CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — A woman visiting her family members' gravesites Monday in Cheektowaga found them covered in water. Frustrated with the flooding, Pamela Rawson contacted 2 On Your Side to get the word out to other families who might be impacted by this. We also wanted to know what the cemetery is doing to fix the problem.
"It was just simply disturbing," says Rawson.
Generations of Rawson's family are buried at St. Adalbert's Cemetery on Dale Road in Cheektowaga. But when she visited Monday, she was upset with what she saw.
"We were surprised at how much flooding there was," she said. "So, then we got out, and I took some photos, and then we drove to another side, and I thought, boy, that's a shame, I know it rained all day, and didn't think too much about it, went away, and then I said, no wait a minute, something's really wrong."
So, Rawson came back to the cemetery.
"We noticed that the water was approaching some of the monuments and graves even further than it was before. So, it's a concern," says Rawson.
She took more photos and shot videos and made a phone call.
"We actually called the cemetery," she said. "I called another family friend who has her family members buried here, and I said I was at the cemetery and it's flooded, and she said, oh that happens all the time. And I said, really? And, she said we've called, but they don't do anything about it."
Rawson thinks about forty gravesites are impacted by the flooding, and she just wants other families to know what's going on.
"It's disrespectful. It's unnecessary. It can probably be repaired whether it's drainage tiles or there's a water line break, but address it," says Rawson.
2 On Your Side called the director of cemeteries for the Diocese of Buffalo. Michael Attea declined our interview request, saying he needed to get someone out to the cemetery to check it out. We saw a maintenance truck right after we got there Monday afternoon.
"It's an expensive cost, but it's one that people are willing to pay to maintain the cemeteries that they choose, even the Catholic cemeteries in the area, so I just hope that things do get addressed and it is repaired. Not just for my family's graves, but for all the families that are here," says Rawson.
2 On Your Side asked the director of cemeteries to get back to us with an update Monday night. We have not heard back from him.
Rawson is going back again tomorrow to see if anything's being done to fix the problem at the cemetery.