FAQs
- Does Lakeside have space available?
- Is Lakeside far?
- What are the benefits of pre-arrangement?
- What are my options for cremation?
- What do I do if a family member or a loved one is ill or has died?
- What do I need for burial?
- How do I begin to buy cemetery property?
- I want traditional in-ground burial and my spouse wants cremation. What options do I have?
- What is the difference between in-ground (traditional) and above-ground (mausoleum) burial?
- What is a Cemetery Interment Service Fee?
- Why do I need space if I'm being cremated?
- I'm moving out of the area – how do I sell my cemetery space?
- Who can be buried in my family lot?
- Does Lakeside have a photo/video policy?
1. Does Lakeside have space available?
Yes! Lakeside has many acres of developed land, as well as many acres that are, as yet, undeveloped, giving you the most options for interment in Western New York. Lakeside is also affiliated with three other local cemeteries (Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY; St. Matthew's Cemetery in West Seneca, NY; and Williamsville Cemetery in Williamsville, NY) where you will also find space available. For a personal tour of available space at any of our cemeteries, please call one of our Family Service Representatives at (716) 649-5507, or email lsc@lakesidecemetery.net.
2. Is Lakeside far?
The cemetery is located on Camp Road in Hamburg near Route 20 – near the shores of Lake Erie, and approximately 15 minutes from downtown Buffalo, Orchard Park and Lackawanna. Yes, other cemeteries may be "right around the corner" from where you live today. But when you're considering a resting place for all eternity, remember that Lakeside has a unique landscape and history that you won't find anywhere else in Western New York. So call today for a private tour, and you'll see why people from all over Western New York have chosen Lakeside for generations.
3. What are the benefits of pre-arrangement?
Without pre-arrangements for funeral and cemetery services, there are at least 49 decisions your loved ones will have to make when death touches their lives. But if you plan ahead, your family has only two decisions – day and time of the service. With pre-arrangements, you can choose exactly what you want, pay in today's prices, finance your purchase over multiple years at 0% interest, and receive an additional, significant discount. So don't wait. Contact one of our Family Service Representatives to make your pre-arrangements today. Call (716) 649-5507, or email lsc@lakesidecemetery.net. Read more about 49 vs. 2 and download a checklist here.
4. What are my options for cremation?
Traditional In-Ground: Burial is now available in existing traditional graves, or with a new purchase of casket size or urn size graves. The burial may occur directly in the earth. Private Estate and Feature gardens are also available for in-ground burial, where you design the space.
Above Ground: The niches in our Lakeside Mausoleum, Peace Mausoleum or free-standing outdoor columbarium are designed to hold the cremated body of one or two individuals.
Cremation Scattering: Private Scattering is now available in existing traditional graves where no casket burial has taken place, or with a new purchase of casket-size or urn-size graves.
5. What do I do if a family member or a loved one is ill or has died?
We understand that this is a very difficult time for you. The first thing to do is to call your family funeral director. According to New York State law, he or she is the only person who can legally handle the funeral arrangements for the deceased in New York State. Even if you are choosing cremation for your loved one, you must – by law – contact a funeral director. He or she can then make arrangements to have the cremation process performed at a crematory. Forest Lawn has its own Chapel Crematory available for this process.
If you have not already chosen a funeral director, this link can help you find one from the local Erie Niagara Funeral Directors Association.
At Lakeside, we encourage families to call or email the cemetery to pre-arrange for your needs. Pre-arrangement allows you to discuss your plans with your loved ones, and protect your family from having to go "cemetery shopping" on what may be the worst day of your entire life. Lakeside's trained professionals are ready to assist you with pre-arrangements, as well as during your time of need.
Please call us at (716) 649-5507, or email lsc@lakesidecemetery.net to speak with a Family Service Representative. Our office is open 6 days a week for the convenience of our families and funeral directors.
For traditional, full-body, in-ground burial:
Space (the land)
Outer Burial Container (burial vault, available through a Funeral Director)
Cemetery Interment Service Fee
A Memorial Grave Marker (typical but not required)
For cremation and burial in-ground:
Space (land)
Outer Burial Container (this may be an urn vault or a Marbelon urn) from Lakeside or your Funeral Director
Cemetery Interment Service Fee
A Memorial Grave Marker (typical but not required)
7. How do I begin to buy cemetery property?
Simply call our office at (716) 649-5507, or email lsc@lakesidecemetery.net to make an appointment with one of our Family Service Representatives. Our office is open and a Family Service Representative is available 7 days a week to fit your schedule, so please call during regular business hours for an appointment. If you are unable to come in to our office, a representative can come to you.
8. I want traditional in-ground burial and my spouse wants cremation. What options do I have?
All full-body, in-ground spaces at Lakeside allow for both a casketed body and one cremated body. To learn more about your options, please call one of our Family Service Representatives at (716) 649-5507, or email lsc@lakesidecemetery.net
9. What is the difference between in-ground (traditional) and above-ground (mausoleum) burial?
It is truly a matter of preference. When you purchase in-ground (traditional) space, the cemetery requires an outer burial container (known as a vault), which must be purchased from a Funeral Director. However, if for religious reasons or green burial reasons you would prefer not to have a vault, the cemetery will waive this requirement – a modest additional fee for this interment is required as the cemetery will need to go back more frequently and add earth to the interment site. When above-ground space in a mausoleum is purchased, the vault is included in the price. Whether you prefer in-ground or above-ground, purchasing space ahead of time (pre-arrangement) allows you to "lock in" the price for three of the most significant cemetery decisions (Space, Outer Container and Memorial Grave Marker).
10. What is a Cemetery Interment Service Fee?
The Cemetery Interment/Entombment Fee is for our basic services and overhead relating to the final disposition of the deceased, as well as the general care and operations of the cemetery. The fee includes the use of the cemetery's professional, union and non-union staff, facilities and equipment, to respond to and complete the request for interment / entombment / or inurnment service, as well as maintaining the cemetery. It includes verifying ownership and right of burial privileges and confirming the permanent interment location. It also includes coordination between cemetery and administration and grounds with the funeral director and/or family members requesting and authorizing the burial service, securing and issuing necessary permits and authorizations for the service, preparation of the space for burial, and restoration of that space following the service.
Download our current Services and Fee Schedule.
11. Why do I need space if I'm being cremated?
Some people think it's OK to put the cremated body on a shelf in their closet, or on the mantle above the fireplace. But a deceased human being is just that: a deceased HUMAN BEING, whether in a casket or an urn. In the United States, our tradition has been to bury our dead in a permanent resting place so our loved one's cremated body is protected, in a sacred place, where the body will always be treated with dignity and respect.
At Lakeside, cremated bodies may be buried in an urn, scattered in-ground, or placed above ground in a niche in our Lakeside Mausoleum. To learn more about cremation, please click here, call (716) 649-5507, or email lsc@lakesidecemetery.net.
12. I'm moving out of the area – how do I sell my cemetery space?
The State of New York requires that you offer it first to the cemetery. Write a letter (see below for the address) with your signature notarized, requesting that we make you an offer for your space, mailing it return-receipt requested. In our offer letter, we will tell you your options, based on New York State laws and Lakeside's policy. You do not have to accept our offer. If you do not accept our offer, you will be free to sell it on your own to whomever you wish.
If you have further questions, please call us at (716) 649-5507, or email lsc@lakesidecemetery.net.
Send your request to:
Lakeside Cemetery
4973 Rogers Road
Hamburg, NY 14075
13. Who can be buried in my family lot?
The original lot owner may give permission to anyone to be buried in his/her lot. The lot owner, spouse, and direct descendants have a "natural right" of burial, as long as there is still actual space available, according to the number of burial rights (spaces) purchased and appropriate authorization. Direct descendants are children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc. Spouses of direct descendants may be buried, if there is room and with appropriate authorization. Other family members may have right of burial if no direct descendants are surviving. Contact us if you have any questions by calling (716) 649-5507, or email lsc@lakesidecemetery.net.
Once the lot owner is deceased, the right of burial passes to the children, then grandchildren, and so on. If a direct descendant is willing to wait and hope that other direct descendants will not use up all remaining space on the lot, then no reservations are required. However, if a direct heir wishes to reserve a burial space on the lot prior to the time of need, specific authorizations are required. An Affidavit of Title must be completed by a direct descendant that lists every living direct descendant of the lot owner who has a right to be buried on the lot.
A Reservation of Burial Form must also be completed and signed by every living direct descendant listed on the Affidavit of Title, giving up his/her right to the space that is being "reserved." The Affidavit of Title and all Reservation of Burial Forms are to be collected by the inquirer and submitted to the appropriate cemetery office with the New York State approved fee of $98.00 for review and processing. If you have any questions, please call (716) 649-5507, or email lsc@lakesidecemetery.net.
Download the Affidavit of Title form and the Right of Burial form.
13. Does Lakeside have a photo/video policy?
Yes. Please read our Photo/Video Policy or download our Photo/Video Agreement.
