ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Nearly a year after the issue was first reported, veteran headstones at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery were again found covered in grass, clippings and other natural debris, prompting renewed criticism from a volunteer caretaker and a response from cemetery officials.
Volunteer caretaker raises alarms
Susan Nati, who tends to 16 headstones across the cemetery and plans to be buried there, told News10NBC she was "disappointed" and called the condition "heartbreaking and disrespectful." Nati said she noticed the same problem a week earlier: "Grass covered every one of them. You couldn't even make out the rows."
"Disappointed. You know, again, this is just heartbreaking and disrespectful. Not only for the living, but for the dead. They don't have a voice."
Nati said she has her name already on a shared headstone with her mother and worries that the cemetery could fall into disarray after her death. She told the television station she expects better maintenance and urged the cemetery to invest more in landscaping services.
Cemetery inspects and responds
After a News10NBC reporter visited the site and found many headstones obscured by grass, cemetery management was contacted. The reporter returned on Wednesday to confirm conditions and emailed cemetery leadership on Thursday. By Friday, the headstones were cleared.
In a written statement, Holy Sepulchre Cemeteries said honoring veterans is a priority and described the cleaning and maintenance of veterans' graves as "an ongoing process throughout the season." The statement cited regular rain, rapid grass growth and routine mowing as reasons debris can accumulate on and around monuments.
The cemetery added that its team "continually works through the cemetery to address these areas, including cleaning veterans' sections," and said it regrets that some families have encountered graves that were difficult to see. It also said it is reviewing the concerns raised and will continue to prioritize veterans' sections as part of ongoing maintenance efforts.
What residents want to see changed
For families who visit often, the appearance of veterans' sections matters both emotionally and practically: legible markers are crucial for locating graves, reading inscriptions and paying respects. Nati urged the cemetery to increase spending for groundskeeping and to take pride in the appearance of its grounds.
- Volunteer caretaker: tends 16 veteran headstones and plans to be buried at the cemetery
- Cemetery response: cleaning completed the day after leadership was contacted
- Cemetery explanation: weather and routine maintenance can cause temporary accumulation of debris
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who raised the concern | Susan Nati, volunteer caretaker |
| Number of headstones tended by Nati | 16 |
| Cemetery action | Headstones cleared the day after reporter contacted leadership |
Local cemeteries, particularly those with veteran sections, face heightened scrutiny because they represent communal respect for those who served. Residents say occasional lapses may be understandable given seasonal growth, but repeated visibility of debris on veterans' graves has prompted calls for more consistent attention and clearer standards.
Officials did not provide a specific schedule for increased or additional maintenance, only that veterans' sections remain a priority and that crews are working to address areas as part of ongoing seasonal work.
For families who visit frequently, the episode is a reminder that stewardship of public and private memorial spaces requires both regular upkeep and responsive communication when concerns arise. Cemetery leadership's swift action after being contacted underscores how public reporting can prompt immediate remediation, but for some residents the change needs to be sustained rather than episodic.
The cemetery statement and Nati's comments reflect a broader tension in Rochester between limited operational resources and community expectations for places of remembrance. As long as weather and growth continue to challenge grounds crews, local families say they will keep watching and speaking up when they see graves that appear neglected.
