Calvary Cemetery
Photo added by Karen Kruse

Calvary Cemetery

Also known as Saint Marys Cemetery

Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA

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  • Get directions 2340 W. Stephenson Street
    Freeport, Illinois 61032 United States
    Coordinates: 42.29640, -89.65690
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This is one of two Catholic cemeteries in Freeport. Originally named St. Mary's, it was renamed to remove the connotation that it was specific to any one Parish.

In the summer of 2015, this cemetery was photographed in 4 sections: Southwest; Southeast; Northwest; and North-Central.

Using the transcription book at the Freeport library and the photographs, nearly all of the grave sites pre-2015 have been memorialized.

St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, on West Stephenson Street in Freeport, Illinois, was established in 1859, when Rev. Thomas O'Gara, pastor of St. Mary's Church, purchased this land for a parish cemetery.
This served the parish adequately for a long time, but by 1930 it became apparent that more land would soon be needed. At this time, Rev. C. F. Conley, pastor of St. Mary's parish, purchased twelve acres of ground directly north of the existing cemetery.
The name… was changed to "Calvary" and it was Father Conley's intent that thereafter it was to be an inter-parochial cemetery, and especially to serve the newer parishes of St. Catherine & St. Thomas Aquinas. It has been told that before there was a Catholic cemetery in Freeport, some of the Irish people took their dead to New Dublin Churchyard for burial. Considering that this was about twelve miles west of Freeport and that a funeral cortege in open vehicles in any season and any kind of weather would have to travel over roads that at times were near impassable, attests to the firm religious faith of those who so buried their loved ones.
FROM: History of Stephenson County (1970)






This is one of two Catholic cemeteries in Freeport. Originally named St. Mary's, it was renamed to remove the connotation that it was specific to any one Parish.

In the summer of 2015, this cemetery was photographed in 4 sections: Southwest; Southeast; Northwest; and North-Central.

Using the transcription book at the Freeport library and the photographs, nearly all of the grave sites pre-2015 have been memorialized.

St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, on West Stephenson Street in Freeport, Illinois, was established in 1859, when Rev. Thomas O'Gara, pastor of St. Mary's Church, purchased this land for a parish cemetery.
This served the parish adequately for a long time, but by 1930 it became apparent that more land would soon be needed. At this time, Rev. C. F. Conley, pastor of St. Mary's parish, purchased twelve acres of ground directly north of the existing cemetery.
The name… was changed to "Calvary" and it was Father Conley's intent that thereafter it was to be an inter-parochial cemetery, and especially to serve the newer parishes of St. Catherine & St. Thomas Aquinas. It has been told that before there was a Catholic cemetery in Freeport, some of the Irish people took their dead to New Dublin Churchyard for burial. Considering that this was about twelve miles west of Freeport and that a funeral cortege in open vehicles in any season and any kind of weather would have to travel over roads that at times were near impassable, attests to the firm religious faith of those who so buried their loved ones.
FROM: History of Stephenson County (1970)






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