Find A Grave & Family Memory
A working knowledge of cemeteries is essential to genealogical research. Burial places often preserve details that never appear in census records or official documents—name spellings, family groupings, dates, and cultural affiliations. For MyCousins, Maine cemeteries are of particular importance.
Three cemeteries in Lisbon Falls—Mount Calvary, Saint Cyril, and Hillside—form the core of ongoing research. Additional cemeteries of interest include Lisbon Center, Durham, and West Bowdoin, each reflecting different family branches, religious traditions, and migration patterns.
Mount Calvary Cemetery
Mount Calvary Cemetery was originally the only Catholic cemetery serving the Lisbon Falls area. During its early years, Holy Family was the sole Catholic church, and many Catholic families—regardless of ethnic background—were interred here.
Saint Cyril Cemetery
With the construction of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius Church, burial preferences began to shift. Slovak families, in particular, chose Saint Cyril Cemetery as their final resting place, reflecting both religious faith and cultural identity.
The Elcik family’s connection to Saint Cyril is especially strong. Many early ancestors are buried there, including:
- John P. Elcik (6 Nov 1866 – 24 May 1941)
- Joseph P. Elcik (1875 – 31 May 1938)
- Maria Anna Pelcarsky Elcik (1875 – 23 Aug 1936)
- Elizabeth Elcik (1870 – 1 Jun 1934)
- Mary A. Fabian Elcik (8 Oct 1891 – 23 Nov 1978)
- Helen B. Kozak Elcik (15 Dec 1892 – 13 Oct 1968)
- Paul J. Elcik Sr. (15 Feb 1896 – 23 Dec 1970)
- John P. Elcik (16 Feb 1896 – 31 Mar 1963)
- Eugenie Walker Elcik (28 Feb 1898 – 5 Dec 1972)
- Mary G. Byras Elcik (5 Nov 1900 – 18 Apr 1951)
- Andrew J. Elcik (26 Oct 1901 – 4 Apr 1951)
- Paul J. Elcik Jr. (20 May 1915 – 28 Apr 1992)
- Gertrude Fournier Elcik (25 Dec 1918 – 19 Jan 1983)
It is possible that John P. Elcik, Sr., a great-great-grandfather, was among the earliest burials at Saint Cyril Cemetery. This may explain why locating his gravesite proved difficult during early research efforts.
— Dr. John P. Elcik, IV, Editor
Hillside Cemetery
Hillside Cemetery is predominantly Protestant, though a small number of Slovak and Catholic individuals are also buried there. Early speculation suggested that geography or the nearby river influenced burial choices, but this theory appears unsupported by available evidence.
Lisbon Center Cemetery
The absence of Elcik and Byras burials at Lisbon Center Cemetery is notable. In contrast, many members of the Gamache family are interred elsewhere in Lisbon—a fact well documented through extensive gravestone photography.
Durham, Maine Cemeteries
Durham contains multiple cemeteries. Most members of the Goddard and Day families are buried there, with some interments at Hillside in Lisbon Falls. These families represent important maternal lines.
Additional burial grounds in Durham include a Quaker cemetery. While not yet fully explored, these sites are known to contain relatives and remain a future research priority.
— Beth Gamache
West Bowdoin, Maine
West Bowdoin is home to two primary cemeteries: West Bowdoin Cemetery and Woodlawn Cemetery. Many Purinton ancestors are buried here. This aligns with historical records showing that Purinton family members established the Baptist church in West Bowdoin and served as deacons and reverends.
Gravesite Photos & Burial Choices
Determining burial locations is rarely as simple as identifying religious affiliation. Catholics might be buried at Mount Calvary or Saint Cyril. Protestants generally chose Hillside, yet exceptions are common.
Family preference, church attendance, mixed-faith marriages, and the desire for spouses to be buried together all influenced burial decisions. In many cases, individuals selected cemeteries based on the church they attended rather than strict denominational rules.
Extensive gravestone photography supports this research. Larger, high-resolution images provide clarity that online databases alone often lack.
Visitors are also encouraged to explore the MyCousins Virtual Cemetery through the Find A Grave platform, where many of these memorials are preserved and shared.