Western New York National Cemetery

Western New York National Cemetery is a VA national cemetery in Corfu, New York. VA lists it as open for burials. Burial is free for eligible veterans, their spouses and dependent children.

Source: National Cemetery Administration (cem.va.gov), retrieved May 2026

History of Western New York National Cemetery

In May 2014, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration purchased 132-acres in Corfu, New York, for $625,000. The property has access off Exit 48A from the I-90 thruway and is located in Genesee County. In February 2018, VA announced the acquisition of two additional parcels of land adjacent to the originally purchased 132-acres for the Western New York National Cemetery in Corfu, New York. The additional parcels, 60-acres and 77-acres are to ensure the safety and efficiency of funeral processions and traffic. The new national cemetery will serve the burial needs of more than 96,000 Veterans for the next 70 years and will be the seventh VA national cemetery in the state of New York.

Directions

Directions from Nearest Airport: From Buffalo Niagara International Airport, turn left on Transit Rd. Merge onto I-90 East for 16 miles take exit 48A. Turn left onto Alleghany Rd/NY-77 (1.2 miles) then turn right onto Indian Falls Rd.

Directions from Rochester: Take Interstate I-490 West for 22 miles. Merge onto I-90 West for 24 miles take exit 48A. Turn left onto Alleghany Rd/NY-77 (1.2 miles) then turn right onto Indian Falls Rd.

Flowers and grounds rules

Cemetery policies are conspicuously posted and readily visible to the public. Floral arrangements accompanying the casket or urn at the time of burial will be placed on the completed grave. Natural cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time of the year. They will be removed when they become unsightly or when it becomes necessary to facilitate cemetery operations such as mowing. Water will be available at outside faucets from May 15 to October 1. Artificial flowers will be permitted on graves from October 15 through April 15 and may be removed when their presence interferes with grounds maintenance. Artificial floral arrangements may be placed on gravesites five days before and after Memorial Day. Wreaths and grave blankets are allowable during December and January. Grave blankets must be no larger than 2 feet by 3 feet.

Who can be buried at Western New York National Cemetery?

VA national cemeteries accept a veteran who didn't receive a dishonorable discharge, a service member who died on active duty or in training, the veteran's spouse or surviving spouse (even if they remarried), and minor or, in some cases, unmarried adult dependent children. National Guard and Reserve members qualify under narrower rules. You can ask VA for a pre-need eligibility decision in advance; it does not reserve a gravesite.

What does burial here include at no cost?

• A gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space
• Opening and closing of the grave
• A government-provided burial liner
• A government-provided headstone or marker
• Perpetual care of the gravesite

Veterans also receive a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate (presented to the next of kin at the burial) and military funeral honors, which include the playing of Taps and two uniformed service members who present the flag. The committal service is held at a committal shelter, not at the grave, and lasts about 20 minutes. National cemeteries have no viewing facilities, so the funeral itself is held elsewhere.

How do you schedule a burial at Western New York National Cemetery?

1. Gather the veteran's DD214 or other discharge papers, and the deceased's details (Social Security number, dates of birth and death, relationship to the veteran).
2. Fax the discharge papers to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 866-900-6417, or email them to [email protected] with the deceased's name in the subject line.
3. You or the funeral director call 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET) to request Western New York National Cemetery and a date. National cemeteries hold burials Monday through Friday.

Where is the Western New York National Cemetery burial schedule?

VA posts a daily burial schedule for every national cemetery. Search it for Western New York National Cemetery to see the committal services planned there. It only lists burials whose families agreed to publish them. To change or cancel a burial that's already scheduled, contact Western New York National Cemetery directly at 585-297-1300.

Headstone, flag and burial allowance

• Government headstone or marker: tell the scheduling office which headstone, marker, niche cover or medallion you want when you schedule the burial.
• Burial flag: VA Form 27-2008.
• Burial allowance: For a non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, VA pays up to $1,032 toward burial and funeral costs and $1,032 for a plot; for a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001, the burial allowance is up to $2,000. Claim it with VA Form 21P-530EZ. All benefits

After the funeral: survivor benefits and the estate

A surviving spouse, child or parent may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monthly VA benefit, for example when the death was service connected (VA Form 21P-534EZ). The veteran's estate is settled under New York law; our sister site ProbateUS explains how probate works in New York and lists each county's probate court. For the rest of the paperwork, from Social Security to bank accounts, DeathUS has a step-by-step checklist of what to do when someone dies.

Nearest cemeteries

The three veterans cemeteries closest to Western New York National Cemetery, by straight-line distance:

• Bath National Cemetery, Bath, NY: 71 mi, open for burials
• New York State Veterans Cemetery - Finger Lakes, Romulus, NY: 80 mi, open for burials
• Woodlawn National Cemetery, Elmira, NY: 102 mi, status not listed