Participating Cemeteries Seeking Members of Public to Help with Clean Up Activities
Volunteer for “Caring for Your Cemetery Day” on Saturday, April 26, 2025
Secretary said: “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’s Video Quote Here
The New York Department of State today announced the second annual “Caring for Your Cemetery Day” will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Members of the public are encouraged to find cemeteries in their area that are participating in this program and help 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. The program also seeks 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. Last year, more than two dozen cemeteries participated in the first annual Caring for Your Cemetery Day. This year, over 75 cemeteries will participate.
“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,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “That’s why I’m proud to announce our 2nd 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.”
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
The mission of the Department’s Division of Cemeteries is to help ensure that regulated cemeteries do not become a burden on their communities by continuing to operate on a not-for-profit basis. The division regulates approximately 1,700 not-for-profit cemeteries in New York State by, among other things, providing technical assistance in cemetery operations and financial accounting. The division also offers training workshops year-round to educate cemetery operators and other interested individuals on how to maintain cemeteries, keep financial records, and try to ensure long-term viability.
Participating cemeteries can be found below and on our Caring for Your Cemetery web page:
Capital Region
|
Cemetery
|
Location
|
Contact Person
|
Contact Email
|
Start Time
|
|
Ballston Spa Cemetery Ass’n
|
Ballston
|
Bill Curtiss
|
wc1325@aol.com
|
9:00
|
|
Briggs Cemetery Ass’n
|
Ballston
|
Kathleen Rybicki
|
briggscemetery@yahoo.com
|
9:00
|
|
East Greenbush Cemetery Ass’n
|
East Greenbush
|
Steve Markell
|
eastgreenbushcemetery@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Glenville Cemetery Ass’n
|
Glenville
|
Christy Schrader
|
christylschrader@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
|
Greenbush Cemetery Ass’n
|
East Greenbush
|
Davine Crounse
|
crnmimi@aol.com
|
10:00
|
|
Greenville Cemetery Ass’n
|
Greenville
|
William Vonatzingen
|
vonhalla504@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
|
Memory Gardens
|
Colonie
|
Joe Mazmanian
|
info@memorygardens.org
|
10:00
|
|
Pine Grove Cemetery
|
Charlton
|
Donna Jourdanais
|
djourdanais@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
|
Sand Lake Union Cemetery
|
Sand Lake
|
Herbert Lange
|
herbe25836@aol.com
|
10:00
|
|
Vale Cemetery Ass’n
|
Schenectady
|
Paul Cortarino
|
vale@valecemetery.org
|
10:00
|
|
Woodlawn Cemetery
|
Berne
|
Alex Cookhouse
|
Woodlawncemetery1897@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
Central New York
|
Cemetery
|
Location
|
Contact Person
|
Contact Email
|
Start Time
|
|
Elbridge Rural Cemetery Ass’n
|
Elbridge
|
William Rinaldi
|
elbridgerural@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Kirkville Cemetery Ass’n
|
Manlius
|
Amy Hockey
|
kirkvillecemetery@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
|
Manlius Village Cemetery Ass’n
|
Manlius
|
Nancy Gallery
|
ngallery@twcny.rr.com
|
11:00
|
|
Maplegrove Cemetery Ass’n
|
Elbridge
|
Mary Jo Davis
|
maryjow590@aol.com
|
10:00
|
|
Mount Adnah Cemetery Ass’n
|
Fulton
|
Robert Burleigh
|
(315) 816-4654
|
11:00
|
|
Mount Pleasant Cemetery
|
Canastota
|
Mary Ann Anderson
|
mtpleasantcemetery@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Pine Grove Cemetery of Mallory
|
Hastings
|
Pinegrove Cemetery
|
pinegrovecemetery@aol.com
|
12:00
|
|
Stockbridge Cemetery Ass’n
|
Stockbridge
|
Robert Meakin
|
captorwildlife@yahoo.com
|
10:00
|
|
Upsons Corner Cemetery Ass’n
|
Palermo
|
Brenda Dann
|
bldann79@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Watervale Cemetery
|
Pompey
|
James Schoonmaker
|
schoonmaker@windstream.net
|
11:00
|
Finger Lakes
|
Cemetery
|
Location
|
Contact Person
|
Contact Email/Tel.
|
Start Time
|
|
Bennetts Creek Cemetery
|
Greenwood
|
Allan Warriner
|
allanwarriner@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Garbuttsville Cemetery Ass’n
|
Wheatland
|
Amy Hudak
|
amyminster@hotmail.com
|
9:00
|
|
Grove Cemetery Ass’n
|
Bath
|
Anthony F Colomaio
|
(607) 776-7325
|
10:00
|
|
Highland Cemetery Ass’n
|
Montour
|
Ardeen White
|
alw3@cornell.edu
|
10:00
|
|
Lakemont Cemetery
|
Starkey
|
Melissa Lawson
|
lakemontcemetery@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Maplewood Cemetery Ass’n
|
Henrietta
|
Gary Stockmaster
|
gary@maplewoodcemetery.org
|
10:00
|
|
Mecklenburg Union Cemetery Ass’n
|
Hector
|
Gary Fisher
|
(607) 387-5804
|
10:00
|
|
North Rush Cemetery Ass’n
|
Rush
|
Stacey Martin
|
northrushcemeteryinfo@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Oakwood Cemetery Ass’n
|
Nunda
|
Thomas Cook
|
tscook@rochester.rr.com
|
10:00
|
|
Oakwood Cemetery Ass’n
|
Penfield
|
Mary Ockenden
|
oakwoodcemetery1@outlook.com
|
10:00
|
|
Port Gibson Rural Cemetery Ass’n
|
Manchester
|
Crystal Rothfuss
|
portgibsoncemeteryny@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
|
Riga Cemetery Ass’n
|
Riga
|
John Loser
|
jloser@rochester.rr.com
|
10:00
|
|
Scipio Rural Cemetery Ass’n
|
Scipio
|
Randell Ann Mott-Cobb
|
randelannmott@gmail.com
|
|
South Farmington Friends Cemetery Ass’n
|
Farmington
|
Donna Herendeen
|
southfarmingtoncemetery@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
South Perinton Cemetery
|
Perinton
|
Paul Richards
|
spcemetery1916@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
|
Union Cemetery Ass’n
|
Livonia
|
Wendy Liesegang
|
wendy4cats@yahoo.com
|
10:00
|
|
Virgil Rural Cemetery Ass’n
|
Virgil
|
Susan Connelly
|
virgilcemeteries@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
Hudson Valley
|
Cemetery
|
Location
|
Contact Person
|
Contact Email/ Tel.
|
Start Time
|
|
Chatham Center Rural Cemetery Ass’n
|
Chatham
|
Katie Goold
|
(518) 376-0532
|
9:00
|
|
Hopewell Cemetery Ass’n
|
East Fishkill
|
John Barach
|
(845) 926-2864
|
9:00
|
|
Kenoza Lake Methodist Cemetery
|
Delaware
|
Kathleen Armbrust
|
reddog@hvc.rr.com
|
10:00
|
|
Montrepose Cemetery
|
Kingston
|
Susann Becker
|
mluksberg@yahoo.com
|
9:00
|
|
Oakwood Cemetery Corporation
|
Deposit
|
Jane Walker-Lloyd
|
janelwalker@hotmail.com
|
9:00
|
|
Old Chatham Union Cemetery
|
Chatham
|
Elizabeth M. Hurley
|
kazitwo624@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
|
Red Rock Rural Cemetery
|
Canaan
|
Stephen Oberon
|
columbiaheritage@yahoo.com
|
10:00
|
|
Union Cemetery Ass’n
|
Amenia
|
Gail Seymour
|
seymour116@msn.com
|
11:00
|
Long Island
|
Cemetery
|
Location
|
Contact Person
|
Contact Email
|
Start Time
|
|
Plain Lawn Cemetery
|
Hicksville
|
Yannick Anderson
|
rockvillecem@optonline.net
|
9:00
|
|
Rockville Cemetery
|
Rockville Centre
|
Yannick Anderson
|
rockvillecem@optonline.net
|
9:00
|
|
Smithtown Cemetery Ass’n
|
Smithtown
|
Kathleen Albrecht
|
aroundsmithtown@yahoo.com
|
11:00
|
Mohawk Valley
|
Cemetery
|
Location
|
Contact Person
|
Contact Email/ Tel.
|
Start Time
|
|
Evergreen Cemetery Ass’n
|
Mohawk
|
Sherrie Gray
|
gray@aol.com
|
10:00
|
|
Evergreen Cemetery Ass’n
|
Westmoreland
|
Diane Hartnett
|
dhrt11@aol.com
|
10:00
|
|
Fly Creek Valley Cemetery
|
Otsego
|
Christine Olsen
|
(607) 434-9499
|
10:00
|
|
Green Lawn Cemetery Ass’n
|
New Hartford
|
Matthew Moorhead
|
pauldude21@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Maple Grove Cemetery
|
Worcester
|
Michelle Empie
|
maplegrovecem12197@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Rome Cemetery Ass’n
|
Rome
|
Malinda Abraham
|
admin@romecemetery.org
|
10:00
|
North Country
|
Cemetery
|
Location
|
Contact Person
|
Contact Email/ Tel.
|
Start Time
|
|
Ellisburg Cemetery Ass’n
|
Ellisburg
|
Greg Lake
|
glake104@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
|
Lake View Cemetery Ass’n of Willsboro
|
Willsboro
|
Barbara Paye
|
(518) 963-4459
|
9:00
|
|
Maple Grove Cemetery of North Lawrence
|
Lawrence
|
Belle Burgoyne
|
burgoynebelle@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Union Cemetery
|
Stockholm
|
Bruce Winters
|
winters4@att.net
|
10:00
|
New York City
|
Cemetery
|
Location
|
Contact Person
|
Contact Email/ Tel.
|
Start Time
|
|
Frederick Douglass Memorial Pk.
|
Staten Island
|
Lynn Cuffee
|
lcuffee@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Silver Mount Cemetery Ass’n
|
Staten Island
|
Denise Alicea Hidalgo
|
denia109@gmail.com
|
11:00
|
|
Woodland Cemetery Ass’n
|
Staten Island
|
Darren Castellano
|
woodlandconservancy@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
Southern Tier
|
Cemetery
|
Location
|
Contact Person
|
Contact Email
|
Start Time
|
|
Gibson Corners Cemetery Ass’n
|
Owego
|
Edith M Fogle
|
ediefogle45@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
|
Greensprings Natural Cemetery Ass’n
|
Newfield
|
Martha Gioumousis
|
info@naturalburial.org
|
10:00
|
|
Hale Eddy Cemetery Ass’n
|
Sanford
|
Virginia Haugen
|
gingerh@tds.net
|
10:00
|
|
Lake View Cemetery Co
|
Ithaca
|
Brian Eden
|
bbe2@cornell.edu
|
10:00
|
|
Nanticoke Valley Cemetery Ass’n
|
Union
|
Peter Stanko
|
nanticokevalleycemetery@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
North Afton Rural Cemetery
|
Afton
|
Earla Mulwane
|
mulwanee@tds.net
|
10:00
|
|
Richmondville Rural Cemetery
|
Richmondville
|
Jeffrey Haslun
|
cjhaslun@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
South Hill Cemetery
|
Ithaca
|
Glenn Kennedy
|
southhillcemetery@proton.me
|
9:00
|
|
Warn and Ten Broeck Cemetery
|
Oxford
|
Paula VanTyle
|
williams@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
Western New York
|
Cemetery
|
Location
|
Contact Person
|
Contact Email/ Tel.
|
Start Time
|
|
Alden Evergreen Cemetery
|
Alden
|
Sherry Sojka
|
Sojka163@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Black Creek Cemetery Ass’n
|
New Hudson
|
Diana Young
|
pdyoung6359@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Canaseraga Cemetery Ass’n
|
Burns
|
Tina France
|
(585) 704-7909
|
10:00
|
|
Cold Springs Cemetery Ass’n
|
Lockport
|
Craig Kerrison
|
coldspringscem@aol.com
|
9:00
|
|
Concordia Cemetery
|
Buffalo
|
Chris Cavarello
|
concordia1859@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Cottage Cemetery Ass’n
|
Dayton
|
Susan Taber
|
st@gmail.com
|
11:00
|
|
East Randolph Cemetery Corp
|
Randolph
|
Roy Smith
|
rfsmith1951@gmail.com
|
9:00
|
|
Ebenezer Cemetery
|
West Seneca
|
Mary Gabalski
|
marygabalski@gmail.com
|
10:00
|
|
Glenwood Cemetery Ass’n
|
Lockport
|
Barbara Okonczak
|
glenwood63@yahoo.com
|
11:00
|
|
Mt Calvary Cemetery
|
Cheektowaga
|
Megan Hahin
|
megan@mountcalvarycemetery.com
|
10:00
|
|
Randolph Cemetery Ass’n
|
Randolph
|
Charles Archer
|
rca.cemetery@outlook.com
|
9:00
|
|
Wales Cemetery Ass’n
|
Wales
|
Pat Corning
|
No contact
|
1:00
|
If you are interested in participating, you may reach out to any of these cemeteries. You may also contact the division at cemeteries@dos.ny.gov or call 518-474-6226 with any questions.
