There are two cemeteries on the Loretto Motherhouse grounds: Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery and Loretto Woods Natural Burial Cemetery. To search for someone who is buried in either cemetery (or others), please use the searchable necrology.

Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery

Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery is located in the southwest portion of the Loretto Motherhouse campus. The Stations of the Seven Dolors flank the sidewalk approach to the cemetery where foundresses Mary Rhodes, Ann Havern, Christina Stuart and priest-founder the Rev. Charles Nerinckx are buried. Hundreds of Loretto Sisters and Co-members, as well as friends, family, and former employees also are buried there.

The cemetery is divided into three sections: East, Center and West. On the east side of the cemetery is the Slave Memorial, a large monolith. It honors and memorializes the oblates and enslaved people, some of whom were brought to the Motherhouse as part of the dowries of novices. Their lives and labor supported the Sisters of Loretto in their early foundation and ministry. At the crest of a hill on the east side is the AIDS Garden. This is a memorial to persons who have died of AIDS, including Sisters’ relatives. It is both a tribute and a reminder to work for justice and act for peace in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.

In addition to the usual gravestones are several memorial slabs in the cemetery; they give recognition to the Sisters and Co-members who have either been cremated or who have donated their bodies to science. It takes about a year from the time a Sister dies until her cremains are returned for burial.

To search for someone buried in Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery who was not a Sister or Co-member of the Loretto Community, visit this list.

Map of Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery

For a printable version of Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery map, click the button below. NOTE: in 2025, the cemetery rows were renumbered and the sections were renamed. Headstone location information from Find-A-Grave or an older information source are no longer accurate.

Loretto Woods Natural Burial Cemetery

Concerned about the environmental impact of traditional burials, Loretto set aside 6 acres of woods and meadow in 2018 as a natural burial site for Loretto Community members. Loretto made the decision in 2020 to open the Nature Preserve Cemetery to friends of Loretto and to those who have some connection to the Motherhouse land. In 2025, the name of the cemetery was changed to Loretto Woods Natural Burial Cemetery.