On a Monday morning, Phil Walter, cemetery caretaker at St. John the Baptist Church in Alden, was reviewing his tasks for the day with Pastoral Administrator Deborah Brown. Phil casually mentioned to Brown. "You know, there's a body in the toolshed."

The joke is that Carmen Colao knows where all the bodies are buried.

The Church of the Annunciation has begun expansion of its 112-year-old historic cemetery. The expansion will offer a more sacred space and park like setting directly behind the old cemetery on Girdle Road in Elma.

The Sisters of Social Service in Hungary, embraced Benedictine spirituality, had a special devotion to the Holy Spirit and protected many from Nazi atrocities. Their foundress Sister Margaret Slachta is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna.

Deaths from opioid use or substance abuse are prevalent here in Buffalo as well as other places. We know that no two people grieve exactly the same. However, an overdose death creates barricades for healing to take place thereby adding complications to the grief process. This type of grief can become disenfranchised because added emotional stressors such as guilt, resentment and shame can become suppressed because one does not have an outlet to express them. It is important that those who have lost a loved one from an overdose be comforted in a compassionate, non-judgmental way.

Catholic Cemeteries of Buffalo offered updates on their sites in the June edition of the Western New York Catholic.

As part of a collaboration between Mount St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston and Catholic Cemeteries, the two entities came together on Aug. 2 to bless and dedicate a new space on the grounds of Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lewiston for families who have suffered losses associated with miscarriage. The newly dedicated section of the cemetery is designated specifically for fetuses aged 20 weeks or younger.

When her husband passed away after nearly 50 years of marriage, Bernie Mussen found it difficult to say goodbye. She thought keeping Charlie's ashes on the family mantle would make her feel they were still together. She later found the best way to take care of him was to give him a permanent final resting place.

As part of the Diocese of Buffalo, Catholic Cemeteries serves as a means for members of the community to mourn, bury and pay their respects to their departed loved ones. In serving the same clientele, Catholic Cemeteries has formed a strong bond with Stone Art Memorial Company Inc., the 160-year-old business that specializes in unique stonework to be put in cemeteries, mausoleums and other locations.

Six diocesan Catholic Cemeteries will celebrate Memorial Day Masses throughout the holiday weekend on May 27 and 29.

Carmen Colao, director of Catholic Cemeteries for the Diocese of Buffalo, discusses their upcoming open houses as well as special remembrances for Mother's Day and Memorial Day.

New instructions published by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith reaffirm teaching that the Church is not opposed to cremation, while continuing to recommend that the cremated remains of the deceased be buried in Catholic cemeteries or other sacred spaces.

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released an instruction Tuesday regarding burial and cremation, reiterating the Church's teaching that cremation, while strongly discouraged, can be permissible under certain restrictions - and that scattering the ashes is forbidden.

While most deceased bishops of Buffalo have been laid to rest in the crypts behind the altar at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo, Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore is the final resting place for two bishops, including a native son.

On this week's Podcast we talk about upcoming Open Houses at our Catholic Cemeteries with director, Carmen Colao.

Going to garage sales was nothing new to Jane Mozer, but what she found at one recently was certainly unusual. There among the toasters and knick-knacks was a porcelain container, one that she immediately knew likely held cremated remains.

We have all heard these familiar words, but how can we rejoice when we are grieving? When our hearts are broken from missing the one we love, it can seem almost impossible to even consider that we will ever feel joy again. Each day only seems to hold tears and despair, not hope or laughter.

The men and women of our nation who have served in the U.S. military will be remembered during special Masses at six Catholic Cemeteries of Buffalo during Memorial Day weekend.

Visitors to Catholic Cemeteries of Buffalo are encouraged to share their thoughts and remembrances of their mothers by signing banners which are mounted near entrances to six cemeteries, with the words, "Happy Mother's Day."

Catholic Cemeteries is holding a special "Music and Memories" remembrance service at two locations in which names of loved ones are read aloud. Services will take place at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore on Thursday, April 28, at 6:30 p.m., and at Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna on Saturday, April 30, at 1 p.m.

The new Queen of Angels Cremation Garden saw its first interment in December, at Queen of Heaven Cemetery on Tonawanda Creek Road in the Town of Lockport.

Four Christmas Masses will be celebrated as Catholic Cemeteries of Buffalo takes time to allow families to pray for and remember their loved ones at this special time of year.

On Wednesday, Nov. 11, The Frontline Faith Project is sponsoring it's fourth annual "An American Moment" to honor the men and women of our Armed Forces, past and present. This event will include one moment of silent prayer — prayer to thank our military for their service, to pray for the peaceful repose of those who have died, and to pray for the intentions of those still living. This event will take place at noon in each respective time zone, all across the world, on Veterans Day 2015.

As the nation pauses this month to honor its military veterans on Nov. 11, Catholic Cemeteries of Buffalo is doing its part through the Veterans Memorial Plaza in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore and the Thank A Vet program.

Bishop Richard J. Malone marked the Feast of All Souls by presiding at a committal service for unclaimed cremated remains at Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna. The Nov. 2 service saw the cremains of over 300 placed in an exterior crypt named the Crypt of the Holy Angels with the inscription, "Eternal Rest Grant unto Them, O Lord."

Bishop Richard J. Malone will mark the Feast of All Souls by presiding at a committal service for unclaimed cremated remains at Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna.

William Donahue, author of, "Himself, A Civil War Veteran's Struggles with Rebels, Brits and Devils," will sign copies of his book on Saturday, June 13, 1:30 p.m., in the old chapel near the Ridge Road entrance to Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna.

Catholic Cemeteries of Buffalo will again participate in, "Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes," the annual Memorial Day program developed by the Catholic Cemetery Conference.

Washington D.C. (CNA) - What does it mean to be truly pro-life? Amid debates over abortion and the death penalty, Catholic ecologists say that one issue is often overlooked in discussions involving human life and dignity - the environment.

The professional staff of Catholic Cemeteries understands the benefits of pre-planning. Staff members know how important it is for people to make their plans, then to live life creating memories to last a lifetime.

Phase three of the chapel mausoleum complex at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheektowaga was completed on June 21, when Bishop Richard J. Malone presided over the Mass and dedication of the St. Anthony Chapel Mausoleum.

As the country prepares to celebrate Memorial Day, Catholic Cemeteries of Buffalo will join thousands of Catholic cemeteries across the United States in a national celebration, "Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes." Developed by the Catholic Cemetery Conference, the national program will honor those men and women who have served our country.

Honor Flight Buffalo provides a special service to veterans as it transports them to Washington, D.C., to see various landmarks and memorials. It made its final flight for the year in October.

All gave some, some gave all, and now Catholic Cemeteries are giving back.