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Hope Cemetery, established in 1852, is an historic rural cemetery owned by the City. Its landscaping and funerary art are exemplars of the rural cemetery movement inspired by romantic perceptions of nature, art and the themes of death; visitors can contemplate monuments and statues while strolling through a setting of fine trees and plantings.

Hope Cemetery replaced as many as six earlier burial grounds that were overwhelmed by the growing city. By the end of the century remains from Mechanic Street, Tatman and Pine Meadow cemeteries were reinterred at Hope, and in the 1960s graves were moved here from Worcester Common.

The cemetery occupies approximately 168 acres of rolling land between Kettle Brook to the south, Curtis Pond to the west, and Middle River to the north. In 1998 Hope Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This recognition assists in the preservation of the cemetery as part of the city's great heritage.

Learn more about the interment and associated fees for various lots and services at Hope Cemetery.

Interment Fees   Lot Fees

You can pay online through our partner UniBank.

Hope Cemetery Bill Online Payments

For more information about Hope Cemetery, please visit the Friends of Hope Cemetery website.

Spring Cleanup 2025

April 7 Through April 11

The City of Worcester DPW – Parks, Recreation & Cemetery Division respectfully requests that all Fall/Winter decorations, flowers, fences and/or religious objects be removed from the lots including the Children's Garden/Babyland by Sunday, April 6, 2025. Any decorations remaining on the lots at Hope Cemetery after the above mentioned date will be discarded.

As of Spring/Summer 2025 please review planting and decorating policies for the rules and regulations will be enforced. The regulations will be posted on the outside bulletin board, at the Hope Cemetery Administrative Office or in the Resources section below.

Beginning April 12, 2025 Spring/Summer plantings and decorating may proceed. Thank you for your cooperation!

Hope Cemetery Commission

Commission Profile

Agenda items must be submitted (3) three business days before each Commission Meeting with the subject line "Agenda Item" to HopeCemetery@worcesterma.gov.

Meeting Video and Agendas and Minutes of past meetings are available!

No meetings and/or events listed!

How Worcester Works - Hope Cemetery

Former City Manager Ed Augustus sits down with Assistant Commissioner of DPW&P Rob Antonelli to talk about what it takes for the City to run Hope Cemetery. Recorded 2/10/2016

Watch Now!

Contact Information

Address

Hope Cemetery
119A Webster Street
Worcester, MA 01603

Contact

Phone: 508-799-1531
Fax: 508-799-1253
Email Us

Hours

Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Closed Weekend & Holidays