T H E  O M I  C E M E T E R Y

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.) Cemetery is currently on the eastern edge of the Fraser River Heritage Park, bordered by the D'Herbomez creek. This land is still under the ownership of the O.M.I and is still in use as a cemetery today.

The cemetery was the burial site for the priests, nuns, and students of the St. Mary's Mission and Residential School and for many years it was the only cemetery in the area. This peaceful and tranquil place is the final resting place of many of the Oblate missionaries. One of the Oblate priests planted four Douglas firs in the centre of the cemetery to provide shelter for those buried underneath, but unfortunately, there are only three remaining.

The first burial was that of Father Lemure, who died in a hunting accident and was buried in 1870. Many First Nations died as the result of epidemics such as smallpox because their immune systems were not accustomed to the diseases that the white settlers brought with them. The iron crosses mark the graves of the First Nations. Many are damaged, and some were not thought to exist until they were found in the blackberry bushes a few years ago. The children who died as a result of the outbreaks are also buried in the cemetery and their friends decorated their graves with marbles inset into stone.

The rows of the original burials were segregated with the Irish buried on one side and the French on the other. Unfortunately there was a lot of vandalism, and a fence has since been erected to preserve the remaining graves.

There are three bishops buried in the cemetery - Louis D'Herbomez, Paul Durieu and Fergus O'Grady. In addition there are 130 missionary Oblates, 4 diocesan priests, 2 honorary Oblates and many First Nations. Kay Cronin, an author and honorary Oblate, was also buried in the cemetery next to her mother. She was commissioned by the O.M.I. to write a book about the history of the Mission and spent much time with them.

Today the O.M.I. site is still open to the public, however, due to a lot of vandalism, the headstones are not the same as they used to be. The Fraser River Heritage Park, on contract with the O.M.I., now maintains the cemetery grounds. The site is still in use by the O.M.I. for burial of deceased priests and "Honorary Oblates." The O.M.I. Head Offices are now located in Vancouver and all detailed information regarding the cemetery site is kept in their vaults.

Click here for a more detailed listing of who is buried in the OMI cemetery.