contractor personnel and client families
  • Basic computer skills to enable retrieving and responding to email communications

Work CONDITIONS

Work Environment
  • Work outdoors during all seasons and weather conditions
  • Comply with Field dress code policy
Work Postures
  • Frequent, continuous periods of time standing, up 6 hours per day
  • Climbing stairs to access buildings frequently
Physical Demands
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling up to 50 pounds
Work Hours
  • Working beyond "standard" hours as the need arises
  • Schedule may fluctuate, if a need arises, to an earlier or a later shift

Compensation:
$17.00/hr

Benefits:
Medical * Dental * Vision * Flexible Spending Accounts (health care and dependent care) * Health Savings Account with Company Contribution * Sick Leave * Short-Term Disability * Long-Term Disability * Life Insurance * Voluntary Accidental Death or Dismemberment Insurance * Dependent Life Insurance * SCI 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with Company match * Employee Assistance Program

Postal Code: 61704-2524Category (Portal Searching): Cemetery MaintenanceJob Location: US-IL - Bloomington

What Service Corporation International employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply