I read your OBSERVER’s View concerning the Cassadaga Cemetery. I am a trustee on the Cemetery Association, and it is difficult in this age to maintain the upkeep as you wrote.

When I attended the Chautauqua County Cemetery Association annual meeting in June, I learned that many small cemeteries such as the Cassadaga one are having financial problems. The Cemetery Association wants to maintain the cemetery and keep it looking well trimmed, but the costs are high. The maintenance people were doing a wonderful job, and the cemetery was looking very good. However, funds ran out.

Why, you may ask. The Cassadaga Cemetery is growing in size, and more time is needed for mowing and trimming. Those working on the mowing and trimming were being paid a low salary, and yet were dedicated, which was appreciated. In the past, money was raised from the sale of cemetery plots, full burials and cremations burials. Donations were sometimes received. Today, more people are being cremated and the burial cost is about one-third of a full burial. Therefore less money is being raised to help with the cemetery. I have been in contact with a landscape architect who deals with cemeteries, and was told to raise the price of the lots. That is a good idea, however, people will look for a nearby cemetery with a smaller cost per lot. So the Cassadaga Cemetery is in line with cost of lots with surrounding cemeteries.

Two years ago, the Cemetery Association had a fund raising to purchase a new lawn mower and some small equipment. This was successful. Soon, another letter of request for funds will be sent out. One must realize that each time you send out a fund raising letter, there are always less responses. So to ask annually will very much discourage donations. You can only ask people for money so many times, before you get shut off.

The Cassadaga Cemetery Association would like to continue maintaining the cemetery, but without funds, it is going to be difficult. Around the Labor Day weekend, a group of four men took their riding lawn mowers to the Cassadaga Cemetery and mowed the grass. This was so very much appreciated. However, people’s lives are so very busy, and volunteer help is not always available.

We all understand the plight of the cemetery being maintained by the town of Stockton. As the town supervisor told us, he is going to have to hire another man to mow, get a mower for the cemetery and have another person handle the paper and bookkeeping. The paperwork and bookkeeping now are a full time task, and records are necessary to maintain. Our current secretary/treasurer said the phone is always ringing as people have questions, and there is a lot of things to do when there is a burial. The opening of a grave is done by someone who has to be paid.

I myself never realized all that has to be done with a cemetery and found out as a trustee. Our trustees met with representatives from the state of New York, and were given some advice. The Cassadaga Cemetery, along with every other cemetery, is governed by the state of New York, and must follow their guidelines.

Thank you for making it known about the Cassadaga Cemetery in your newspaper. We always appreciated your coverage. Donations are always welcome.

John Sipos is a Cassadaga resident.