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Catholic Cemeteries
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Catholic Cemeteries
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Diocesan Cemeteries as an entity traces its origins to 1934 when Bishop William Turner established it by appointing Msgr. James F. Hogan the first director of cemeteries. Msgr. Hogan concentrated on Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna, Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheektowaga and Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lewiston. Msgr. Joseph J. Sekelsky, who succeeded Msgr. Hogan, established Assumption Cemetery on Whitehaven Road, Grand Island in 1955 and Queen of Heaven Cemetery on Tonawanda Creek Road in Lockport in 1960.
In the history of cemeteries in the diocese, it is interesting to note that a few Catholic burials took place in the early days (1820's - 1830's) at land given to the diocese by Louis Le Couteulx at Main and Edward Streets in Buffalo.
After the 1832 cholera epidemic in Buffalo, burials took place in East North Street near Masten. This plot, consecrated by Bishop John Timon in 1849, was quite small. When Bishop Timon found it necessary to find new space, he did so at Holy Cross Cemetery in South Buffalo.
As the city of Buffalo grew, cemeteries were established at the outer rims of the city line. Some city parishes, such as St. Adalbert, located cemeteries in rural settings away from the city. Diocesan Cemeteries, in six locations, offers multiple burial options and scenic locations south, east and north of the city of Buffalo.
Holy Cross Cemetery was officially opened in 1849 as a parish cemetery, although records show burials dating as far back as 1830.
In 1853, the cemetery was expanded when Bishop John Timon borrowed $1,200 to purchase a small farm for a cemetery and consecrated 40 acres of it. For this reason, it was noted as being the "Bishop's" cemetery, as title to the property was in his name.
This cemetery's boundaries contain the graves of early Irish immigrants - those who dug the Erie Canal, built the railroads, worked the docks and Great Lake's steamboats, labored at the grain elevators and steel mills. Those who died in tragedies also lie in place here; nine children ranging in age from 12 to 19 and a young fireman who all died in the 1880 wallpaper factory fire on Perry Street; nearly 700 victims of the 1918 flu epidemic; Casimir Mazurek, victim of the 1919 strike violence at the steel plant; Edward R. Lonegrin, a young Irish lieutenant and Fenian solider, killed in the 1866 battle of Ridgeway, Canada.
When Father Nelson Baker, founder of Our Lady of Victory Basilica and Homes of Charity, which borders Holy Cross Cemetery, died in 1936, he was laid to rest in the stretch of cemetery in the shadow of the Basilica. Just two years earlier, Holy Cross become a Diocesan cemetery.
Holy Cross Cemetery is the largest of the Diocesan cemeteries consisting of approximately 191 acres. There are over 130,000 interments in this cemetery with approximately 60 acres of undeveloped land for future cemetery use.
Mount Olivet Cemetery began with the purchase of 50 acres of land on Delaware Avenue by Father Francis F. Kelly of Ascension Parish, North Tonawanda, in 1908. It was intended to serve the people of the northern suburbs. In 1923, Father Kelly purchased an additional 24 acres.
Bishop Charles H. Colton consecrated the cemetery on October 11, 1908.
The first mausoleum project of Diocesan Cemeteries took place at Mount Olivet. Holy Family Mausoleum, dedicated by Bishop Edward D. Head in September 1979, graces the central mall of this cemetery.
Mount Olivet serves as the Administrative Office for the Diocesan Cemeteries of Buffalo. Presently, Mount Olivet Cemetery has a total of 92 acres in the village of Kenmore. There are over 50,000 burials in the cemetery. There are still 13 acres of undeveloped land for future cemetery use.
Bishop William Turner is buried here near the old Chapel as are many priests of the diocese. There is also a monument honoring Bishop John A. Duffy, seventh bishop of Buffalo (1937-1944).
The favorable location on Delaware and Elmwood Avenues has many Buffalo area Catholics turning to Mount Olivet in preference to older cemeteries.
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery was founded for the burial of Catholics with Italian background at a time when ethnic cemeteries were the norm. (The United German and French Roman Catholic Cemetery dating from 1859 is a stone's throw away and St. Stanislaus Polish Cemetery a short distance away.)
Founded in 1913 with a purchase of 20 acres of land on Harlem Road, Cheektowaga, with an entrance between Genesee and the Kensington Expressway, the cemetery was consecrated by Bishop Henry Colton in 1913. In a letter dated November 28, 1916, Bishop Dennis Dougherty (later Cardinal Dougherty), set down rules for the governance of the Italian cemetery. Additional acreage was purchased for a total 33 acres in a narrow very deep cemetery behind the neighborhood known as Tirearunda.
St. Francis of Assisi Chapel Mausoleum was built in 1992. Lovely mosaics of Italian Saints - Santa Francesco and Santa Chiara - St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi - adorn the front exterior. Inside, stained glass beautifully portrays St. Francis, the Stigmata, the Greccio Christmas scene, and the Resurrection. To drive or walk through the cemetery and read all the Italian names gives a feeling for the faith of the Italian ancestors.
Presently, Holy Sepulchre, with its 33 acres in the town of Cheektowaga, has over 20,000 interments in the cemetery. There are approximately 8 acres of undeveloped land for future cemetery use.
Gate of Heaven Cemetery dates back to 1897 when Riverdale Cemetery, a non-sectarian cemetery on Riverdale Road in the town of Lewiston, sold a portion of its land to St. Mary and Sacred Heart parishes in Niagara Falls. the cemetery was consecrated later that year by Bishop James E. Quigley.
In 1925, Riverdale Cemetery officials claimed that the conveying of the land in 1897 was void. Seventeen years later a settlement was finally reached. In 1942, Gate of Heaven Cemetery was officially established in the Diocese of Buffalo.
This cemetery lies near Niagara University and the Niagara Power Project just East of Route 104 (Lewiston Road).
Two beautiful chapel mausoleums, Gate of Heaven and Holy Angels, adorn the back part of this cemetery. The stained glass window depicting St. Peter at the entrance to Heaven welcomes visitors to Gate of Heaven Chapel Mausoleum. A mosaic of St. Michael the Archangel and stained glass windows depicting several angels make up Holy Angels Chapel Mausoleum.
Presently, Gate of Heaven Cemetery has a total of 32 acres in the town of Lewiston. There are over 16,000 interments in the cemetery. There are approximately 9 acres of undeveloped land for future cemetery use.
On September 17, 1955, permission was granted by Bishop Joseph A. Burke to purchase approximately 160 acres of land on Grand Island for future cemetery use. This cemetery was consecrated by Bishop Burke in 1956.
The land, located on Whitehaven Road one mile west of the New York State Thruway, was intended to serve Catholics of the Tonawanda, Grand Island and Niagara Falls areas.
The rural setting of this spacious cemetery enhances its rustic appeal.
On June 6, 1960, the Diocese of Buffalo purchased 125 acres on Tonawanda Creek Road in the Town of Lockport. It was thought that this cemetery would serve Catholics in southern Niagara and northern Erie counties.
The cemetery was consecrated by Bishop Burke in 1962.
A tri-sided monument with five mysteries of the rosary sculpted on each side graces the central green space of the symmetrical landscaping. The two-sided monument honoring St. Anne and Our Lady of Fatima stands on one side of the center as balance for the monument honoring the Immaculate Conception and St. Therese of Lisieux. Tonawanda Creek flanks the back perimeter of the property.
New development has taken place at Queen of Heaven Cemetery with the addition of an office/chapel combination, garden mausoleum, and lawn crypt garden. Glass fronted niches adorn the Good Sheppard corridor between the office and Queen of Heaven Chapel. This corridor leads to the court yard where our Lday of Peace Garden Mausoleum is located. St. Augustine Lawn Crypt Garden is located adjacent to the office/chapel area.
These new additions greatly expand the burial options at the cemetery and will respond to the growing needs of catholics in southern Niagara and Nortern Erie counties.
During the 1970's, a number of operational changes were implemented to conform with contemporary cemetery policies. The concept of interment chapels was also introduced.
The 1980's and 1990's have seen new sections developed and full utilization of land achieved through modern design and proper landscaping.
Various policies have been revised to better serve Catholic families. In addition, the variety of burial options has been expanded and mausoleum facilities have grown to a total of more than 18,000 crypt spaces.
Diocesan Cemeteries are very much aware of the importance of fulfilling the needs of their Catholic families and are trying to provide for those needs. Each family is served individually and completely.
As we enter the new millennium in an ever changing world, the Catholic Cemeteries of Buffalo continue to remain faithful to their assigned works of mercy.
