History
1885
In the fall of 1885, the Rev. D. S. Sorlin, pastor of the Second Swedish Methodist Church, proposed establishing a cemetery for Swedish immigrants. At that time, it was estimated that about 6,000 people of Swedish heritage lived in Worcester. Until then people of Swedish extraction were buried at Hope Cemetery.
1886
Rev. Sorlin enlisted the help of other Swedes and by the spring of 1886 they had formed a corporation, elected the first president, Peter Carlson an erstwhile sailor, and purchased three acres of land off Webster St. for $1,200. 12 burials took place prior to the dedication but no one is sure of the first person’s identity. The records gradually became more complete and more reliable and less and less written in Swedish. For example, it is known that Magnus Ahlstrom, the first man to bring his family to Worcester, is buried here, as are Maria Frodigh, the first Swedish woman in Worcester, and John Jeppson, the father of the first Swedish boy to be born in Worcester.
Memorial Day, May 31
The cemetery was formally dedicated and at 3pm a Swedish band led a procession from Webster Square to the ceremony. Land purchases for the Old Swedish Cemetery continued through 1917.
1901
Already 1,596 burials completed, 651 of which were free lots.
1921
Another 18 acres were purchased nearby to become the “New Cemetery.” It is an area almost completely surrounded by water.
1923
April 23
The “New Swedish Cemetery” was dedicated, at 9 Island Rd. The Pavilion (gazebo) at the center would become a fixture of the new site.
1936
Memorial Day, May 31
Fiftieth anniversary and installation of the Memorial Monument from the Swedish Cemetery Corporation in the “Old Swedish Cemetery.”
1965
A carillon was erected in the middle of Section F of All Faiths Cemetery. Follow Carillon – All Faiths Cemetery – Worcester MA to hear the chimes playing in the cemetery in a video by a visitor. The granite tower with chimes features the four apostles carved into the sides.
1983
The cemetery added a crematory to its operations and it was named “All Faiths Crematory.” Today the crematory is the major source of revenue for the cemetery because of the growing trend toward cremations. The cemetery does offer special burial lots and other options for cremation burials.
1998
Installation of the first columbarium is completed.
1999
The Board of Directors voted to change the name of the cemetery to “All Faiths Cemetery” in recognition of its long-standing policy of non-discrimination against any nationality, race or religious belief. For operating purposes, the corporation retained the name “Swedish Cemetery Corporation” and continues as a non-profit organization.
2003
The cemetery expanded the building that housed the crematory to accommodate new equipment and provide future capacity for a larger, more aesthetically-pleasing office area. Then in November 2008, the existing office was destroyed by fire. Fortunately, our cemetery records and historical information survived because they were stored in a vault. After the fire, construction work began on the previous envisioned new office area in the front part of the crematory building.
2006
May 10
Lillian Gertrud Asplund, one of the last remaining survivors of the sinking of the Titanic, was laid to rest in the Old Swedish Cemetery. She passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 7, 2006 in Shrewsbury, Mass. at age 99. She was the only survivor who witnessed the event of those still living. Read her obituary and an article about her.
2010
December
The transition to the new office area was completed.
2016
Second columbarium installation is completed.
2018
All Faiths Cemetery, once again expanded the crematory to accommodate new and more crematory equipment to keep up with the high volume of cremations which has become more prevalent.
2024
Celebration of the centennial of All Faiths Cemetery founding.
2025
A third columbarium is to be installed and a scattering garden area established for people wanting to spread loved one’s ashes on cemetery property.
