From “St. Andrew’s Cemetery in History by Rev. John W. Magee

St. Andrew’s Cemetery on Madison Avenue and Prince Street is one of the oldest places in our community. It was established in 1853 through the work of Father DeCeunick. Mr. William Howard donated the ten acre plot of land for a much needed “Catholic Cemetery”. Some of the earliest French-Canadian pioneers in this region are buried at St. Andrew’s Cemetery. You can find many members of the Campau family buried there.

The graves of many other immigrants from Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland can be found here. In the center of the cemetery is buried Fr. Viszosky after whom the Cemetery is named. His grave is marked by a tall granite shaft. Nearby lie many other of the priests. The chapel-mausoleum near the center of the cemetery was erected there in 1887 in memory of Fr. Patrick Joseph McManus, builder of the present St. Andrew’s. He died at the early age of forty-five and was well loved by the community. One of the most impressive vaults is the “Clancy Vault”. Within is buried John Clancy, Grand Rapids’ first Catholic philanthropist and the founder of St. John’s Home. This is an historic site. Here history is written in granite. Here are our forebears, the pioneers who labored for us, the immigrants who braved he coffin ships of the Famine days. May we never forget them.

Visits to the cemetery can be arranged and there is limited space for additional burials. Please contact: Diocesan Cemeteries.