Welcome to Central Illinois Gravestone Care
Gravestone Care is my passion
My name is Kelly Rieck.
Family History has been an interest for me for over 30 years. From documenting my own lineage to assisting others with their ancestry, this is a passion.
As part of several volunteer groups, I spend time locating burials, photographing and documenting gravestones throughout Central Illinois. Many have asked to have their family stones cleaned, refreshed and photographed.
Credentials
Not every service is created equal
Many believe that they can simply go out and clean gravestones, however there is so much more to know that just going out and doing. Irreparable harm can come from those who are not educated.
As required by The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, I have completed Cemetery Preservation Training as defined in the Human Skeletal Remains Protection Act (HSRPA) (20 ILS 3440) and by The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and am certified to conduct Basic Preservation Activities in an Illinois cemetery and am required to adhere to Federal, State Laws and Professional guidelines.
Services Offered
Preserving the integrity of gravestones is my goal.
First, do no harm.
If I believe that any type of involvement will cause harm to the gravestone, there will be no work to the gravestone completed. I will gladly clean up surrounding vegetation and make proper photographs of the grave.
With gentle biocides and light use of brushes and water, the results speak for themselves.
We do not use any powered tools for scrubbing nor do we use any pressure washers which could remove any of the stone or precious carvings or inscriptions. All work is done by hand.
We only use biocides that are formulated for and approved by the U.S. National Park Serviced the Department of Veteran Affairs National Cemetery Administration. No other cleaning products or chemicals.
Services Offered include preparation and initial cleaning of the gravestone, light weeding or trimming of the surrounding areas, photos provided to you in a digital format as well as a follow up treatment if the initial treatment fails to improve the gravestone.
Gentle reminder, not all stones will return to their original state. Depending on the type of material, shape, exposure to the elements and natural wear and tear, some stones will only reach a certain level of restoration. Additionally, cleaning often takes up to a year to fully develop, so patience is key.
Prices will vary depending on size, location and level of care needed. Average cost of basic care and cleaning for a single or double headstone is $50.00.
Please feel free to ask any questions!
