Dear Friends of Lakeside Cemetery,
To everyone who signed the petition, shared it with others, and even took time out of their day to start cleaning up Lakeside Cemetery—thank you!
Thanks to your efforts, over 1,000 people have signed this Change.org petition! That’s more than just a number—it’s a message. It shows strong community support for action to break the cycle of neglect and restore dignity to this sacred ground.
Yet Erie officials and local media remain silent. The warning signs are clear: a historic cemetery flipped through an LLC loophole, graves desecrated, perpetual-care funds unaccounted for, and grieving families abused by unqualified staff. These are not just moral failures; they may be criminal violations. Without official complaints, however, nothing changes. And nothing will.
Residents are encouraged to file formal complaints with the Attorney General’s Office to demand an investigation into desecration, misuse of perpetual care funds, consumer fraud, and the broader mishandling of this sacred public trust.
Concerns about abuse, assault, or neglect should also be reported to the Erie Police Department, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, and local news outlets.
📣 What’s needed now is official action:
If you’ve seen neglect, missing headstones, harassment, or suspect desecration or misuse of perpetual care funds, here’s how to report it.
1️⃣ PA Attorney General
What they do: Investigate desecration and perpetual care fund abuse.
📞 Call: 1-800-441-2555
🔗 File online: https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/
📝 What to report:
- Overgrown or inaccessible graves
- Discarded or broken headstones
- Missing perpetual care funds
- Threats or mistreatment of families
2️⃣ Erie County Orphans’ Court
What they do: Audit trust fund management and burial records.
📞 Call: 814-451-6000
📧 E-mail: countyexecutive@eriecountypa.gov
📝 Ask them to:
- Review the perpetual care trust fund
- Investigate mismanaged or lost burial records
- Ensure the cemetery is honoring long-term contracts
3️⃣ Erie County District Attorney’s Office
What they do: Review assaults, harassment, and criminal complaints.
📞 Call: 814-451-6349
🔗 Info: eriecountypa.gov/courts/district-attorney
📝 What to report:
- Harassment or assault by cemetery staff
- Fear of retaliation
- Police inaction or bias in past incidents (e.g. Memorial Day 2025, Mother’s Day)
We’ve demonstrated public support—now it’s up to City officials to take the next step. Without action from Erie City Council, no permanent solution will be put in place.
Contact local officials to express concerns:
📬 Submit a concern directly through the City of Erie website: https://cityof.erie.pa.us/residents/services/citizen-response-center/
📞 Call: 814-870-1111
📧 Email the City Clerk: cityclerk@erie.pa.us
Or contact individual City Council members directly via phone or email.
🔊 Attend an Erie City Council Meeting:
Show your support in person by attending a City Council meeting and speaking during the public comment period. The more voices they hear, the more likely they are to act.
🗓 Meetings are held at Erie City Hall (626 State St)
🕔 For the schedule and agendas, visit:
https://cityof.erie.pa.us/government/city-council/
If you’re unable to attend, consider submitting a written public comment in advance.
Want to stay involved?
📷 Share your photos or stories—good or bad—about your experiences at Lakeside Cemetery.
👐 Get involved:
You’re welcome to coordinate volunteer efforts, help organize events, or even take on a leadership role in the ongoing restoration effort.
📧 Email us: RestoreDignityLakesideCemetery@gmail.com
🔁 Follow our progress and updates:
Restore Dignity Lakeside Cemetery, Erie PA (Facebook page)
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/restoredignitylakesidecemetery/home
📚 Have a historical tidbit or story to share?
Post it in the Friends of Lakeside, Erie PA Facebook group—a space for sharing memories, history, and community connection.
📢 Please continue to share this message to raise awareness.
Together, we've taken the first step to end private neglect and restore Lakeside Cemetery to responsible community stewardship. Let’s keep the momentum going!
With deepest gratitude,
Restore Dignity Lakeside Cemetery