Which counties are in Western New York?

Commonly Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming.

Is there a national cemetery in Western New York?

Yes — the Western New York National Cemetery in Genesee County. Burials there use government-furnished headstones.

Should I replace an old sandstone headstone?

It depends on its condition and the family's wishes. Some families conserve the old stone and add a new granite marker alongside it, where the cemetery allows.

Headstones in Western New York: 8 Counties

Western New York's eight counties stretch from Lake Ontario and the Niagara River down to the Pennsylvania line. They share heavy lake-effect snow, deep winter frost and a mix of urban, suburban and very rural cemeteries. This guide covers what families across the region should know before ordering a granite headstone.

The counties

Erie — Buffalo and its suburbs. We have individual guides for 19 Erie County communities, starting with Buffalo.
Niagara — Niagara Falls, Lockport, North Tonawanda and rural towns along the Lake Ontario shore.
Chautauqua — Jamestown, Dunkirk, Fredonia and the Lake Erie grape belt.
Cattaraugus — Olean, Salamanca, Ellicottville and hilly snowbelt country.
Allegany — rural hill towns and small villages along the Genesee River valley.
Genesee — Batavia and farm country; home to the Western New York National Cemetery.
Orleans — Albion, Medina and the Erie Canal corridor.
Wyoming — Warsaw, Perry and agricultural towns.

Snowbelt durability

The Lake Erie snowbelt covers much of southern Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Niagara and Orleans see lake effects off Lake Ontario. Everywhere, winters include many freeze-thaw cycles. For a new memorial:

Choose dense, low-absorption granite with a full polish.
Cut lettering deep so ice and grime don't fill it.
Set foundations below the frost line — in Erie County, frost can reach roughly 42 inches, and the hill counties are no milder.

Old sandstone and marble stones

Orleans County gave its name to Medina sandstone, a reddish-brown stone quarried along the canal and used in buildings and grave markers across the region. Many 19th-century Western New York cemeteries are full of sandstone and marble stones that have weathered badly. Families often ask whether to restore or replace them. Our restoration and repair guide helps you decide, and a new granite marker placed alongside an old stone (where permitted) can preserve both history and legibility.

Veterans in Western New York

The Western New York National Cemetery in Genesee County serves veterans across the region. Burials there use government-furnished headstones. For veterans buried in private or church cemeteries, families can choose a private granite headstone with military emblems and may also be eligible for a VA marker or medallion. See our veterans' guide and military inscriptions guide.

Rural cemeteries

Allegany, Wyoming, Cattaraugus and Genesee counties have many small town, church and association cemeteries. Practical tips:

Find out who manages the cemetery and who approves monuments.
Get any written rules, or request written approval of your design.
Ask about foundation work and whether outside setters are allowed.
Coordinate delivery access — especially during spring thaw.

Our cemetery rules guide has a checklist, and our Alden guide covers rural cemeteries in more depth.

Installation season

Most Western New York cemeteries stop setting monuments in frozen ground and resume in spring. Order in fall or winter so the stone is ready when the season opens. See how long to wait after burial.

Factory-direct across Western New York

Marwaa Memorials has a Canadian warehouse in Pickering, Ontario — a straightforward cross-border run to Western New York — and delivers door-to-door under DAP terms, with freight, US customs and duties included. Design in our Design Studio and request a quote. Our US team is on the USA tab of the contact page.

More: Grand Island, Tonawanda, Evans, Springville, the statewide county guide and all New York service areas.