Calvary Cemetery Erie: History, Services, and Burial Records

Calvary Cemetery in Erie, Pennsylvania, is a consecrated Catholic cemetery and mausoleum that serves as a sacred place of prayer, remembrance, fellowship, and burial. The cemetery was consecrated by Bishop Gannon in 1921 and has since expanded to include mausoleums, cremation niches, and additional options for final resting places.

Calvary Cemetery is also the headquarters of The Erie Diocesan Cemeteries. For inquiries about burial spaces, mausoleum crypts, cremation niches, cemetery rules, or records, contact the main office at 814-838-7724.

Calvary Cemetery Erie history

Calvary Cemetery was consecrated by Bishop Gannon in 1921. Since then, the cemetery has expanded and experienced several changes to include the addition of two mausoleums known as the West Mausoleum (1987) and the East Mausoleum (2010) as well as the development of varying styles of cremation niches.

Due to its rich history, Calvary has become the headquarters of The Erie Diocesan Cemeteries. The cemetery is part of a wider diocesan system whose grounds are treated as sacred places according to the prescribed ritual of the Catholic Church.

Catholic mission and spiritual purpose

Because of our faith perspective, Diocesan Catholic Cemeteries cannot be looked upon primarily as a business. Rather, they are sacred places where the dead repose in Christ until their resurrection and where the bereaved are ministered to.

This ministry, as Catholic Christian witness, is to give consolation to those who have been touched by death because of the hope of eternal life which our faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us. Through baptism, we have been baptized not only into the Lord’s redeeming death, but also His Resurrection.

We are then people of hope and our cemeteries are likewise places of hope, which can give comfort to those who are mourning. Consequently, the work of those who staff our cemeteries is to be marked by welcoming, compassion, faith, healing, and hope.

The Erie Diocesan Cemeteries (EDC) are holy places of prayer, remembrance and fellowship. The grounds of each of the cemeteries have been blessed according to prescribed ritual of the Catholic Church, as such, are considered sacred and must be treated with proper respect and reverance.

Burial and interment options at Calvary Cemetery

Although the majority of grave space has been selected, many options remain available for your final resting place such as crypt space in the East Mausoleum, cremation niche space in outdoor columbariums located in front of the East Mausoleum, marble and granite front cremation niche space in the East Mausoleum and glass-front cremation niches located inside the West Mausoleum.

From time to time, graves in the cemetery grounds are returned and can be can be selected dependent upon availability. Availability can therefore vary according to the type of interment space and the current inventory of returned graves.

Calvary Cemetery mausoleums

West Mausoleum

The West Mausoleum was added in 1987. It contains glass-front cremation niches located inside the mausoleum.

East Mausoleum

The East Mausoleum was added in 2010. It includes crypt space as well as marble and granite front cremation niche space.

Outdoor columbariums located in front of the East Mausoleum provide additional cremation niche space. These different forms of memorialization allow families to consider traditional grave burial, mausoleum entombment, or cremation placement.

Burial records and genealogy resources

Burials in Calvary Cemetery, Erie, Pa. are listed by the FamilySearch Library and WorldCat. Calvary Cemetery is also listed by Billion Graves and Find a Grave.

Cemetery records, 1865-1920 are available through the FamilySearch Library. These resources can help researchers investigate interments, identify burial locations, and trace family connections in Erie, Pennsylvania.

A guide to burial sites & cemeteries of Erie County, PA is available through the FamilySearch Library and WorldCat. Erie County cemetery records, 1810-1960 (Pennsylvania) are available through the FamilySearch Library, and Erie county cemetery records, Vol. 2. is listed by WorldCat.

• Burials in Calvary Cemetery, Erie, Pa. - FamilySearch Library
• Burials in Calvary Cemetery, Erie, Pa. - WorldCat
• Calvary Cemetery - Billion Graves
• Calvary Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Cemetery records, 1865-1920 - FamilySearch Library
• Erie County cemetery records, 1810-1960 (Pennsylvania) - FamilySearch Library
• Erie county cemetery records, Vol. 2. - WorldCat
• A guide to burial sites & cemeteries of Erie County, PA - FamilySearch Library
• A guide to burial sites & cemeteries of Erie County, PA - WorldCat

Calvary Cemetery location and historical documentation

Calvary Cemetery Millcreek Township, Erie Co. Pennslyvania.

Latitude: 42.10208° N Longitude: 80.16030° W

Specific Plot Photos / Layouts: Edward & Catherine Fitzgerald and Eugene & Rose McManus Plot requires Acrobat Reader

Cemetery Visit: Sep 1998 (A.J., K.R. & W.E. Fred)

References: The Erie Society for Genealogical Research, compiler, "Burials in Calvary Cemetery, Erie, Pennsylvania" (PO Box 1403, Erie PA 16512: The Erie Society for Genealogical Research, 2004)

This visit and webpage was only intended to document the graves related to our family genealogy that is documented in the FredQuest Genealogy Database.

Selected Calvary Cemetery burial entries

The following selected transcripts and photographs identify individuals by name, section, gravemarker dates, and family information.

Searching Erie County cemetery records

Calvary Cemetery records are part of a broader group of Erie County burial and cemetery resources. Researchers may also encounter records for Erie Cemetery, Trinity Cemetery, Mary Queen of Peace Cemetery, Saint Gregory Cemetery, North East Cemetery, Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery, and numerous church, family, and community burial grounds.

• Allen Family Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Asbury United Methodist Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Brown Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Burials in Girard Cemetery, Erie County, Pennsylvania - WorldCat
• Burials in Grahamville Cemetery, North East, Erie County, PA - WorldCat
• Burials in Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery, Erie County, PA - WorldCat
• Congregation Brith Sholom Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Daggett Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Deserted Miller Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Drake Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Draketown Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Frisbee Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Gospel Hill Burial Ground - Find a Grave
• Hershey Neighborhood Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Jewish burials of Erie County Pennsylvania - WorldCat
• Kuhl Road Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Lowville Cemetery - Billion Graves
• Lowville Cemetery, Interment
• Mary Queen of Peace Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Middlebrook Churchyard - Find a Grave
• Mount of Olives Cemetery - Find a Grave
• North East Cemetery, also known as Oak Hill Cemetery - WorldCat
• Owen Family Farm Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Phillips Cemetery: U.S. Rt 20 Erie County Pennsylvania - WorldCat
• Phillips Cemetery, Erie County, Pennsylvania - Ancestors At Rest
• Pioneer Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Revolutionary patriots in Erie County, Pa - FamilySearch Library
• Ruhl Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Saint Boniface Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Saint Matthews in the Woods Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Saint Paul's Cathedral - Find a Grave
• Saint Pauls Evangelical Church Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Saint Peter Cathedral Crypt - Find a Grave
• Sharpes Corners Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Sherrod Hill Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Snake Hollow Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Summit United Methodist Churchyard - Find a Grave
• Wales Cemetery - Billion Graves
• Waterhouse Family Burial Ground - Find a Grave
• Wheelock Cemetery - Find a Grave
• Whispering Pines Cremation Garden - Find a Grave
• White Cemetery - Find a Grave

Additional Erie County cemetery record groups

• Albion Cemetery Records
• Belle Valley Cemetery Records
• Concord in Erie County Cemetery Records
• Conneaut Cemetery Records
• Corry Cemetery Records
• Cranesville Cemetery Records
• East Springfield Cemetery Records
• Edinboro Cemetery Records
• Elgin Cemetery Records
• Elk Creek Cemetery Records
• Erie Cemetery Records
• Fairview in Erie County Cemetery Records
• Franklin in Erie County Cemetery Records
• Girard Cemetery Records
• Godard Cemetery Records
• Harborcreek Cemetery Records
• Hornby Cemetery Records
• Keepville Cemetery Records
• LeBoeuf Cemetery Records
• Little Hope Cemetery Records
• Lundys Lane Cemetery Records
• McKean Cemetery Records
• McLane Cemetery Records
• Mill Village Cemetery Records
• Millcreek Cemetery Records
• North East Cemetery Records
• Pageville Cemetery Records
• Phillipsville Cemetery Records
• Platea Cemetery Records
• Sterrettania Cemetery Records
• Union in Erie County Cemetery Records
• Waterford Cemetery Records
• Wattsburg Cemetery Records
• Wesleyville Cemetery Records
• West Springfield Cemetery Records

Related Trinity Cemetery records and cremation options

Burials in Trinity Cemetery, Erie, Pennsylvania are listed by the FamilySearch Library and WorldCat. Trinity Cemetery is also listed by Find a Grave and Billion Graves.

Trinity Cemetery: A new exterior columbarium containing companion and single cremation niches are available for purchase. Please call the main office at 814-838-7724 for information.

Cemetery decoration rules

The Church honors the custom of families and visitors expressing love and devotion for the departed by decorating graves. However, decorating must not create a safety hazard, impede proper maintenance, infringe on other graves, diminish the Catholic character of the cemetery or offend others.

For these reasons, EDC employs ground rules for the common good. Items left at graves, niches or crypts are at your own risk of which EDC is not responsible.

Any item can be removed anytime for any reason and if removed, will be placed by the cemetery maintenance building for a period of time before disposal. Please contact the main office for a list of rules and regulations or refer to the kiosks at the entrances to all of the cemeteries.

Seasonal and winter rules

As Labor Day approaches, it is a sign fall will be arriving soon and a reminder winter rules will go into effect November 1, 2026. All potted plants must be removed from gravesites by October 31, 2026.

All decorations in violation of cemetery rules and regulations will be removed throughout the month of November in preparation for winter. Also, only basic solar lights are permitted (2 per lot). Decorative solar lights and lanterns will be removed.

Please remove shepherd hooks for the winter season. A shepherd hook is for a hanging flower basket only and any toy, trinket, solar light or other item hanging from one will be removed.

Items that may be removed

Examples of items (but not limited too) that will be removed are: glass, toys, statues, crosses, trinkets, pinwheels, balloons, figurines, stepping stones, wind chimes, alcoholic vessels and extra and/or trinket solar lights or generally any item purchased from a dollar store.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our visitors who abide by cemetery rules and regulations. It has significantly enhanced the overall appearance of our most sacred grounds. An orderly and neat cemetery is not only a gesture of reverence to those that have passed, but makes for a safer and graceful environment for all.

Driving and visitor safety

Speed limit 15MPH. The four properties are bustling with activity during daylight hours with services, visitors, vendors and employees overseeing maintenance duties. Please drive slowly and cautiously.

QR code memorial program

EDC has adopted a QR code memorial program. A QR code disc can be purchased for $150. The disc can be attached to any crypt-front, niche front or grave stone.

This will enable visitors to take a photograph of the QR code, which will link to a memorial page of the decedent created by the purchaser. The memorial page can contain an unlimited amount of photos and videos honoring the life of the deceased.

In addition, visitors can leave a message on the link paying tribute to the decedent. Terms and conditions do apply. Please call Calvary Cemetery or stop into the office for further information.

Calvary Cemetery office hours and contact information

For all inquiries pertaining to Calvary Cemetery, please contact the main office at 814-838-7724.

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