- Does Williamsville Cemetery have space available?
- Is Williamsville Cemetery far?
- What are the benefits of pre-arrangement?
- What are my options for cremation?
- What do I do if a family member or a loved one is ill or has died?
- What do I need for burial?
- How do I begin to buy cemetery property?
- I want traditional in-ground burial and my spouse wants cremation. What options do I have?
- What is a Cemetery Interment Service Fee?
- Why do I need space if I'm being cremated?
- I'm moving out of the area – how do I sell my cemetery space?
- Who can be buried in my family lot?
- Does Williamsville Cemetery have a photo/video policy?
1. Does Williamsville Cemetery have space available?
Yes! We are one of the few active village cemeteries in Western New York, with numerous lots available throughout the grounds. Williamsville Cemetery is also affiliated with three other local cemeteries (Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY; Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY; and St. Matthew's Cemetery in West Seneca, NY) where you will also find space available. For a personal tour of available space at any of our cemeteries, please call one of our Family Service Representatives at (716) 885-1600, or email wc@williamsvillecemetery.com.
2. Is Williamsville Cemetery far?
In close proximity to the I-290 (use the Main Street East exits), the cemetery is located on Main Street in Williamsville – in the heart of the Village of Williamsville and Town of Amherst, and just 15 minutes from downtown Buffalo. Yes, other cemeteries may be "right around the corner" from where you live today. But when you're considering a resting place for all eternity, remember that Williamsville Cemetery has a history and culture unlike any other. So call today for a private tour, and you'll see why people from all over Western New York have chosen Williamsville Cemetery for more than 200 years.
3. What are the benefits of pre-arrangement?
Without pre-arrangements for funeral and cemetery services, there are at least 49 decisions your loved ones will have to make within hours on the worst day of their lives. But if you plan ahead, your family has only two decisions – day and time of the service. With pre-arrangements, you can choose exactly what you want, pay in today's prices, finance your purchase over multiple years at 0% interest, and receive an additional, significant discount. So don't wait. Contact one of our non-commissioned Family Service Representatives to make your pre-arrangements today. Call (716) 885-1600, or email wc@williamsvillecemetery.com. Read more about 49 vs. 2 and download a checklist here.
4. What are my options for cremation?
Private Scattering is now available in existing traditional graves where no casket burial has taken place, or with a new purchase of casket-size or urn-size graves. You may also choose in-ground, traditional burial of an urn.
5. What do I do if a family member or a loved one is ill or has died?
We understand that this is a very difficult time for you. The first thing to do is to call a licensed funeral director. According to New York State law, he or she is the only person who can legally handle the funeral arrangements for the deceased in New York State. Even if you are choosing cremation for your loved one, you must – by law – contact a funeral director. He or she can then make arrangements to have the cremation process performed at a crematory.
If you have not already chosen a funeral director, this link can help you find one from the local Erie Niagara Funeral Directors Association.
At Williamsville Cemetery, we encourage families to call or email the cemetery to pre-arrange for your needs. Pre-arrangement allows you to discuss your plans with your loved ones, and protect your family from having to go "cemetery shopping" on what may be the worst day of your entire life. Our trained professionals are ready to assist you with pre-arrangements, as well as during your time of need.
Please call us at (716) 885-1600, or email wc@williamsvillecemetery.com to speak with a Family Service Representative. Our office (located at Forest Lawn) is open 6 days a week for the convenience of our families and funeral directors.
For traditional, full-body, in-ground burial:
Space (the land)
Outer Burial Container (burial vault, available through a Funeral Director)
Cemetery Interment Service Fee
A Memorial Grave Marker (typical but not required)
For cremation and burial in-ground:
Space (land)
Outer Burial Container (this may be an urn vault or a Marbelon urn) from Williamsville Cemetery or your Funeral Director
Cemetery Interment Service Fee
A Memorial Grave Marker (typical but not required)
7. How do I begin to buy cemetery property?
Simply call our office at (716) 885-1600, or email wc@williamsvillecemetery.com to make an appointment with one of our non-commissioned Family Service Representatives. Our office (located at Forest Lawn Cemetery) is open and a Family Service Representative is available 6 days a week to fit your schedule, so please call anytime for an appointment. If you are unable to come to our office or meet at Williamsville Cemetery, a representative can come to you.
8. I want traditional in-ground burial and my spouse wants cremation. What options do I have?
All full-body, in-ground spaces at Williamsville Cemetery allow for both a casketed body and one cremated body. To learn more about your options, please call one of our Family Service Representatives at (716) 885-1600, or email wc@williamsvillecemetery.com.
9. What is a Cemetery Interment Service Fee?
The Cemetery Interment/Entombment Fee is for our basic services and overhead relating to the final disposition of the deceased, as well as the general care and operations of the cemetery.
The fee includes the use of the cemetery's professional, union and non-union staff, facilities and equipment, to respond to and complete the request for interment / entombment / or inurnment service, as well as maintaining the cemetery. It includes verifying ownership and right of burial privileges and confirming the permanent interment location. It also includes coordination between cemetery and administration and grounds with the funeral director and/or family members requesting and authorizing the burial service, securing and issuing necessary permits and authorizations for the service, preparation of the space for burial, and restoration of that space following the service.
Download our current Services and Fee Schedule.
10. Why do I need space if I'm being cremated?
Some people think it's OK to put the cremated body on a shelf in their closet, or on the mantle above the fireplace. But a deceased human being is a deceased human being, whether in a casket or an urn. In the United States, we bury our dead in a permanent resting place so our loved one's cremated body is protected, in a sacred place, where the body will always be treated with dignity and respect.
At Williamsville Cemetery, cremated bodies may be buried in an urn or scattered in-ground. To learn more about cremation, please click here, call (716) 885-1600, or email wc@williamsvillecemetery.com.
11. I'm moving out of the area – how do I sell my cemetery space?
If no burials have occurred in your space, you may sell it. The State of New York requires that you offer it first to the cemetery. Write a letter (see below for the address) with your signature notarized, requesting that we make you an offer for your space, mailing it return-receipt requested. In our offer letter, we will tell you your options, based on New York State laws and Williamsville Cemetery's policy. You do not have to accept our offer. If you do not accept our offer, you will be free to sell it on your own to whomever you wish.
If you have further questions, please call (716) 885-1600, or email wc@williamsvillecemetery.com.
Send your request to:
Williamsville Cemetery
1411 Delaware Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14209
12. Who can be buried in my family lot?
The original lot owner may give permission to anyone to be buried in his/her lot. The lot owner, spouse, and direct descendants have a "natural right" of burial, as long as there is still actual space available, according to the number of burial rights (spaces) purchased and appropriate authorization. Direct descendants are children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc. Spouses of direct descendants may be buried, if there is room and with appropriate authorization. Other family members may have right of burial if no direct descendants are surviving. Contact us if you have any questions by calling (716) 885-1600, or email wc@williamsvillecemetery.com.
Once the lot owner is deceased, the right of burial passes to the children, then grandchildren, and so on. If a direct descendant is willing to wait and hope that other direct descendants will not use up all remaining space on the lot, then no reservations are required. However, if a direct heir wishes to reserve a burial space on the lot prior to the time of need, specific authorizations are required. An Affidavit of Title must be completed by a direct descendant that lists every living direct descendant of the lot owner who has a right to be buried on the lot.
A Reservation of Burial Form must also be completed and signed by every living direct descendant listed on the Affidavit of Title, giving up his/her right to the space that is being "reserved." The Affidavit of Title and all Reservation of Burial Forms are to be collected by the inquirer and submitted to the appropriate cemetery office with the New York State approved fee of $98.00 for review and processing. If you have any questions, please call (716) 885-1600, or email wc@williamsvillecemetery.com.
Download the Affidavit of Title form and the Right of Burial form.
13. Does Williamsville Cemetery have a photo/video policy?
Yes. Please read our Photo/Video Policy or download our Photo/Video Agreement.
