A forever home, years in the making
Forever Home Cemetery began with a simple, deeply held belief: the pets who share our lives are family, and they deserve a dignified place to rest, right beside the people who loved them.
How it began
The idea took shape in 2011, when a group of Humane Society of Logan County, Illinois volunteers, animal lovers who had each felt the heartbreak of losing a beloved pet, began dreaming of a peaceful place where families and their companions could stay together.
After a public hearing, the City of Lincoln approved the cemetery in 2012, and Forever Home Cemetery was laid out on the shelter's grounds along Lincoln Parkway. What started as a single section has grown, phase by phase, toward more than 1,200 resting places, with a gazebo at its center for memorial services and quiet gatherings.
Our purpose
Here, people and the pets they love can be laid to rest together, side by side, and Forever Home is a place made just for that. Families come from across Illinois to a quiet place to remember, to grieve, and to celebrate a bond that doesn't end.
As a project of the Humane Society of Logan County, Illinois, the cemetery is cared for by volunteers, and what it brings in helps keep the grounds beautiful and supports the animals still in the shelter's care. As one of its founders put it, our purpose is "to continue for years and years to come."
Set along Lincoln Parkway, where Historic Route 66 and the Chicago-to-St. Louis rail line run side by side, the grounds are open and peaceful, with a wide view, the gentle rhythm of a passing train, and the quiet comfort of animals nearby at the shelter.
"It's very hard to lose a pet. The last one I lost, I think I cried for six weeks. I loved my dog so much. They're like family." A founding volunteer, Forever Home Cemetery
A place that keeps growing
Forever Home is built to last and to grow with our community, adding sections, plantings, and improvements as we're able, often with the help of local families and businesses who want to give back. Every memorial, every brick, and every gift helps make it a more welcoming place to visit and remember.
The best way to know Forever Home Cemetery is to walk its grounds. We'd be glad to show you around.
📞 Call 217-737-4042 Schedule a personal tour