Cortland Rural Cemetery

We were delighted to have a visit from a group of SUNY Cortland students from Professor Evan Faulkenbury's public history class this Spring (2019). Their assignment was to visit with a representative -- in this case, Trustee John Hoeschele -- to learn about the challenges and goals of the CRC. Learn more here.

MEMORIALIZING CORTLAND'S LOVED ONES FOR 150 YEARS ~ AND COUNTING.
Located just moments from the heart of the Cortland, NY, the Cortland Rural Cemetery gently rises northward from historic Tompkins Street. Spreading graciously among fifty acres of winding drives, lawns, shrubs, and trees ~ amid islands of individual graves, family mausoleums, and monument groupings, and honoring the original, 19th century concept of a "rural cemetery."
     The cemetery is a restful environment far from the rush of modern life. Since 1853, its traditional character and classic landscape have made it ~ and continue to make it ~ a special place for families of the region's deceased. Visits are encouraged. Plots remain available for sale for new interments. Beautiful, peaceful, and inspirational settings with perpetual care are available throughout the park-like grounds for multiple graves, cremation burials, family plots, and private estate mausoleums.
     Additionally, one hillside has been dedicated to burials for veterans and their spouses. In agreement with Cortland's Temple Birth Sholom, two sections are reserved for Jewish burials. And the intimate, newly restored Gibson Chapel is available for memorial services or group visitations, with seating arrangements for up to sixty people.
     (A word about our funding: The Cortland Rural Cemetery is a non-profit cemetery not funded by the City of Cortland, Cortland County, or New York State. As such, our operation is primarily funded by modest -- and, frankly, declining -- income from traditional burials. We are also thankful for donations and grants received from our generous supporters; please visit our donations page to learn how you can become one of them ~ or contact our office if you are interested in volunteering at the cemetery in some capacity.)

BURIAL OPTIONS
The Cortland Rural Cemetery offers a range of choices for wishing to honor their deceased loved ones. Established in 1853 as a non-sectarian, non-profit institution, the cemetery offers several burial alternatives including traditional in-ground burial plots, interment in the facility's above-ground mausoleum, and a columbarium offering niches for cremated remains.

Traditional Ground Plots
The cemetery offers a robust selection of ground plots, situated on well-maintained and aesthetically pleasing lawns accented by mature trees, winding drives, and shrubbery. Here, families may inter the whole remains of their loved ones ~ or opt for burial of cremated remains in suitable burial containers.

The Mausoleum
The cemetery's mausoleum offers the additional dignity and security of above-ground burial. Accessible from the newly restored Gibson Chapel (or a handsome separate entrance), the Mausoleum affords year-round visitation in a quiet and inspirational setting. It is constructed of Italian marble and steel-reinforced concrete, with fully ventilated, clean, and dry crypts that ensure lasting protection against time and the elements.   

The Columbarium 
For those who wish to preserve the cremated remains of their family members and friends in an indoor setting conducive to contemplation and remembrance, the Cortland Rural Cemetery offers several dedicated locations in its recently restored, circa 1920s Gibson Chapel. Urns may be secured in niches behind oak doors or displayed in glass-fronted cabinets, wherein pictures of the deceased visible through the glass may also be added.