St. Stanislaus Kostka Cemetery
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Cemetery History
Fr. Franciszek Kołodziej, the second pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka parish, noted the lack of a suitable burial place for the members of his flock. In 1915, he purchased for that purpose a 34-acre parcel of land situated on a rolling hillside with picturesque views of the Mt. Greylock range. There he established a new parish cemetery, which was dedicated in 1916 by the Most Reverend Bishop Thomas Beaven of Springfield.
As the years progressed, adjacent portions of land were cleared and added to the original central burial zone. In 1934, the cemetery was further expanded with the addition of a new road, and a garage was added in 1962.
When Fr. John Chwalek was appointed pastor in 1970, he undertook construction of a prayer grotto at the cemetery. The "Shadow of the Cross" grotto was completed and dedicated on October 10, 1971. It contains a vial of water taken from the grotto of the Sanctuary of Our Lady in Lourdes, France.
Then for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the parish, Fr. John commissioned the design of a Centennial Shrine depicting the Second Coming. The shrine was erected in 2002 in the center of the cemetery, along with a lighted walkway leading to it.
The cemetery continues in active service today as a final resting place for deceased parishioners of the Adams/Cheshire area.
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Cemetery Staff
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Tom RomaniakCemetery Superintendent -
Heather Shawcemeteryacparishes.orgCemetery Coordinator
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Paul KondelCemetery Groundskeeper
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Where to find St. Stanislaus Kostka Cemetery
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Fees & Regulations
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Grave Costs
Single Lot - Burial of one casket or one cremains - $800
Overcapacity - A total of 1 casket and 2 cremains or 3 cremains may be buried on each lot. There is an overcapacity fee of $325 for each additional casket or cremains after the first. This fee is in addition to the Opening & Closing Fees.
Double Lot - Burial of one casket or one cremains on each lot - $1600
Quadruple Lot - Burial of one casket or one cremains on each lot - $3200
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Opening & Closing FeesCasket Burial
- Monday - Friday $500
- Saturday $800
- Monday - Friday $350
- Saturday $400
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Cemetery Regulations
These regulations have been developed to ensure the beauty and proper maintenance of the cemetery. The fee paid to the cemetery for burial rights in a lot is not considered a purchase of land but rather an easement that grants the right to burial. The land itself remains the property of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield and is therefore subject to these regulations.
Monuments/Markers:
* No monument or marker may be erected in the cemetery until approved by cemetery staff. The die or tablet (upright portion of a monument extending upward from the base), may not be more than 36” in height.
* No monument or marker may have any emblem, insignia, or inscription inconsistent with the Roman Catholic doctrine and practice.
* The cemetery accepts no responsibility for damage to monuments or markers caused by vandalism, acts of nature, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Decoration Regulations:
While live flowers, plants, and various types of decorations have been allowed in the past, they are often not maintained by the family. In order to create a tidy appearance at the cemetery, we have instituted the following policies which are effective March 1, 2025. Any items that do not meet the following criteria must be removed from the cemetery.
* No flowers, trees, or shrubs may be planted in the ground. Existing shrubs and perennials are grandfathered but must be maintained by the lot holders. If the lot holder is unable to maintain the existing plantings, the cemetery staff reserves the right to remove them.
* No wooden crosses or temporary markers of any kind are permitted unless placed by the cemetery workers or Veterans Affairs.
* No vigil lights, solar lights, shepherd hooks, statues, glass containers, lot enclosures of any kind, structures, fencing, or balloons will be permitted.
* One or two movable, plain containers of live or artificial flowers will be allowed from Mother’s Day to Veterans Day. Containers with prongs on the bottom or glass containers are not allowed. Flowers with prongs may be planted in moveable containers but not inserted in the ground. The plants must be maintained throughout the season and then removed after Veterans Day.
* Winter decorations may be placed on lots from December 1st to April 1st. Only one wreath or planter box will be allowed per lot.
Disclaimer:
The cemetery assumes no responsibility for the loss of or damage to flower pots or other containers and maintains the right to dispose of broken or unsightly containers at any time. The cemetery is not responsible for repairing damage to monuments or markers caused by vandalism, acts of nature, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Easement/Deed Information:
If a family should decide that they no longer want or need their deeded burial rights, they are not permitted to sell the deed to another party. The deed holder must return the deed to the cemetery for a refund of the original price, with no consideration being given for inflation. However, if a family pays for burial rights in a lot, intended for a family member who doesn't use it, they can bury another family member in it as long as no money changes hands and it stays within the same family.
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