Town of Canaan, Vermont

Cemeteries have long been an important part of the heritage and landscape of the Town of Canaan. For generations, these quiet resting places have served not only as burial grounds but also as records of the community’s history, reflecting the lives of the families who helped build and sustain the town. Many of the earliest markers found in Canaan’s cemeteries date back to the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, offering a glimpse into the town’s earliest settlers and the generations that followed.

Today, the Town of Canaan continues to care for and maintain its cemeteries as places of remembrance, reflection, and respect. The cemeteries preserve the memory of local residents, veterans who served their country, and families whose roots in the region span many generations. Historical information about many of those buried in Canaan can also be found in local historical sources such as History of Canaan, Vermont by Beatrice Schoff Holmes, A Tale of Canaan People by Perley E. Fearon, and cemetery and genealogical research compiled by Nancy Dodge, as well as through cemetery records maintained by the town and other genealogical resources.

These cemeteries remain an important part of Canaan’s community heritage, honoring the past while continuing to serve present and future generations. 

Selecting and purchasing a cemetery plot in the Town of Canaan is a simple process. The town maintains active three cemeteries, all of which are open to anyone wishing to purchase a plot. We also have several others that are either full or no longer being used.

Whether you wish to be laid to rest in the community where you currently live, where you grew up, or where family members are buried, the Town of Canaan welcomes you.

The Town’s active cemeteries include:

Alice Hunt Cemetery – Located on Vermont Route 114, heading toward Wallace Pond (669 VT Route 114).

South Canaan Cemetery – Located on Vermont Route 102, heading toward Colebrook, New Hampshire (1700 VT Route 102).

Village Cemetery – Located on Christian Hill/Kingsley Street (64 Kingsley Street).

For additional information regarding cemetery plots, availability, or purchasing procedures, please contact the Canaan Town Clerk’s Office.

  Alice Hunt Cemetery

The Alice Hunt Cemetery offers several types of burial plots to meet the needs of individuals and families.

To purchase any of these lots, you must first visit the Canaan Town Office to determine which plots are currently available. The Alice Hunt Cemetery contains all available lot types, though the specific location of available plots may vary.

At the Town Office, you will be able to review the Cemetery Plot Index (linked below) as well as the Cemetery Survey Map, which identify which plots have already been sold and which remain available.

Once you have selected a plot, two one-time fees must be paid: the purchase price of the lot and the perpetual care fee. The total cost depends on the size of the lot selected.

After payment has been made, the Town Clerk will prepare a Cemetery Plot Deed for the purchaser. Once the deed has been signed by both the purchaser and the Canaan Selectboard, ownership of the cemetery plot is officially conveyed.

South Canaan and Village Cemeteries

The South Canaan Cemetery and Village Cemetery each offer a single burial lot option:

To purchase a burial plot in either cemetery, you must first visit the Canaan Town Office to determine which plots are currently available. At the Town Office, you will be able to review the Cemetery Plot Index (linked below) as well as the Cemetery Survey Map, which identify which plots have already been sold and which remain available.

Once you have selected a plot, two one-time fees must be paid:

After payment has been made, the Town Clerk will prepare a Cemetery Plot Deed for the purchaser. Once the deed has been signed by both the purchaser and the Canaan Selectboard, ownership of the cemetery plot is officially conveyed.