Cemetery Project

28 June 2017

KDGS Cemetery Recording Committee Project

By Susan Campbell

At long last, the project we have been working on for nine years is completed. This Cemetery Recording Committee project started in February 2008.

It has been an intense nine years and has taken its toll on us, but it was worth the effort. The legacy of 16 books, with all the local information and history, will be of use to researchers and historians from now on. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to interview many long-time residents of the community and hear their stories. Photos held by families in private collections have been generously shared with us. Because of this, local history has been preserved in this collection of books.

Series 1 of this collection is nine traditional transcription books four years in the making. The main committee was: Susan Campbell, Bob Hayes, Carolin Robertson, Marlene Crane, and Gwen Neil. Many KDGS members also contributed their time to transcribing headstones.  In 2012, Okanagan College students under the direction of Gil Green created maps for the cemeteries in Series #1. Photographs of the grave markers were taken and are posted online. See the KDGS Burials page for links to these photographs. LINK to Burials page

Series 2 of this collection is six books with burial information but much expanded to include biographies, family histories and genealogies, local and natural histories, and various photographs from archives and private collections. Susan Campbell and Bob Hayes researched and wrote these books. Susan Campbell and Gwen Neil developed an extensive index for each book. Carolin Robertson provided many of the photographs. Members of KDGS helped with the editing of these books. In 2012, Okanagan College students under the direction of Gil Green created maps for Glenrosa and Hardy Family cemeteries. 

Index of Names in the Central Okanagan is a valuable resource listing all the names mentioned in the previous 15 volumes.

KDGS can be proud to say that it has generously contributed to a lasting record of some of the history of this area. This is a gift to the community.

This gift will endure because the books are now kept in various archives where they will be retained for the future. These archives are:

·         Library and Archives Canada (2 sets)

·         BC Archives

·         Kelowna Public Archives

·         KDGS Archives

·         Lake Country Archives

·         Westbank Archives

·         Red Deer Archives (1 book - Postill Family Cemetery with Postill Family History and Genealogy)

Various libraries also have copies of the books:

·         KDGS Library

·         Okanagan Regional Library (4 sets of Series 1 and 2) (10 copies of the Index)

·         UBCO

·         Okanagan College

·         Vancouver Public Library
   BCGS Walter Draycott Library, Surrey, BC

·         Salt Lake City Family History Library

·         Allen County Public Library

List of KDGS CRC books (Series 1 & 2 and Index) with ISBN numbers:

1. Gellatly Cemetery and Gellatly Heritage Park  ISBN 978-09916807-1-9
2. Immaculate Conception Church Cemetery  ISBN 978-09916807-2-6
3. Old Winfield Cemetery  ISBN 978-09916807-3-3
4. Oyama Community Cemetery  ISBN 978-09916807-4-0
5. Peachland Cemetery  ISBN 978-09916807-5-7
6. St. Andrew's Anglican Churchyard and Church Memorial Plaques ISBN 978-0-9916807-0-2

7. St. Theresa Cemetery  ISBN 978-09916807-6-4
8. Westbank Cemetery  ISBN 978-09916807-7-1
9. Winfield Cemetery  ISBN 978-09916807-8-8
10. Duck Lake Cemetery with Genealogies and Local History by Robert M. Hayes and Susan D. Campbell  ISBN 978-0-9951829-0-5
11. Glenrosa Cemetery with Genealogies and Local History by Susan D. Campbell and Robert M. Hayes ISBN 978-0-9951829-1-2
12. Hardy Family Cemetery with Hardy Family History and Genealogy by Susan D. Campbell and Robert M. Hayes ISBN 978-0-9951829-2-9
13. Isolated Burials in the Central Okanagan with Genealogies and Local History by Susan D. Campbell and Robert M. Hayes ISBN 978-0-9951829-3-6
14. Mission of the Immaculate Conception and Early Settlement in the Central Okanagan by Robert M. Hayes and Susan D. Campbell ISBN 978-0-9951829-4-3
15. Postill Family Cemetery with Postill Family History and Genealogy by Susan D. Campbell and Robert M. Hayes ISBN 978-0-9951829-5-0
16. Index of Names in the Central Okanagan by Susan D. Campbell and Gweneth Neil   ISBN 978-0-9951829-6-7                                    

Contact chair Susan Campbell at cemeterycommittee@kdgs.ca for more information or to order books

The Publications page has the price lists. LINK to Publications page