Riverside Cemetery

05/30/2026

🌳 CEMETERY WARS: TREE EDITION 🌳

Our wildlife usually takes center stage in the "fight" we call cemetery wars but today we are checking in on this absolute unit!

This tree is probably about as old as the cemetery itself and at this point, it's less of a tree and more of a witness. It's seen horse-drawn hearses, Model Ts, world wars, changing skylines, and approximately 1, 647,000 squirrels acting like they own the place. 🥴

It has survived crazy wind, wild lightning strikes, and the occasional climber. With any luck this beauty will supply peace and shade for many generations to come!

P.S. This photo simply doesn't capture how stunning this tree is! Come check it out in section 10!
🌳

05/23/2026

We have had some questions and concerns about our signage regarding shepherd hooks so I am hoping to clarify for everyone.

1. This does NOT mean we are taking hooks off of every grave.
2. This does NOT apply to you if you keep your hook regularly decorated.
3. This does NOT apply to you if your hook is brand new or recently placed.

4. This DOES mean we are removing hooks that have gone several seasons without decorations placed on them.
5. This DOES mean we are removing broken hooks.
6. This DOES mean that we have taken the time to inform all visitors of our plan while leaving ample time for families to decide if they will remove it themselves or decorate the hook.

If you are not sure if your hook applies based on what you read from above, please direct all questions to [email protected] and we will do our best to help you understand the process.

Thank you!!

05/23/2026

Thank you so much to every single volunteer that came out today to mark the graves of our veterans! We all braved the heavy rain and worked hard to make sure each one had a flag.

If you notice your loved one was skipped, please know that it was not intentional. Feel free to email or call the office and we will put them on our list of veterans who receive flags so that doesnt happen again!

05/23/2026

Even with the threat of rain, we had a lovely group attend our Masons, Mystics, and Marked Stones tour this evening. Our tours are a great way to learn about the people buried at Riverside and help with our mission to keep history alive! Our next tour is in June! The Creative Blueprint- Riverside's Makers and Masters See you then!

05/20/2026

Every year volunteers from various families and boy scout troops spend their morning walking the entire cemetery to place flags on our Veteran graves. Unfortunately, not all Veterans have military issued headstones BUT we have a list of about 200 individuals whose families have requested their loved one receive a flag. We are looking for a few volunteers to join us on Saturday, May 23rd beginning at 9:00 am to place these flags. If interested, you can meet at our office between 8:30 am and 9:00 am where we will hand over a map and list of recipients. Thank you in advance to those who able to help make this possible!

05/15/2026

One of the most meaningful parts of preparing for this year's Music & Arts Festival fundraiser has been seeing support come not just from businesses, but from members of our community you believe in what we are trying to do at Riverside Cemetery.

The donations pictured here came from Karen Wojnowski and Holly Schneider - individuals who wanted to help make this event successful!

Thank you for your generosity and for believing in what we are working towards. We are excited to have these items showcased for the fundraiser!

05/13/2026

A huge thank you to Nightlight Books for their donation to our Music & Arts Festival silent auction coming up this July!

Nightlight Books is a Cleveland-based bookstore focused on disability justice, accessibility, and uplifting disable voices! Through books, community connection, and inclusive organizing, they are helping create a welcoming space where everyone feels seen, supported, and valued. Visit their booth at the festival to learn more about their mission and support their cause.

Unable to attend the festival? Learn more about them at nightlightbookstore.com !

05/12/2026

Still plenty of room left for this upcoming presentation! Be sure to register with the library to see Jamie and Maria discuss some absolutely amazing and brave heroes. The men and women we discuss each played such a crucial role in the history of our country.

Join Riverside Cemetery’s Jamie and Maria as they present the stories of brave veterans who served our country.. Event starts at May 18, 2026 6:30 PM EDT

05/07/2026

For many years we had a Memorial Day service here at the cemetery but have not done so in recent years. We know that the service is missed! While it may not be the same as a service in the cemetery, we are offering a program at the Cuyahoga County Public Library - Parma Powers Branch on May 18th at 6:30pm. We will discuss several war heroes with connections to Riverside as well as some background about the wars they fought in.

We invite you to join us and hope to see you there.

Join Riverside Cemetery’s Jamie and Maria as they present the stories of brave veterans who served our country.. Event starts at May 18, 2026 6:30 PM EDT