Kenilworth Pioneer Catholic Cemetery
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Kenilworth Pioneer Catholic Cemetery

Kenilworth, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada

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  • Get directions Hwy. 6, Lot 15, Arthur Twp.
    Kenilworth, Wellington County, Ontario N0G 2E0 Canada
    Coordinates: 43.90859, -80.64643
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Around 1841, 50 acres [Lot 15, WOSR] was awarded to Bryan & Bridget O'Donnell by the Crown in recognition of their newborn daughter, Mary Ann--the first [pioneer] baby born in Arthur Township. A portion of this land was then donated by the O'Donnell family to the Catholic Church so that a cemetery could be established.

By 1908 the Kenilworth Pioneer Catholic Cemetery was giving way to the new and larger Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery across the highway, beside the new church.

The last known burial here was that of Elizabeth Finucan on March 3, 1960. The old cemetery was thereafter neglected until 1970 when Father John Van Weisle formed a cemetery committee to tend to the issue. Local and provincial governments were contacted and in relatively short order the grounds were cleaned-up and landscaped. The tombstones were re-positioned on concrete slabs, excepting those that were broken or too badly weather-worn to decipher. These remnant stones were unfortunately buried at the back of the property. Although the restoration was an improvement, it is sad to think that some of the Catholic pioneers buried here remain nameless--their gravestones and story seemingly lost. Some memorials have been created based on information from death records, despite not having a gravestone.



Around 1841, 50 acres [Lot 15, WOSR] was awarded to Bryan & Bridget O'Donnell by the Crown in recognition of their newborn daughter, Mary Ann--the first [pioneer] baby born in Arthur Township. A portion of this land was then donated by the O'Donnell family to the Catholic Church so that a cemetery could be established.

By 1908 the Kenilworth Pioneer Catholic Cemetery was giving way to the new and larger Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery across the highway, beside the new church.

The last known burial here was that of Elizabeth Finucan on March 3, 1960. The old cemetery was thereafter neglected until 1970 when Father John Van Weisle formed a cemetery committee to tend to the issue. Local and provincial governments were contacted and in relatively short order the grounds were cleaned-up and landscaped. The tombstones were re-positioned on concrete slabs, excepting those that were broken or too badly weather-worn to decipher. These remnant stones were unfortunately buried at the back of the property. Although the restoration was an improvement, it is sad to think that some of the Catholic pioneers buried here remain nameless--their gravestones and story seemingly lost. Some memorials have been created based on information from death records, despite not having a gravestone.



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  • Added: 10 Nov 2006
  • Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 2196119