Lancaster’s oldest cemetery merged with the Forest Lawn Cemetery and Crematory Group.
Lancaster Rural Cemetery, located on the northwest corner of Cemetery Road and Broadway, will now be owned and operated by Forest Lawn.
After the merger, there will be no changes to the cemetery, Lancaster Rural Cemetery officials said. The grounds will be maintained by the same staff and there will be no increase in costs.
Families who have chosen Lancaster Rural Cemetery will now have access to Forest Lawn benefits and services, such as a free online memorial page and bereavement support. Forest Lawn allows four urns to be buried in the same grave and can bury cremated pets with their owners, Forest Lawn Group President Joseph Dispenza said.
Lancaster Rural Cemetery was formed from land donated in 1808 and the first burial was in March 1812. Many Revolutionary War veterans are buried in the cemetery.
Forest Lawn has five other cemeteries in Western New York – Forest Lawn in Buffalo, Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, St. Matthew Cemetery in West Seneca, and Williamsville and Gethsemane Cemeteries in Williamsville.
