FRIENDS OF GOWANDA PINE HILL CEMETERY FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

Newsletter

Dear Friends of Gowanda Pine Hill Cemetery, January 2025
The Happiest and healthy New Years to you all!!
As noted at the top of our donor list for 2024 we have established a new benchmark level for
giving. This enormous achievement will provide us the funds necessary to work on some
important areas. Specifically we will put a new metal roof on the Tool House, plant several
replacement trees, and several smaller projects falling under General Maintenance. Many of you designated your donation to our General Maintenance fund. This will ensure our ability to fund our employees who will carry out these tasks.
We can’t emphasize enough how grateful we are for all your contributions. Since we as volunteers don’t need to embark on “fundraising projects” we can focus on the real and important tasks at hand. We appreciate your trust in us and want you to know we will continue to work diligently to accomplish as much as possible with the funds we have received. Our list of Qualified Charitable Contributions (QCD’s) doubled this year. Please consider this option in 2025 as it not only benefits us, but you who contribute from your RMD’s.
Despite several wind storms this year we thankfully have had no substantial damage to our trees or the graves surrounding them. This is directly attributed to the work of our arborist who monitors the health of our trees. This work is an example of the important tasks we have accomplished through your contributions.
One area of importance is yours’ and others’ pre-planning. It is never too early to make your
wishes known. Whether you wish to have a traditional burial, full body donation to science, or a
cremation, it is critical that your loved ones understand your plans. It is also VERY important that your loved ones have access to your written plans and especially to your deed and/or receipt for your gravesite. If you have not purchased a grave we encourage you to do so soon. Too often we witness struggles, disputes, and unnecessary decisions which need to be made at an emotional moment. Consider, please, how much you can lighten the load of those who remain after you bsimple and specific plans constructed at this time. Finally, if you own a grave in Pine Hill and wish to transfer it to someone else, we MUST have a letter indicating your desire. For more help visit gowandapinehillcemetery.com. Click on Our Services, then on Considerations. 
All our volunteers on the Board of Trustees work diligently. I would like to acknowledge the
outstanding efforts by Martha Boutet with these newsletters, Phil Palen as secretary and
ombudsman, and Jill Smith for the complicated duties as treasurer. These three really “make it
work!
Scott Campbell, President
GPHC Board of Trustees

You, our donors, have surpassed our Annual Appeal goal with a total amount of $14,289.00  We are astounded!  Your outstanding support will help us complete projects for 2025.   
Thank you very much for your generosity and care for GPHC. from The Board of Trustees.
Margaret Allen                                                        
Walter Welch Bailey                          Phil Palen
Sherrie Berger                                    Doug and Helen Pine
Martha Boutet                                    Peter C. and Susan Plumb, Jr.
Craig and Susan Brown                    William Plumb
Sandra Brzezinski                              George and Erin Poff  
Ron and Mary Burnside                    Patti and Russell Pound
Scott and Candice Campbell            Martin and Bonnie Price
Mary Lee Campbell-Wisley              Mary T. Rice and
Makenzie Carroll                                Frederick Williamson
Ruth Creamer                                      Bard Schaack                                  
Walter and Lorissa Darling               Ronald and Dianna Stelley              
Dennis and Jane Derby                      Ricki and Debora Story     
Kurt Doehnert                                     John Tagliaferro and Tina Fursback
Mark and Miriam Doehnert            David and Leena Taylor
John and Susan Edwards                  Sylvi Taylor
Jim and Barb Ferro                            Jack and Sue Torrance     
Marlene and Jeff Gaffney                Sue Trewer
Douglas and Luann Heckman         Alice Tschopp    
George and Barb Hutchinson          Judith Vogtli
K & L Lanes                                         Margaret and Patrick Walsh 
Barbara Minner                                 Brian and Amy Louise Webb
John Nowak                                        Fredric and Linda Weyand

Get to Know a Board Member….
               Phil Palen
Phil is a ‘born and bred Gowanda native’.  He was delivered by Dr. Norris Frank at Tri County Hospital in 1954 and grew up in a friendly place. He loved learning and became an honors student at Cardinal Mindszenty HS, graduating in 1972. He continued his education earning a B.A. at  St. Bonaventure University in 1978.  Phil sold real estate at Ed Tarbox Agency for 45 years to numerous local people. He learned about the history and people of the Cattaraugus and Erie County areas. His love of knowledge, history and people made natural traits to become the official Gowanda Historian.
A visit to the Gowanda Historical Building unveils black and white photos of the events, citizens, streets and artifacts from the past.  
Using his fascination with geography, Phil explains the natural beauty of the hills, valleys, roads and fields that surround Gowanda.
In 2001 Phil and a committee of hard-working citizens applied for a “Tree City, USA” grant.  Upon receiving the grant, over 1,000 trees were planted in three local parks:  Chang Hu, St. John’s and Gateway Parks. For twenty-four years we have enjoyed their beauty and shade.
Phil  joined the Pine Hill Cemetery as a Board  Member and became the Recording  Secretary in 2012.  He continues in this position and provides details of discussion, decisions and actions to improve the cemetery.   He imparts his love for local lore and historical knowledge to anyone who asks Phil a question about Gowanda’s past.  Listening to the details of his historical knowledge is like being in a classroom.  It is evident as he walks through the cemetery and recounts details about the contributions of local friends, families and its citizens.
Phil’s geographical sense is impeccable when he speaks of the influences of ‘life in the valley.’ His love of nature along with his hard work ethic, are witnessed as he voluntarily mows grass, rakes leaves, trims branches and shows up with a truck full of topsoil.  With tools in hand, he is ready to volunteer and improve this small part of the Earth. Phil also photographs nature at its best and knows the flora and fauna that naturally decorate Pine Hill through the seasons.
One of Phil’s passions is to use “Find a Grave,” a website of  genealogical information that family members may input and save. He suggests that we explore findagrave.com and record what we know of our families. It is also a fascinating site to find the burial sites of famous people.
I hope you get to meet Phil one day and talk to him about Gowanda.  His love of his home town, history and the cemetery is unwavering.
                                                               By Martha Boutet
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Phil and Martha hung the wreaths at the front gates.


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