In 1990 the Graef Family had a friend whose mother passed away. The mother was cremated, and our friend had no idea what to do with her remains. Heike Graef suggested a Memorial Garden. At that time Christ Episcopal Church of Toms River on Washington Street, had just created their garden, but it was only open to church members. The Presbyterian Church of Toms River also had a memorial garden which was and is open to all. That is where our friend’s mother’s cremains were interred.

Heike discussed this idea with our pastor, The Reverend Joseph Hofer, and he thought this was a great idea suggesting it be placed outside of the sanctuary. This is a serene and private location open to all for contemplation and prayer. The idea of creating a garden was brought before our church council and approved. First Church received approval and guidelines from the Township of Toms River on September 27, 1991, and at that time we had our first interment.

The Church Council stipulated that First Church would accept all who wished to be interred at our church.

A member of First Church died in 1992 and when his wife realized we had a Memorial Garden, she stated that she wished we had a Memorial Garden sooner. I asked her where her husband was, but she did not know. She had never thought to get his cremains from the funeral home. I was told that they still had them and we made arrangements for his interment in July of 1994, twelve years after his passing. This gave her great comfort. Another church family lost their father and husband and had scattered his cremains in the ocean. Years later the children felt that they had no place to come and remember him. His name is now on our Memorial Plaque.

Family members and friends visit the garden, and many have taken the opportunity to make pre-need arrangements. There is a nominal internment fee and these funds are used to maintain this serene and meaningful Memorial Garden.