St. Simon and St. Jude Cemetery Celebrates 200 Years

By: Matt Weinagrden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter

On a beautiful, sunny morning, families and friends gathered at St. Simon and St. Jude Cemetery in Belle River on Sunday, September 7th, to mark its 200th anniversary with an outdoor Mass.

The Mass was officiated by Bishop Ronald P. Fabbro, CBS, of London.

“This is a milestone for both the Parish and the Diocese,” said Bishop Fabbro. “St. Simon and St. Jude is one of the first Parishes in our area and, as more settlers arrived, more Parishes were established as the need arose.”

The cemetery was established in 1825 thanks to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Reaume, who donated a small parcel of land north of Baseline Road and West Belle River Road in Maidstone Township, now located at 1731 County Road 42.

“The cemetery is attached to the church and has always been, from the very beginning, the place of burial… the reverence we give to our loved ones we’re burying… they go hand in hand with the Parish,” added Fabbro.

In 1839, Rt. Rev. Alexander McDonald, Bishop of Kingston, purchased an additional acre of land, and in 1885, Albert and Louise Ouellette donated six more acres. Later, when needed, they also donated a second location on the southern side at 1732 Hwy 42, Belle River, Ontario.

A small log chapel served as the church within the cemetery, known as the Belle River Mission, which later became the Mission of St. Jude.

In late autumn 1845, Father Point was in charge of the Mission at Belle River with orders to build a new church and residence.

With the help of the community, funds, and local lumber, they built a frame church and later a residence on the same site, near the old chapel, in 1848. The Mission was now better equipped to meet the French and English needs of the parish.

This site is the Cemetery of Belle River Parish – the frame church was completed in 1848 and served as the Parish Church until 1868.

“The service was wonderful,” said Juliette St. Pierre, chair of the St Simon St Jude Cemetery Board,

“Having the Bishop attend helped make the day special… and the weather cooperated.”

On January 7, 1869, Bishop Walsh of London officially opened and blessed the new church. Father Jahan added the name of St. Simon to that of St. Jude, and the Mission and Cemetery became St. Simon and St. Jude Cemetery.

The Diocese of London later established a Care and Maintenance Fund to ensure the cemetery’s long-term upkeep and protection.

In 1970, the first Cemetery Board was formed under Pastor Rev. Lawrence Paré’s guidance, and a constitution was created.

Today, daily operations are managed by general manager Thérèse Papineau.

Long-serving dedicated workers who open and close graves include Thomas Renaud, Ernest Dupuis, Maurice St. John, Ernest Dufresne, Marcel St. Pierre, and currently Thomas St. Pierre.

Long-standing Board members include Harry Strong, Clarence Janisse, Laurent St. Pierre, Marcel Levesque, Anita Levesque, Ted Antaya, Joe Byrne, Roland Robillard, Adrian Diesbourg, Tom Tellier, Tom Lauzon, Roland Poisson, Sherry Lanoue, Gilbert Roy, Gord McKeon, Jim Desormais, Richard Blythe, and Mike Levesque.

Jerry and Helen Best, Tom Lauzon, Don Lauzon, and currently Jim and Eileen Deschaine, have devotedly maintained the grounds and kept them well-groomed.

Several priests have been involved in the Cemetery, including Fr. Gerard Bédard, Fr. Gerry Campeau, Fr. Anthony Kolencherry, Fr. Patrick Bénéteau, Fr. Kieran, and Fr. Chris Gillespie.

The Cemetery is divided into eight sections, including the Historical Section, dating back to the early 1800s, the Little Angel Section, dedicated to the loss of a baby or infant, and six columbaria.

“The crowd today was amazing,” said cemetery general manager Thérèse Papineau. “We want to thank all involved in the success of the day, including the Knights of Columbus, the Belle River Royal Canadian Legion, the Cemetery Board, and the sponsors, especially Melady Funeral Home, for the printing of the booklets.”

Papineau mentioned that the celebration had been in planning for a year and expressed gratitude to all sponsors.

The Cemetery has transformed from a simple rural burial site into a beautiful, well-maintained area with peaceful benches by the river and a tranquil space for both the living and the deceased. The beautification remains a priority, with future developments planned. Improvements include flower beds, tree planting, new benches, a flagpole, painted stained-glass windows, fencing, a new driveway arch, and the highlight – a monument commemorating the 200th anniversary.

“The service was absolutely beautiful,” said Lakeshore mayor Tracey Bailey, who attended the Mass. “It was wonderful to see the community come together in celebration. The sense of community and appreciation for the deep and rich history here in Lakeshore is truly powerful.”

St. Simon and St. Jude Cemetery is loved by many and remains a sacred place of respect for those who have passed. It is regarded as one of the oldest active cemeteries in the region, rich in history, offering both ground burial and cremation options. It has served the Belle River community for 200 years and, with God’s blessing, will continue to do so for many more centuries.