Upon being told by outgoing commissioner, Jay Hanson, that there was no “Cemetery Commissioners for Dummies” handbook, I dug in and researched our other Vashon special purpose districts, along with the cemetery districts of Washington.

Did you know there are roughly 100 cemetery districts in Washington State, yet only one in King County? I then dug a little deeper into the history of the Vashon Cemetery District by reviewing the policies and procedures dating back to its inception in 1978. In my own personal interest of researching the burial records and practices prior to 1978, I dug an even deeper hole and found the original handbooks of the Vashon Cemetery Association, dating back to 1888.

So here I am, about six feet in, and can report that not much has changed since 1888. The district is comprised of individuals who believe cemeteries are an important reflection of our community’s spirit and history, who take pride in preserving and maintaining the cemetery grounds, burial records and fiscal stability of the cemetery.

These values are reflected in the mission statement approved in 1994, and have been the bright light I’ve followed as I figured out my purpose on the board.

While the daily duties of the cemetery haven’t changed since 1888, the manner in which we bury our loved ones has. In 1888, embalming was becoming popular, and the first cremation in the U.S. had taken place only 12 years earlier. Fast forward to 1978, and burial practices largely consisted of traditional in-ground burial with embalming, a casket, and a cemetery plot.

Burial practices in 2025 are expected to include a rise in eco-friendly options, such as green burials, terramation (human composting), cremation and aquamation (water cremation), and a decrease in traditional casket burials. We’ve witnessed this growing trend first hand with the number of burials and plot sales at our green burial site. Ours is the only cemetery in King County that can accommodate fully green burials.

Earlier this year, I was honored to have attended four different burials at the cemetery, all on the same day. While each burial ended the same, the manner in which the remains were buried were as diverse as our community. I witnessed a green, cremated remains and a traditional casket burial. There were family, friends, and tears but also smiles, hugs, and sharing stories.

I came away feeling a deeper connection to my community, and I was proud that the Cemetery District could provide an array of burial options, at a fair price, so that one of the last wishes of the individual can be honored.

It’s not all pushing up daisies at the district. I have faced some challenges. Since the board is comprised of three commissioners, a quorum is two — which means that under open public meeting law, two commissioners cannot conduct or discuss any business outside of an open meeting. This makes it harder to get things done and has proven challenging as one of our commissioners wears another hat as the manager of our property management company.

We all wear multiple hats at times, don’t we? Thankfully, our cemetery staff have been extraordinary resources.

That leads me to Island Funeral Services (IFS). In my research, I found that the Cemetery District, previous to that the Vashon Cemetery Association, has always held a contract with IFS for the operational and plot sale duties, including a brief time when there were two funeral homes on the island.

The district’s policy states that plot sales, along with the opening and closing of plots, must be handled through IFS — and that an IFS employee must be present at the time of placement. Please know you may request to work with the IFS employee of your choosing. Death is a sensitive time in a family’s journal, and we want to ensure that individuals feel comfortable with the level of care and services provided.

My final sendoff is that of gratitude. I’d like to extend my deepest thanks to the current and past commissioners and staff. I’d also like to thank Vashon voters, individuals who have reached out with questions or concerns, the other Vashon Special Purpose Districts and nonprofit organizations who were all invaluable resources when I started this journey.

Finally, thank you to my friends and family for their love and support as I travel along the long and winding road to the cemetery.

Catherine Sullivan is a commissioner of the Vashon Cemetery District.