Merger will assure the future of historic cemetery in the Village of East Aurora.    

(BUFFALO, NY) – With the approval of the New York State Division of Cemeteries and the New York State Supreme Court, the Erie County Legislature, the Forest Lawn Board of Trustees and lot owners and the Oakwood Cemetery Association Board of Directors and lot owners, Oakwood Cemetery has merged with the Forest Lawn Cemetery and Crematory Group.

The Village of East Aurora’s second oldest cemetery, located at 202 Oakwood Avenue, will now be owned and operated by the Forest Lawn Cemetery and Crematory Group which includes Forest Lawn, St. Matthew’s Cemetery in West Seneca, Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg, Lancaster Rural Cemetery, two cemeteries in the Village of Williamsville – Williamsville Cemetery and Gethsemane Cemetery – as well as the Forest Lawn Cremation Company.

“For many years, the Board of Directors of the Oakwood Cemetery Association has been proud to serve the families of those who are interred here and provide them with the finest in perpetual care,” said Daniel Rahn, Vice President of the Oakwood Cemetery Association’s Board of Directors. “We are now pleased to pass the stewardship of Oakwood Cemetery on to the Forest Lawn Group and entrust their highly experienced and very capable leadership team with this sacred responsibility.”

No changes to Oakwood Cemetery after the merger

“We’re honored to have Oakwood Cemetery join us by becoming part of the Forest Lawn Group,” said Craig Wolcott, the Forest Lawn Group’s Interim President. “The families of those interred at Oakwood Cemetery and those who own burial space here will be very pleased to know that there will be no changes to the cemetery following the merger. There will be no increase in the cost of burial space or any service fees, and our team is committed to continuously investing in Oakwood to maintain the beauty and sanctity of these sacred grounds.”

Now, families interested in purchasing burial space at Oakwood Cemetery will also be able to take advantage of benefits which are available at all Forest Lawn Group cemeteries, such as the ability to purchase burial space on a payment plan with no interest and no credit checks, or by using a credit card. In addition, current and future lot owners at Oakwood Cemetery will now be able to have their pets (cremated, domestic pets) interred with them in Oakwood Cemetery.