Second Annual Spring Cemetery Decoration Day Returns to St. Marys

As spring returns to St. Marys, the community is invited once again to come together to care for and celebrate one of the town’s most meaningful green spaces, the St. Marys Cemetery at 150 Cain St.

The second annual Spring Cemetery Decoration Day, in partnership with Andrew L. Hodges Funeral Home, will take place on Saturday, May 16 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The morning offers an opportunity for families and community members to clear winter debris, plant flowers, decorate graves for the season, and enjoy time together in the 50-acre cemetery grounds.

“This event is about remembrance, but it is also about connection,” says Andrew Hodges, owner of Hodges Funeral Home. “Bringing people together in a shared act of care helps honour loved ones while strengthening our sense of community.”

The morning will begin at 9:00 a.m. with words of Remembrance, offering a reflective and inclusive start to the day. Coffee and water will be available in the chapel throughout the morning.

“Families are welcome to tend to graves at any time during the year, but Decoration Day allows us to provide extra support,” says Jed Kelly, Director of Public Works. “With waste containers, water access, and staff on hand, we hope to make spring cleanup easier and more welcoming.”

Tourism and cemetery information will be available in the chapel during the event, along with self-guided cemetery walking tour brochures from the St. Marys Museum.

In the event of rain, the event will be rescheduled to Saturday, May 23.

For more information, please contact Andrew L. Hodges Funeral Home at 519-284-2820.

- 30-

For media inquiries:

Lauren Thomson-Vernooy, Corporate Communications Coordinator
519-284-2340 ext. 432 | lthomson@town.stmarys.on.ca