St. Mary’s Cemetery
Physical Address: 3825 Jordan Road, Skaneateles, NY 13152
Mailing Address: c/o St. Mary’s of the Lake Church, 10 West Austin Street, Skaneateles, NY 13152
Cemetery Pricing: CLICK HERE
History of St. Mary’s Cemetery
St. Mary’s Cemetery has been a sacred resting place for the faithful since 1869. On October 16, 1869, John Rossiter and his wife Ann conveyed approximately 11 acres of land north of the village to Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, Bishop of Albany, for use as a cemetery. The land was blessed on October 31, 1869, by Rev. Dr. O’Hara of Syracuse. The first recorded burial took place in November of that year—an infant with the name Roach.
The cemetery expanded several times to meet the needs of the parish community:
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June 15, 1897: Additional land purchased from the Rossiters, extending the cemetery west to Railroad Street (now Fennell Street).
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August 27, 1927: 4½ acres acquired north of the original cemetery from Raymond Church and wife.
The cemetery vault, a testament to the dedication of the parish community, was constructed in autumn 1925 at a cost of $3,200. Parishioners contributed labor, including the careful placement of limestone transported from a nearby old mill. Henry McLaughlin, a stone mason involved in the project, recalled using a block and tackle system attached to his Model T Ford to raise the massive stones during construction—demonstrating the skill, faith, and determination of those who built this enduring structure.
Rules and Maintenance
At St. Mary’s Cemetery, teamwork between the parish maintenance staff and family members is essential to care for your loved one’s final resting place. The cemetery provides basic property maintenance, including:
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Mowing the grass
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Removing large branches
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Maintaining roads
However, individual gravesite care is the responsibility of the family, which may include:
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Weeding and maintaining turf
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Cleaning headstones
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Mulching plantings
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Trimming and edging grass
This partnership ensures that each site receives the level of care and attention that families desire.
Common Questions
Q: Isn’t the cemetery responsible for maintenance of gravesites?
A: Cemeteries provide general maintenance of the property, but they typically do not perform individual gravesite tasks. The detailed care of a specific gravesite—like weeding, cleaning, and trimming—is left to families to ensure it meets personal expectations.
Q: I paid for perpetual care when I purchased the grave lots. Why do I need to tend the gravesite too?
A: Perpetual care funds are used for the general upkeep and repair of cemetery grounds. Families remain responsible for caring for the headstone and keeping the individual gravesite neat and well-maintained.
Questions? Contact our Parish Office: (315) 685-5083 or email your question to: stmaryskan@syrdio.org
