Wanakena Cemetery 

When early Wanakena residents Ada Keith Hamele and J. Otto Hamele passed away in 1946 and 1947 respectively, they were interred in a family plot near the old town road and what is now called Main Street. They were the only interments in this plot for over forty years.

As time passed, the Hamele family had all they could do to maintain their parents’ grave site, which became a forest of primarily cherry trees. In the spring of 1988, Polly and Keith Hamele asked a few Wanakena residents to help them form an association to establish the family plot as a public cemetery. Adjoining lands were donated by the Town of Fine to create a one acre cemetery.

Under the guidance of the New York State Division of Cemeteries, the regulating body for all public cemeteries in the state, a not-for-profit corporation was formed with Bylaws, Rules and Reguations, and a board of trustees. The first trustees were Carol Cassidy – President, Rene’ Reed –Treasurer, Karen Allen – Secretary, Leona Decoteau, Polly Hamele, and Peter Cody.

With supervision from Keith Hamele, the Towns of Clifton and Fine helped clear the grounds. After many weeks of hard work by the trustees and volunteers, the cemetery began to take shape. The first new interment took place in late summer 1988. Pete Decoteau, who had been proprietor of the Wanakena General Store was laid to rest following a long illness.

In 1989 Chuck Cassidy designed, fabricated, and donated the cemetery sign which graces the entrance. He and his wife Carol also donated the flag pole and the first flag for the grounds.