When my Dad passed away it cost $75 to open his grave (it was January 1957, snow on ground and was dug by hand). When my Mom died in August of 1996 her grave was opened with a backhoe and the cost was $1500. In 1996 the cemetary insisted the opening of the grave be paid before starting to dig the grave. I seem to question the difference in time periods and also the perpetual care of the cemmetary.