“Love Remembered” Bake & Craft Sale is an annual fundraiser held around Valentine’s Day by the members of the not-for-profit Villenova Burial Association to help cover the costs of operating and maintaining Villenova Cemetery. It is the last active rural cemetery out of five located in Villenova Township, Chautauqua County. This year’s sale will be held on Feb.9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the entrance of the South Dayton Supermarket.

People might not naturally associate a cemetery with love. But, from the first burial in 1811 of a 15-year-old boy, everyone buried in Villenova Cemetery was once loved by someone. The father’s love for his young son and then allowing his neighbors to be buried on his land were the beginnings of Villenova Cemetery. The erecting of monuments, planting flowers, family and descendants who tend gravesites are a loving tribute to a life once lived. The generations of volunteers who have graciously donated their time to keep Villenova Cemetery operational and those who donate monetarily often do so in remembrance of a loved one. Our theme, “Love Remembered” reflects this.

The cemetery association, like most in rural areas, are in dire need of member and community involvement and continued funding for increasing maintenance costs. Anyone who owns a lot or is a family member/descendent of a lot owner in Villenova Cemetery is considered a member of the Villenova Burial Association (VBA). The next VBA meeting is April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Villenova Town Hall. The cemetery’s spring clean-up day is April 27 at 10 am. Rain date is May 4. Donations may be sent to Jenny Dye/VBA Treasurer 8568 Silver Creek Road South Dayton, N.Y. 14138.