Friends of Lakeview Cemeteries is a volunteer committee of the Greater Patchogue Foundation, committed “to the restoration, improvement and preservation of the historic cemeteries located on West Main Street in the Village of Patchogue.”

Dating to the 1700s, these five cemeteries include the graves of local citizens and veterans from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam. The committee is working to create a park-like setting for all the community to enjoy and learn from.

The friends recently released their 2024 report, noting that “it has been a productive year for us, thanks to the hard work of our volunteers and support from our donors.”

“We also have great partners in local government and other not-for-profit historic preservation organizations,” the release stated.

The nonprofit, in 2024, received two grants and monies through fundraising, including:

The Gardiner Grant: AChallenge Match Grant sponsored by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. The fundraising period for the grant was approximately mid-June to mid-November. They raised funds through donations from members of the community, from two cemetery tours in the fall, and from their annual fundraising raffle for a weekend at Fire Island that raised over $4,100. They raised a total of $7295 during this period, and in early December were presented a check for the amount at the annual Gardiner luncheon at Old Westbury Gardens.
Suffolk County Grant: They received $6,000 from the Suffolk County Parks Hotel-Motel Fund, which supported their restoration, education and beautification efforts.Last year, they also launched their website, PatchogueCemetery.org, and relaunched their e-mail newsletter.

As for their restoration efforts, a 2022-23 professional assessment found over 300 historic gravestones in Waverly Cemetery in need of repair. The oldest section, according to the Friends, is Union Burial Ground, along Waverly Avenue, north of the gas station, where a multi-year restoration project is underway. 

Also, after a training session for volunteers in 2023, trained volunteers were busy  restoring gravestones in the spring of 2024 through November. The work included resetting fallen gravestones, straightening stones, and cleaning stones.

“Dozens of stones are now restored and the iconic Rice family plot with the cross monument has been cleaned and planted with dozens of flower bulbs,” the report reads.

Volunteers are now making plans to continue the work in the spring. Also, all new volunteers are welcome to join.
 Last year, they also hosted several cleanup days in the spring and fall; attended by community volunteers who help clean up litter and leaves, plants and flowers.

As for their 2025 goals, they are hoping to restore the iconic monuments in the Lakeview and Rice cemeteries back to lighting up at night.

“Unfortunately, many of the lights are not functioning now, so we hope to raise funds to repair the wiring and replace the light fixtures,” said the Friends of Lakeview Cemeteries.

The group also plans to restore the Union Burial ground by removing invasive plants behind the gas station, placing educational signage around the entire property, possibly including QR codes to the website, working with the Elizabeth Oakes Smith Society to restore the Elizabeth Oakes-Smith gravesite, scheduling regular guided tours of the property as a fundraiser, and preparing for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

ABOUT THE LAKEVIEW CEMETERY

The property at West Main Street and Waverly Avenue in Patchogue Village holds five historic cemeteries. The iconic gated entrance on West Main Street leads to the Lakeview and Rice cemeteries, owned by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
The west side, known as “Waverly Cemetery” or “Old Patchogue Cemetery,” includes the Gerard and Old Episcopal cemeteries, and the original Union Burial Ground dating to 1793. Waverly is legally abandoned and maintained by the Town of Brookhaven and Friends of Lakeview Cemeteries.
The cemeteries are accessible by a pedestrian gate on Waverly Avenue and the West Main Street vehicle entrance.

ABOUT FRIENDS OF LAKEVIEW CEMETERIES

Friends of Lakeview Cemeteries (formerly Cemetery Restoration Committee) is a volunteer committee of the Greater Patchogue Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. In the 1990s, volunteers began working to restore an overgrown property that was barely recognizable as a cemetery and documenting the graves. In 2006, this group became a committee of the Foundation. The current leadership team began working together in 2016.

For more information, visit PatchogueCemetery.org, call 631.207.1300, e-mail LakeviewCemeteries@gmail.com, or visit Facebook.com/CRCPatchogue.