Quaker Settlement Cemetery in the village of Warsaw, New York, has merged with the Forest Lawn Cemetery and Crematory Group. The transaction has met the necessary 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 Quaker Settlement Cemetery Association Board of Directors and lot owners. The cemetery will now be owned and operated by the Forest Lawn Cemetery and Crematory Group.

Located at 3870 Quakertown Road in Wyoming County, Quaker Settlement Cemetery is just over an acre in size. It was once farmland before being incorporated as a cemetery in 1904. Prior to that, it was used by the Quakers in the area, with the earliest grave recorded in 1816. In 1827, the land was deeded to the Society of Friends (Quakers) of Hamburg, NY. Through the years, Quaker Settlement has generally been a family cemetery. Its first Board of Directors included the great-great grandfathers of the most recent president Diane Spencer and treasurer Paul Griffen.

“Although Quaker Settlement is a small cemetery, it has a proud history and deep roots in this community,” said Diane Spencer, president of the Quaker Settlement Cemetery Association Board of Directors. “That’s why as a board, we felt it was so important to pass the stewardship of Quaker Settlement Cemetery on to an organization that would share our commitment to providing the very best perpetual care to those who rest here. We have great confidence that the team at the Forest Lawn Group is well-positioned to do so.”

“We are honored to welcome Quaker Settlement Cemetery to the Forest Lawn Group,” said Julie R. Snyder, chief executive officer of the Forest Lawn Group. “The families of those interred at Quaker Settlement Cemetery and those who own burial space here can be assured that there will be no changes to the cemetery following the merger. The cemetery will continue to be maintained by the same team that has done so for several years – a team that is committed to maintaining the beauty and sanctity of these sacred grounds.”

Now, families interested in purchasing burial space at Quaker Settlement Cemetery will also be able to take advantage of benefits which are available at all Forest Lawn Group cemeteries. In addition, current and future lot owners at Quaker Settlement will soon be able to access their burial records online on the newly created Quaker Settlement Cemetery website (Quakersettlement.com), have their pets (cremated, domestic pets) interred with them in the cemetery, and continue to enjoy this historic place.

Quaker Settlement Cemetery is now legally owned and operated by the Forest Lawn Cemetery and Crematory Group, which includes Forest Lawn in Buffalo; St. Matthew’s Cemetery in West Seneca; Lakeside Cemetery in Hamburg; Lancaster Rural Cemetery in the Town of Lancaster; two cemeteries in the Village of Williamsville – Williamsville Cemetery and Gethsemane Cemetery; Oakwood Cemetery in East Aurora; Forest Hills Cemetery in Attica; Griffins Mills Cemetery in Glens Falls; and the Freedom Cemeteries in the Town of Freedom; as well as the Forest Lawn Cremation Company.