Hundreds of visitors to Calvary Cemetery?s Family day celebrated the cemetery?s 125th anniversary by taking part in free fun and faith-filled activities focused on bringing families closer together. People came from across Northeast Ohio on a delightful sunny Sunday afternoon on Sept. 23, to engage in self-guided cemetery tours, activities for children, and genealogy assistance. Many of those who attended spent time visiting the graves of loved ones.
?I am incredibly pleased that so many people took advantage of the day to spend some time immersed in the memory of their relatives,? said Andrej Lah, president and CEO of the Catholic Cemeteries Association.
Visitors explore the well-groomed grounds, had the chance to photograph an antique cemetery carriage and work horse team, and view the monuments of notable Clevelanders buried at Calvary, such as America?s Polka King, Frankie Yankovic.
Calvary Cemetery, which is located at 10000 Miles Ave., Cleveland, was consecrated on Nov. 26, 1893. It was the first non-parish Catholic cemetery in the Diocese of Cleveland and is overseen by the Catholic Cemeteries Association.
The cemetery was developed after the purchase of the Leland Farm, 100 acres of land located south of Miles Avenue and north of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad tracks. Today, it extends over 300 acres, most of which are in Garfield Heights and is the largest cemetery in the diocese.
Calvary is the final resting place of many prominent Clevelanders. A peek at its burial records reveals that many community and business leaders, politicians, war heroes and entertainment figures are buried there, as well as many priests and religious order sisters and brothers.
All told, more than 310,000 people are buried there. Lah, said many burial plots remain.
Calvary offers a full range of interment choices, providing for ground burial and cremation.
Visitors are also welcome for the annual Cemetery Sunday Mass at 3 p.m. on Nov. 4.
For more information on Catholic cemeteries in the diocese, including Calvary, visit
