Catholic section open
Historic Topeka Cemetery has added an area for people who wish to be buried in a consecrated Catholic section.
The Holy Cross Catholic Section was blessed by Father Thomas Aduri in June. The section is just inside the main entrance to Topeka Cemetery on 10th Avenue. It features a gentle slope, and on the south side of the section is a landscaped area with two columbaria for inurnment of ashes.
People of all faiths are buried in Topeka Cemetery, but there had never had a dedicated area for people of the Catholic faith.
The Jewish Cemetery, which opened in 1874 on the south edge of Topeka Cemetery, is now surrounded by Topeka Cemetery, which serves as broker for Temple Beth Sholom. One of the local Lutheran churches purchased most of a section 80 years ago to provide spaces for parishioners. The Islamic Center of Topeka has part of another section.
Fraternal associations and other membership groups also have tracts in Topeka Cemetery. The Masonic Lodge owns most of Section 8 – city founder Cyrus K. Holliday has the rest. The Oddfellows, the Ingleside home, the printers’ union and the Episcopal Diocese are a few of the others that purchased multiple lots for members’ use.
Holy Cross has space for more than 1,100 ground burials along with 96 niches for ashes in the two columbaria. The cost for spaces is the same as elsewhere in Topeka Cemetery — $1,050 each. Family lots are available, as are single graves. Monuments are allowed.
Any family that already owns spaces in Topeka Cemetery may transfer to the Catholic section.
Please call the office, (785) 233-4132, for more information and to arrange a tour.
