History

The Catholic Cemetery provides services to the Catholic families of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Inc. not only by making available resting places for their deceased members but also by providing pre-need services such as opening/closing of graves, granite memorials, vaults, final dates, vases/urns, Christmas wreaths, and so on.

This is all done at its 175 acre facility located at 3500 Lake Avenue in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Catholic Cemetery was established in 1873 by Bishop Joseph Dwenger and had its first regular burial in November of that year. The Catholic Cemetery Association was organized in April 1893 and was directed by Bishop Joseph Rademacher in 1894 to run the Catholic Cemetery. In May 1994, Bishop John M. D’Arcy reorganized the Catholic Cemetery Association in order to take advantage of the 1991 Indiana Non-Profit Corporation Act and to be in conformity with Canon Law. It is now the Catholic Cemetery Association of Fort Wayne, Inc. d/b/a Catholic Cemetery Association, Inc.

As a result, the Bishop of the Diocese is now ex officio Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board, in turn, with the approval of the Bishop, hires the Superintendent who is responsible for the overall management of the Cemetery and hires its personnel. The Cemetery staff also takes care of Saint Leo Catholic Cemetery in Leo, Indiana, and Saint Michael Catholic Cemetery at Pierr Settlement off St. Joe Center Road in the far Northeast corner of Fort Wayne.

The Superintendent has organized the Cemetery with a Grounds Foreman, who oversees the groundskeepers, and with a Senior Service Counselor (Sales Manager) who handles counseling and sales, and with an office staff.