FAQs
- Does St. Matthew’s have space available?
- Is St. Matthew’s 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 St. Matthew's have a photo/video policy?
1. Does St. Matthew’s have space available?
Yes! St. Matthew’s has many acres of land that are still undeveloped. In fact, people can keep choosing St. Matthew’s for hundreds and hundreds of years to come as their final resting place. St. Matthew’s is also affiliated with three other local cemeteries (Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY; Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, NY; and Williamsville Cemetery in Williamsville, 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 call (716) 822-1960 or email smc@stmatthewscemetery.com.
2. Is St. Matthew’s far?
The cemetery is located on Clinton Street in West Seneca, near the corner of Harlem Road – fewer than 7 miles from downtown Buffalo, just 5 minutes from Cheektowaga, and under 20 minutes from Orchard Park and other suburbs. 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 St. Matthew’s has a unique beauty, history, culture and landscape that you won’t find anywhere else in Western New York. So call today for a private tour, and you’ll see why people from all over Western New York have chosen St. Matthew’s for generations.
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 Family Service Representatives to make your pre-arrangements today. Call (716) 822-1960 or email smc@stmatthewscemetery.com. Read more about 49 vs. 2 and download a checklist here.
4. What are my options for cremation?
Above Ground: Our Columbarium units are constructed of solid granite. Each niche is designed to hold the cremated body of one, two or more individuals. Our newly-opened Faith Mausoleum and Resurrection Chapel also offer above-ground options.
Cremation Scattering: 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.
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 St. Matthew’s, 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. St. Matthew’s trained professionals are ready to assist you with pre-arrangements, as well as during your time of need.
Please call us at (716) 822-1960 or email smc@stmatthewscemetery.com to speak with a Family Service Representative. Our office 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 St. Matthew’s 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) 822-1960 or email smc@stmatthewscemetery.com to make an appointment with one of our non-commissioned Family Service Representatives. Our office 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 in to our office, 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 St. Matthew’s 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) 822-1960, or email smc@stmatthewscemetery.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 St. Matthew’s, cremated bodies may be buried in an urn or scattered in-ground, or placed above ground in a Columbarium or mausoleum niche. To learn more about cremation, please click here, call (716) 822-1960, or email smc@stmatthewscemetery.com.
11. I’m moving out of the area – how do I sell my cemetery space?
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 St. Matthew’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 email us at (716) 822-1960 or email smc@stmatthewscemetery.com.
Send your request to:
St. Matthew’s Cemetery
180 Old French Road
West Seneca, NY 14224
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) 822-1960 or email smc@stmatthewscemetery.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) 822-1960 or email smc@stmatthewscemetery.com.
Download the Affidavit of Title form and the Right of Burial form.
13. Does St. Matthew's have a photo/video policy?
Yes. Please read our Photo/Video Policy or download our Photo/Video Agreement.