Oakwood Cemetery Heritage Foundation, Inc.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

Across the peaceful grounds of Oakwood rest veterans whose stories, sacrifice, and courage helped shape the nation we know today. Their legacy lives on not only in history books, but here among us, beneath the trees and along the quiet paths of this historic cemetery.

This weekend, we invite you to visit Oakwood, take a quiet moment of reflection, and walk among heroes. 🇺🇸

05/24/2026

We’re thrilled to see the Discover Niagara Shuttle back on the road for another season!

For 10 years, Oakwood Cemetery has proudly been a stop along the shuttle route, helping visitors discover that the story of Niagara goes far beyond the Falls themselves. From abolitionists and daredevils to industrialists, veterans, and everyday community members, so much of our region’s history rests here.

The shuttle is completely FREE to ride, making it easy to hop on, hop off, and explore the places that tell Niagara’s deeper story.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from Oakwood Cemetery 💐

This morning’s peaceful spring scenes are a beautiful reminder of renewal, love, and the lasting gift of life that mothers give to us all. Today, we are honored to welcome families to our serene grounds as they visit, remember, and celebrate the mothers who continue to live on in their hearts.

05/09/2026

Spring Cleanup Day is here! 🌿 Join our volunteers today from 10 AM–1 PM as we help spruce up Oakwood and show a little love to this special place in our community. We’d love to see you there!

05/08/2026

Our rescheduled cleanup is this Saturday! We have a lot of ground to cover, and would love if you came out to lend a hand. In fact, bring the whole fam! 🖤

05/03/2026

Many thanks to everyone who came out for our Chiavetta's fundraiser yesterday! Your support is so important to our work here at Oakwood! One thing is for sure... we made our little part of the city smell GREAT! 🍗🔥

05/02/2026

Today’s the day.

Supporting Oakwood isn’t just about preservation. It’s about protecting the stories that built this community. It’s about honoring the people who came before us and making sure their names, their lives, and their impact are never forgotten. Every pathway, every monument, every name carries meaning. And with your support, those memories are cared for with dignity, love, and respect for generations to come.

And today, you can be part of that in the tastiest way possible.

Swing by Oakwood between 1 and 4pm and grab a Chiavetta’s Chicken Dinner or a chicken half. If you pre-ordered online, just pull up and give us the name on your order. We’ll take care of the rest.

The Oakwood Cemetery Heritage Foundation appreciates the support of this incredible community.

05/01/2026

Today’s your final chance to pre-order at the special price — $16 dinners or $10 chicken halves.

We’ll be at Oakwood tomorrow from 1–4PM serving up Chiavetta’s and raising funds to support Oakwood. Come hungry, leave happy, and support a great cause.

Pre-order now: https://www.oakwoodniagara.org/chiavetta-s-bbq-take-out

PS - You can just show up and purchase!

04/28/2026

Preserving our history and honoring the memories held at Oakwood takes ongoing care, commitment, and resources. You can be part of that effort by making a donation through our online form: https://oakwoodniagara.org/donate

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/oakwood-cemetery-ready-embark-restoration-112300921.html

Nearly two-and-a-half years after being awarded state funds, Oakwood Cemetery is finally ready to begin several restoration projects. Cemetery Board President Doug Mooradian said the first phase is ex...

01/26/2026

Every stone has a story, and this one stops you in your tracks.

The Krakowski monument catches the eye not only for its size and beautiful carving, but for the Hebrew inscription on its face. A quick ancestry search shows Thomas Krakoski was born in Kraków, Poland, a region that was home to one of the world’s largest Jewish populations in the 1800s and into the early 1900s.

His last name is a clue too. “Krakoski” is a geographic-style surname, essentially meaning “from Kraków,” and it shows up among both Jewish and non-Jewish families. That’s part of what makes cemetery research so interesting: a name alone rarely tells the whole story.

For many immigrants, though, the Hebrew text does. Hebrew on a headstone is a lasting marker of faith, identity, and tradition, a way of honoring family roots even after starting life in a new place.

Next time you’re walking Oakwood, keep an eye out. Sometimes the most fascinating stories are written in a language you don’t expect, hidden in the stones.