The dog I mentioned that was lost in a roadfront accident...well, that was in mid winter. Ever tried to dig even a small, shallow grave when it's 10 degrees and the fround is frozen...and by hand? Took me about 5 hours.
Ouch, that must have been tough, both the digging and the stiuation. I knew her time was coming, and had planned to cover a spot with styrofoam so that it wouldn't freeze; but we had an early snow and the ground never froze.