Catholic Cemeteries Planning Guide

Planning Guide



As Catholics, we believe the final expression of our faith is a

sacred burial in a Catholic Cemetery.

Why Catholic Cemeteries?

A visit to the cemetery should be special. We meticulously manage our cemetery grounds

so they will be just as beautiful 100 years from now as they are today. It is our way
of honoring the dead while respecting those left behind.
Catholics can feel confident that the sacred ground in which they rest
embraces their remains in the spirit of Christ’s enduring
love and devotion.

Cover: Trumpeting Angels Columbarium at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Left: The view of the main feature from inside
Ascension Chapel Mausoleum at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Above, left to right: St. Barbara Bell Memory Garden at Holy Cross
Cemetery; Our Lady of Peace Mosaic at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Town of Lockport; Statue of the Pieta near the entrance
at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Planning ahead with Catholic Cemeteries

Life’s most important moments are usually planned well in advance. You spend hours planning your
wedding, educating your children and planning for retirement. It’s also important you give critical
thought to your burial arrangements. By making these decisions now, you ease the burden on your
loved ones during what will be an emotional and stressful time.

It pays to plan

It’s financially practical to plan ahead with Catholic Cemeteries. Burial arrangements made today
will protect your family tomorrow, eliminating the possibility of emotional overspending.
Catholic Cemeteries offers many financing options. Your Family Service Counselor will review each
option with you and help you decide which option is best for your situation. Selections may be paid
for up to 60 months with a small down payment and no interest or finance charges.

What happens if you don’t plan ahead?

It can be uncomfortable planning your own burial arrangements. However, it’s extremely difficult
to plan burial arrangements for someone you love, especially at the time of their death. Your Family
Service Counselor will be there to help in your loved one’s time of need, but the burden of choosing
what you would have wanted will still be up to your family. By planning ahead, your family can focus
on what is most important— comforting one another, praying, remembering and beginning
the healing process.

Planning with Catholic Cemeteries ensures your family will remain together forever.

BURIAL OPTIONS

You have numerous burial options with Catholic Cemeteries. When you and your family can make
arrangements at the same time, it ensures that your family will have a final resting place together forever.

Above, clockwise: Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Our Lady of the Rosary Stained Glass adorns the
Chapel inside Our Lady of the Rosary Mausoleum at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Holy Family Feature at the entrance to Mount Olivet
Cemetery, a picturesque garden path at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Queen of Angels Cremation Garden at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

BURIAL OPTIONS

Mausoleums

Aboveground entombment in our beautiful mausoleums continues to be
a popular choice among Western New York Catholics. Each crypt chamber
offers the same protection as the concrete outer container found in traditional
ground burial. Both interior and exterior crypts are available. Mausoleum en-
tombment can be quite economical compared with traditional ground burial.

The Mausoleum • Mausoleum entombment is protected from the
weather elements.
• Burial crypts are constructed of three-inch-thick
steel-reinforced concrete. • Crypt prices vary according to location, level and
crypt arrangement.
• Caskets are placed in a clean, dry and ventilated
space and permanently sealed. • Niches for cremated remains are available in our
mausoleums.
• Stone crypt fronts of marble or granite are held
in place by bronze rosettes.

• Memorial inscriptions are permanently placed
on the crypt fronts.

Crypt Arrangements Companion Abbey
• Similar to famous Westminster Abbey in London,
Single
• Space is eight feet in length. England.
• The memorial stone front is almost three feet • Designed for two people, with one space resting

wide and just over two feet high. on the foundation of the building.
• A partition between caskets is available, but
True Companion
• Long enough to accommodate two caskets. not required.
• Accommodates two caskets head to head. • An economical arrangement.

Side by Side Family Unit
• Symbolic of way husband and wife marry and • Accommodates four caskets head to head,

spend life together. one above the other.
• Each space is eight feet in length. • An economical arrangement that allows for
• Deluxe companion memorial stone front is six
additional family members.
feet long.

Private Family Estate Property

How will your family story be shared? How will it inspire future generations?
Consider a lasting tribute, something that reflects your family’s unique lifestyle,
beliefs and heritage. Your Family Service Counselor will walk you through the
process to ensure a private family estate that fulfills your vision.

Above (top to bottom): Exterior of Ascension Chapel Mausoleum at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Private Family Estate at Holy
Sepulchre Cemetery. Right: Interior of Ascension Chapel Mausoleum at Mount Olivet Cemetery.



BURIAL OPTIONS

Traditional Ground Burial

Traditional ground burial remains a popular option for Catholics. Families can choose graves
distinguished by the type of memorial that may be placed on them. Some graves are suitable
for lawn-level memorials, while others allow for upright monuments.

Lawn Crypt

A lawn crypt offers a traditional ground burial with the exception that each grave includes a
concrete outer container that has been pre-set in the ground. Lawn crypts have been designed
and engineered to offer suitable protection of the burial space. Memorialization is included.

Cremation

Catholic Cemeteries offers numerous cremation options to accompany the celebrated order of
Christian funerals. The Vigil Service (wake), Funeral Liturgy and Rite of Committal in a Catholic
Cemetery should still be preserved. The cremated remains may be placed (inurned) in a grave,
mausoleum or columbarium niche designated for cremation.

Cremation burial options • Private family niche unit • Cremation grave package
• Mausoleum niche space • Columbarium niche space

Above, clockwise: Blessed Mother Columbarium at Mount Olivet Cemetery, main feature in the Father Baker Lawn Crypt
Garden at Holy Cross Cemetery, Interior of Ascension Chapel with glass front niches at Mount Olivet Cemetery, In-ground burial
under fall foliage at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Right: Exterior of Ascension Chapel at Mount Olivet Cemetery.



Veterans

Thank you for your service. Catholic Cemeteries proudly supports the Thank-A-Vet programs
in Erie County and Niagara County. We offer special discounts on your burial arrangements.
Please notify your Family Service Counselor if you or your loved one has served in the United States
military.

Above, clockwise (All at Mount Olivet Cemetery): St. Michael Veteran’s Plaza, Ascension Bell Burial Garden, Flags and Veterans
at attention at Memorial Day Mass. Back cover, left to right: Garden of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Holy Cross Cemetery, Statue of
St. Anthony at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, St. John Paul II Columbarium at St. Adalbert Cemetery.

Charles A. (Chip) Mussen, V

Director, Marketing & Development

716.874.6070 • Fax: 716.874.1455
4000 Elmwood Avenue, Kenmore NY 14217
[email protected]

Put your faith in us.

Mount Olivet Holy Sepulchre Assumption Representing

4000 Elmwood Ave. 3063 Harlem Rd. 2950 Whitehaven Rd. St. Adalbert
Kenmore, NY 14217 Cheektowaga, NY 14225 Grand Island, NY
716.873.6500 716.892.3063 716.873.6500 6200 Broadway St.
Lancaster, NY 14086
Holy Cross Gate of Heaven Queen of Heaven
716.681.3090
2900 South Park Ave. 500 Riverdale Ave. 6843 Tonawanda Creek Rd.
Lackawanna, NY 14218 Lewiston, NY 14092 Lockport, NY 14094
716.823.1197 716.282.5084 716.433.0941

buffalocatholiccemeteries.org