About Us

-OVERVIEW-

   The Aylmer Cemetery has existed in one form or another for nearly 180 years. Throughout that time the Cemetery has strived to provide a peaceful and pleasant resting place for those interred there. The Cemetery is intended to function without profit or personal gain for the benefit of the greater community.
  
   The Aylmer Cemetery is licensed to act as a Cemetery in accordance with the Cemeteries Act, R.S.O., 1990. The Cemetery is run by a board of volunteers originally consisting of four members and a chairperson and later expanded to six members and a chairperson to distribute a greater work load. The board meets at least bi-monthly, or sooner if necessary, to discuss issues of importance. The goal of the board is to provide and maintain an efficient, economical and sustainable resting place for the plot holders. It is the Boards sincere hope that through cooperation and goodwill, we can keep the Cemetery as beautiful as it is for the foreseeable future.

   In accordance with these goals the Cemetery operates with revenue generated from the sale of graves, niches, interments, installation of markers, monument foundations and occasional donations. 40% of all revenue from the sale of burial sites is deposited into the Care and Maintenance Fund (CMF) previously known as the Perpetual Care Fund (PCF). 15% of the revenue generated from the sale of columbarium niches is deposited directly into the CMF. The remaining 60% of plot sales and 85% of the niche sales, as well as the interest from the CMF, is used to help operate the Cemetery. The Provincial Government stipulates that money from the CMF cannot be used for operations and is to be held in trust.

The Cemetery is registered as a not for profit charitable organization and tax receipts are available for donations above $25.00.

The Town of Aylmer and the Township of Malahide have provided grant money in recent years providing an alternate source of revenue to help maintain the property.

   On average the Aylmer Cemetery inters approximately 100 people per year. In recent years, cremations have risen to constitute 40-45% of that amount. Roughly 40% of those interred are from the Town of Aylmer, while approximately 30% are from the Township of Malahide. The remaining 30% are from people who are connected to the area but live elsewhere.

   The decline in interest rates, as well as the increase in cremations has resulted in declining revenue. Operations, including maintenance, are monitored closely and are adjusted to changing conditions.

-HISTORY-

OLD SURVEY (1837-1899)

The cemetery was established in 1837, following the donation of four acres of land by local resident Mrs. Davies, who owned most of the land around the cemetery. Divided into 3900 burial plots, the first person buried on the grounds was a Mrs. Donald McLachlin.

NEW SURVEY (1899-1923)

The cemetery stayed this size until 1899, when another four acres of land was purchased at the cost of $300. This expanded the total amount of burial plots to 8000, and ensured that the cemetery could continue to accomodate people well into the future. Records kept by the Cemetery show that, in 1899, Secretary Treasurer Andrew Murray was paid $10 for book-keeping and George Sears was paid $10 for cutting the grass and weeds.

Up until 1902, each plot holder was responsible for the care and maintenance of their own plot. However, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) instituted a decoration day on the third Sunday in August, which continues to this day. On this day, Odd Fellows went to the graves of each department member, placing a bouqet of flowers on the grave.

In 1905, the Board was convinced that a permanent caretaker was needed. A local resident, J.W. Hutchinson, personally pledged $100 toward a permanent caretaker, should the community fail to donate. Fortunately, the community stepped up to the plate, donating $326 so that Mr. Hutchinson could keep his $100 and the cemetery could be kept up. A caretaker was hired for $9 per 6-day work week.

In 1911, Mrs. Temperance J. Teeple left a legacy of $55, to provide for the perpetual care of her plot. This was the first such instance of perpetual care in Aylmer Cemetery, and over the years has inspired many others to do the same.

THE STEWART SURVEY (1923-1959)

As the town of Aylmer continued to grow and prosper, so did the cemetery. In 1923, the Cemetery Board bought five or six acres from Mr. Charles Roberts, at a cost of $2000. This expansion brought the total amount of burial plots to 13,000, and also included a house and barn. In 1926, the Board hired Mr. Clayton Kilmer to move the house to another location on the cemetary, at a cost of $1020. In 1928, the Board approved the construction of a steel picket fence across the front of the cemetery (it has since grown to a length of a quarter mile and the gates have been widened to accomodate the large vehicles of the modern age). A chapel and receiving vault were added in 1930, and a new barn was built in 1955. That year was also the year that the Odd Fellows purchased a tract of swamp-filled land in the Cemetary, filled it in, and constructed a beautiful memorial to their deceased members.

THE ATKINSON SURVEY (1959-PRESENT)

The last and largest expansion of the cemetery took place in 1959. The Board purchased eight acres of land, and established another 5100 burial sites. This brought the total number of burial sites to it's current number of 18,200. In 1961, a new house and office building was constructed to accommodate the Cemetery superintendent.

In 1967, Mr. Fred Kristoff and his family undertook a project to better document the history of the Aylmer Cemetery, as well as those who rest there. Visiting every marker and monument, they recorded every name in the cemetery, as well as the dates of internment. They then organized this information chronologically by year, and then alphabetized it for easy referencing. This invaluable project has allowed many people to find and visit distant family members, and is a lasting gift to the Cemetery.

In 2010, a Columbarium was constructed just past the Caretakers House. In contains seventy-two niches, each of which can accomodate two cremated remains. Constructed of 100% granite, this columbarium is intended to withstand the test of time. Niches can be purchased pre-need or at-need by contacting the cemetery. The flowerbeds and vegetation that surround it are maintained by Cemetery staff.