Arrangements
Gardens and other sections at St. Matthew’s
At St. Matthew’s, you have many, many choices when it comes to choosing a specific location. Here is an overview of the sections you’ll find within our gates.
Jacob’s Garden
The Jacob’s Garden development (approximately fifteen acres) is located east of the other garden areas and is situated on Old French Road. The development presently includes an entrance at Old French Rd., an Office – Chapel complex, the Veterans Field of ValorSM, Veterans Plaza, Emergency Services Plaza and The Garden of Mary. Jacob’s Garden was dedicated in 1996 to honor Jacob H. Rich, Sr. for his love and concern for his church and St. Matthew’s Cemetery.
Garden of St. Matthew
Opened in 1967, the Garden of St. Matthew was the first of the cemetery’s garden areas to be opened. It is directly adjacent to the original cemetery. Designed as a tribute to our religious origins, a cross is formed by beautiful flowering crabapple trees which pay homage each and every spring.
Garden of St. John
The Garden of St. John was opened in 1974. Two distinctive rows of pale pink flowering crabapple trees create a beautiful burial aisle in the center of this section.
Garden of St. Luke
The Garden of St. Luke was opened in 1978. A wide variety of shrubs and trees make this Garden special. Along with flowering crabapple, plum and pear you will find stately locust, crimson king and spruce.
Garden of St. Paul
The Garden of St. Paul was opened in 1983. In addition to traditional monumented and flush markers, the Garden of St. Paul offers Single Monumented Graves. In St. Paul you will find flowering pear, cherry, crabapple and a few Japanese lilacs.
Garden of St. Mark
The Garden of St. Mark was opened in 1989. Distinctive 6’6” paved walkways dissect the entire section allowing four-season access to burial spaces, a fountain and flagpole. A United States flag is continuously flown from the flagpole, making this area very popular with veterans of all branches of the United States military. This garden offers traditional monumented and flush marker graves, as well as the St. Mark’s Cremation Garden.
Garden of St. Peter
The Garden of St. Peter was developed in 1992. In keeping with the beauty of our garden sections, St. Peter contains many of the same flowering tree varieties found in the others. The Garden of St. Peter is intended to provide burial space well into the twenty-first century.
The abundance of color and variety of burial and memorialization choices make St. Matthew’s Garden Sections a beautiful and dignified final resting place.
Original Cemetery
The cemetery was opened in 1875 to serve the members of the congregation of St. Matthew’s Church, which was established in 1868 at the corner of Swan and Haberman streets in the city of Buffalo. The first burial took place in Section M on May 26, 1875. The deceased was John Bugelman. Like many of the burials of that era, John Bugelman was an infant, who lived only 21 days.
Another notable burial in the original cemetery was that of “Old Shep-The Hermit of Leydecker Road.” Originally from Missouri, Old Shep was known to live along the banks of the Cazenovia Creek in a small cave. He eventually was allowed to build a small shack on the Kloiber Farm. Old Shep was known for his fondness of people and animals alike. He often walked along Main Street in West Seneca, talking with familiar faces and quoting the Bible. Old Shep was killed when his shack caught on fire. Having no estate and no known relatives, he was destined for a pauper’s grave. But instead, thanks to the generosity of the Lang Family, Old Shep was buried at St. Matthew’s. His grave is located in Section L.
St. Philip Monumented
Part of St. Philip is designed for graves that allow small monuments. The monuments are limited in size and design.
St. James East & West
Our newest non-reserved sections are called St. James East & West. Like our other non-reserved sections, families are limited in selection of marker to a 2’ x 1’ flush marker.
Field of Valor®
Veterans and their spouses may choose this unique resting area, which includes a distinctive white marble monument provided by the government at no charge. Click here to learn more about the Field of Valor®.
Veterans Plaza
Our Veterans Plaza was established to honor the men and women who proudly serve our country. The island accommodates cremated bodies of veterans and their spouses, and includes five individual monuments (one each for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard) surrounding our flag. Burial options are available near trees and shrubs, and there are sidewalks throughout the section.
Engraveable pavers are also available to honor any veteran. The veteran can be either alive or deceased, and does not have to be buried at St. Matthew’s Cemetery.
Emergency Services Plaza
Our Emergency Services Plaza is a memorial garden, dedicated to all the men and women who serve our community and make it a safe and healthy place to live. The Plaza, which honors both retired and active duty members, includes individual monuments for Firefighters, Law Enforcement and EMS personnel. Graves are designed to accommodate cremated bodies of the honorees and their spouses. Burial options are available near trees and shrubs, and there are sidewalks throughout the section.
In addition, engraveable pavers are available to honor anyone who serves their community in the emergency services capacity. The person being honored may be alive or deceased, and does not have to be buried at St. Matthew’s.
St. Matthew’s Cemetery has paid tribute, by donating Memorial Pavers in memory of many who have unselfishly given their lives in public service. The memorialized were members of:
- Buffalo Fire Department
- Buffalo Police Department
- Cheektowaga Police Department
- Cleveland Hill Fire Department
- Erie County Sheriffs.
- Hy View Fire Department
- New York State Police
- Union Hose
- Vigilant Fire Department
To discuss your individual needs, call one of our Family Service Representatives at (716) 822-1960, or email smc@stmatthewscemetery.com.