Ever feel overwhelmed with problems or with the vast number of tasks you want to complete? Inbox Zero plays on the idea that "when you die, your inbox will not be empty.” When thinking about GPHC I often feel we can never accomplish everything needed. Our Board of Trustees is charged with prioritizing what we can do with the resources we have. We have short-range and long-range goals. 
 
Let’s look at what we recently accomplished:  1. Hired a new sexton, Don Maziar  2.  Promoted Tim Jumper as head groundskeeper  3. Planted 15 new trees  4. Improved our website’s appearance and updated the information  5. Purchased a new mower and trimmers,  6. Obtained water totes for public use  7. Installed new section marker letters, and  8. Regularly published a newsletter. All this has been possible with your great help!
 
Coming soon is a new roof on the tool house.  We will launch our online portal for access to grave locations and availability for purchases. The main arch will be powder coated. Please note that because of your generous donations we were able to complete most of our priorities this year! Do come visit our progress!
 
In my working life I was fortunate to be associated with people who had the attitude to “Aim High.” Allow me to share some long-range goals, our “Aim High” points!
 
Replace the decrepit fence on the roadside, construct an interactive, weatherproof map to greet visitors, have the new section surveyed, develop a program for cleaning grave markers, seal coat the driveways…there’s more, but let’s stop! If we can’t “Aim High” let’s at least AIM!
 
Our annual expenses are nearly $25,000. Our income has slightly exceeded this, thus keeping us solvent. This is due in large part to your financial support. We recognize that increasing the number of donors is imperative. We need to broaden our base. Can you help us identify others who might help us grow? Please feel free to send me contact information for anyone who could help us. My contact information is:  Scott Campbell, 9399 Flucker Hill Rd., Forestville, NY 14062, email: [email protected]
 
Reflecting on my last letter I encourage everyone to solidify precise final resting plans. The more detailed and specific the better. If you don’t own a grave in Pine Hill, it would be prudent to purchase one now. If there are multiple family burial possibilities with limited graves, PLEASE resolve that now. We have had three uncomfortable circumstances this year alone with families trying to resolve burial arrangements while grieving…not a desirable situation. Our website, gowandapinehillcemetery.com, and many others, can be very helpful.
 
 Scott Campbell, President GPHC Board of Trustees

​We love our spectacular trees and our arborist inspects them yearly.  A strong gust on in May brought huge branches down and volunteers carried the debris away. 

​Fifteen new trees have been planted throughout the cemetery this past spring. 

​Thanks to Cattaraugus County and the Village of Gowanda for delivering two pieces of used bridge decking to cover storm drains.

​Two young Eastern Red Buds decorate our landscape every spring. 

The colorful blooming of the front garden welcomes everyone to our place of peace on Earth.

​A Positive Message for All Communities
These colorful yard signs initiate appreciation for First Responders who volunteer their time 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  In all emergency situations, they provide medical, fire and police assistance to individuals in need.  To show your gratitude, purchase this 18” wide by 12” height double sided, waterproof sign. A wire display holder is included. The cost is $15 each. Contact Martha Boutet at (716) 410-0793 to purchase and pick one up locally.  Thank you. 

A headstone in Section E marks the burial site of Jaazaniah Howe,  a soldier from The Revolutionary War.
His birth 1762 - death 1838.

​Welcome to Don Maziarz our new sexton of the GPHC.

A sculpture by the late Chuck McIsaac adorns his gravesite in Section J.

A new flag flies every year as the wind whips around the hills all four seasons. 
With so much rain in  May, the grass is lush, thick and very wet. Tim Jumper (groundskeeper) and volunteers Phil Palen  and  Dean  Jackson spent hours mowing  to get ready for Memorial Day. Weather on Memorial Day was perfect!

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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