About
“New York’s cemeteries are home to so much of our state’s history and culture, and it’s critical that we collectively work to preserve and care for these treasured, but often overlooked, community assets. That’s why I’m proud to announce our second annual ‘Caring for Your Cemetery Day’ on April 26th. I encourage all New Yorkers to take this opportunity to volunteer at your local cemetery and help future generations learn to appreciate the history, culture and unique stories our cemeteries have to offer.”
– Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley
This year’s annual “Caring for Your Cemetery Day” will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
Please join us and find cemeteries in your area that are participating in this program and help them with cleanup activities as they prepare for the Spring season and Mother’s Day visits. Through this program, the Department and participating cemeteries seek to recruit future volunteers or even officers and trustees/directors and identify local people with skills that cemeteries need. We also hope to generate interest in local cemeteries, especially among younger people, and raise awareness of the hard work and dedication that goes into cemeteries’ care, maintenance and preservation. This year, over 75 cemeteries are participating!
Clean-up day tasks may include:
- Cleaning up small debris and trash
- Removing downed branches, weeds, and overgrowth
- Removing old seasonal decorations
- Planting flowers
- Scattering grass seed
- Other light tasks appropriate for untrained volunteers
Participating Cemeteries
If you are interested in participating, you may reach out to any of these cemeteries. You may also contact the division at [email protected] or call 518-474-6226 with any questions.
Capital Region
| Cemetery | Location | Organizer | Contact | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballston Spa Cemetery Association | Ballston | Bill Curtiss | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Briggs Cemetery Association | Ballston | Kathleen Rybicki | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| East Greenbush Cemetery Association | East Greenbush | Steve Markell | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Glenville Cemetery Association | Glenville | Christy Schrader | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Greenbush Cemetery Association | East Greenbush | Davine Crounse | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Greenville Cemetery Association | Greenville | William Vonatzingen | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Memory Gardens | Colonie | Joe Mazmanian | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Pine Grove Cemetery | Charlton | Donna Jourdanais | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Sand Lake Union Cemetery | Sand Lake | Herbert Lange | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Vale Cemetery Association | Schenectady | Paul Cortarino | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Woodlawn Cemetery | Berne | Alex Cookhouse | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Ballston Spa Cemetery Association | Ballston | Bill Curtiss | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Briggs Cemetery Association | Ballston | Kathleen Rybicki | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| East Greenbush Cemetery Association | East Greenbush | Steve Markell | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
If you are interested in participating, you may reach out to any of these cemeteries. You may also contact the division at [email protected] or call 518-474-6226 with any questions.
Central New York
| Cemetery | Location | Organizer | Contact | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elbridge Rural Cemetery Association | Elbridge | William Rinaldi | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Kirkville Cemetery Association | Manlius | Amy Hockey | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Manlius Village Cemetery Association | Manlius | Nancy Gallery | [email protected] | 11:00 AM |
| Maplegrove Cemetery Association | Elbridge | Mary Jo Davis | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Mount Adnah Cemetery Association | Fulton | Robert Burleigh | (315) 816-4654 | 11:00 AM |
| Mount Pleasant Cemetery | Canastota | Mary Ann Anderson | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Pine Grove Cemetery of Mallory | Hastings | Pinegrove Cemetery | [email protected] | 12:00 PM |
| Stockbridge Cemetery Association | Stockbridge | Robert Meakin | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Upsons Corner Cemetery Association | Palermo | Brenda Dann | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Watervale Cemetery | Pompey | James Schoonmaker | [email protected] | 11:00 AM |
If you are interested in participating, you may reach out to any of these cemeteries. You may also contact the division at [email protected] or call 518-474-6226 with any questions.
Finger Lakes
| Cemetery | Location | Organizer | Contact | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennetts Creek Cemetery | Greenwood | Allan Warriner | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Garbuttsville Cemetery Association | Wheatland | Amy Hudak | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Grove Cemetery Association | Bath | Anthony F Colomaio | (607) 776-7325 | 10:00 AM |
| Highland Cemetery Association | Montour | Ardeen White | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Lakemont Cemetery | Starkey | Melissa Lawson | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Maplewood Cemetery Association | Henrietta | Gary Stockmaster | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Mecklenburg Union Cemetery Association | Hector | Gary Fisher | (607) 387-5804 | 10:00 AM |
| North Rush Cemetery Association | Rush | Stacey Martin | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Oakwood Cemetery Association | Nunda | Thomas Cook | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Oakwood Cemetery Association | Penfield | Mary Ockenden | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Port Gibson Rural Cemetery Association | Manchester | Crystal Rothfuss | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Riga Cemetery Association | Riga | John Loser | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Scipio Rural Cemetery Association | Scipio | Randell Ann Mott-Cobb | [email protected] | |
| South Farmington Friends Cemetery Association | Farmington | Donna Herendeen | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| South Perinton Cemetery | Perinton | Paul Richards | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Union Cemetery Association | Livonia | Wendy Liesegang | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Virgil Rural Cemetery Association | Virgil | Susan Connelly | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
If you are interested in participating, you may reach out to any of these cemeteries. You may also contact the division at [email protected] or call 518-474-6226 with any questions.
Hudson Valley
| Cemetery | Location | Organizer | Contact | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham Center Rural Cemetery Association | Chatham | Katie Goold | (518) 376-0532 | 9:00 AM |
| Hopewell Cemetery Association | East Fishkill | John Barach | (845) 926-2864 | 10:00 AM |
| Kenoza Lake Methodist Cemetery | Delaware | Kathleen Armbrust | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Montrepose Cemetery | Kingston | Susann Becker | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Oakwood Cemetery Corporation | Deposit | Jane Walker-Lloyd | [email protected] | 11:00 AM |
If you are interested in participating, you may reach out to any of these cemeteries. You may also contact the division at [email protected] or call 518-474-6226 with any questions.
Long Island
| Cemetery | Location | Organizer | Contact | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain Lawn Cemetery | Hicksville | Yannick Anderson | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Rockville Cemetery | Rockville Centre | Yannick Anderson | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Smithtown Cemetery Association | Smithtown | Kathleen Albrecht | [email protected] | 11:00 AM |
If you are interested in participating, you may reach out to any of these cemeteries. You may also contact the division at [email protected] or call 518-474-6226 with any questions.
Mohawk Valley
| Cemetery | Location | Organizer | Contact | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evergreen Cemetery Association | Mohawk | Sherrie Gray | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Evergreen Cemetery Association | Westmoreland | Diane Hartnett | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Fly Creek Valley Cemetery | Otsego | Christine Olsen | (607) 434-9499 | 10:00 AM |
| Green Lawn Cemetery Association | New Hartford | Matthew Moorhead | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Maple Grove Cemetery | Worcester | Michelle Empie | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Rome Cemetery Association | Rome | Malinda Abraham | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
If you are interested in participating, you may reach out to any of these cemeteries. You may also contact the division at [email protected] or call 518-474-6226 with any questions.
New York City
| Cemetery | Location | Organizer | Contact | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Douglass Memorial Pk. | Staten Island | Lynn Cuffee | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Silver Mount Cemetery Association | Staten Island | Denise Alicea Hidalgo | [email protected] | 11:00 AM |
| Woodland Cemetery Association | Staten Island | Darren Castellano | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
If you are interested in participating, you may reach out to any of these cemeteries. You may also contact the division at [email protected] or call 518-474-6226 with any questions.
North Country
| Cemetery | Location | Organizer | Contact | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellisburg Cemetery Association | Ellisburg | Greg Lake | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Lake View Cemetery Association of Willsboro | Willsboro | Barbara Paye | (518) 963-4459 | 10:00 AM |
| Maple Grove Cemetery of North Lawrence | Lawrence | Belle Burgoyne | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
If you are interested in participating, you may reach out to any of these cemeteries. You may also contact the division at [email protected] or call 518-474-6226 with any questions.
Southern Tier
| Cemetery | Location | Organizer | Contact | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gibson Corners Cemetery Association | Owego | Edith M Fogle | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Greensprings Natural Cemetery Association | Newfield | Martha Gioumousis | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Hale Eddy Cemetery Association | Sanford | Virginia Haugen | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Lake View Cemetery Co | Ithaca | Brian Eden | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Nanticoke Valley Cemetery Association | Union | Peter Stanko | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| North Afton Rural Cemetery | Afton | Earla Mulwane | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Richmondville Rural Cemetery | Richmondville | Jeffrey Haslun | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| South Hill Cemetery | Ithaca | Glenn Kennedy | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Warn and Ten Broeck Cemetery | Oxford | Paula VanTyle | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
If you are interested in participating, you may reach out to any of these cemeteries. You may also contact the division at [email protected] or call 518-474-6226 with any questions.
Western New York
| Cemetery | Location | Organizer | Contact | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alden Evergreen Cemetery | Alden | Sherry Sojka | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Black Creek Cemetery Association | New Hudson | Diana Young | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Canaseraga Cemetery Association | Burns | Tina France | (585) 704-7909 | 10:00 AM |
| Cold Springs Cemetery Association | Lockport | Craig Kerrison | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Concordia Cemetery | Buffalo | Chris Cavarello | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Cottage Cemetery Association | Dayton | Susan Taber | [email protected] | 11:00 AM |
| East Randolph Cemetery Corp | Randolph | Roy Smith | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Ebenezer Cemetery | West Seneca | Mary Gabalski | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Glenwood Cemetery Association | Lockport | Barbara Okonczak | [email protected] | 11:00 AM |
| Mt Calvary Cemetery | Cheektowaga | Megan Hahin | [email protected] | 10:00 AM |
| Randolph Cemetery Association | Randolph | Charles Archer | [email protected] | 9:00 AM |
| Wales Cemetery Association | Wales | Pat Corning | No contact | 1:00 PM |
If you are interested in participating, you may reach out to any of these cemeteries. You may also contact the division at [email protected] or call 518-474-6226 with any questions.
Resources
Please check out our documents for information about volunteering and materials for participating cemeteries.