Gary Streiner says the crumbling chapel in the Evans City Cemetery, depicted in the fi lm “Night of Living Dead,” will be rebuilt this summer. Streiner was a coinvestor, sound engineer and actor in the film.

EVANS CITY — The crumbling chapel in the Evans City Cemetery will rise from the dead.

Gary Streiner, who has spearheaded the effort to save the only physical item remaining from the 1969 cult classic zombie movie “Night of the Living Dead,” which was filmed in and around Evans City, said the chapel will be rebuilt this summer.

Streiner began the effort in fall 2011 when he learned the Evans City Cemetery Association planned to raze the 20-by-30-foot, two-story building instead of spending $50,000 to renovate it because it is no longer in use.

The chapel was built in 1923 as a quiet place where mourners could reflect. But its location on a hill and parking limitations relegated the chapel to an equipment storage building over the years.

“The Night of the Living Dead's” cult following continues to grow as the years go on. The house and car in the movie are long gone, leaving the chapel as the only physical reminder of the George Romero film.

Streiner raised $46,000 through fundraisers during the past year or so. He said that amount is enough to save the chapel, but fundraising will continue so money will be available to complete any other renovations at the site.

Streiner said he is amazed at the response on the part of “Dead” fans all over the world, many of whom helped out at fund-raisers.

“It's one of the proudest moments of my life that everyone did it so quickly and so energetically,” Streiner said. “The fans' attitude has been spectacular.”

He said materials are being ordered, and some must be custom made because of the building's age.

Streiner said the original builders made the mistake of anchoring the front pillars into the building's footer, so piers for the pillars must be added. The sagging front porch, box gutters, and trim and moldings must be repaired and replaced.

The original foundation also will be patched where cracks have appeared as the chapel weathered the winters and summers of the past 90 years.

Interior repairs have not yet been decided upon.

Streiner chose Mars area builder Mark Gerson of Gerson Construction for the chapel job because Gerson has experience restoring old buildings and because he is local.

“And he's a huge 'Night of the Living Dead' fan,” Streiner said with a chuckle.

Streiner expects work to begin within a few weeks, and hopes the chapel will be finished by midsummer so a “Night of the Living Deadfest” can be organized for late summer to celebrate the renovation.

“A lot of it will depend on the weather,” Streiner said. “Everything we're doing is outside.”

Streiner will be glad for reconstruction to begin, as will the legions of the film's fans who contributed.

“I can't wait to see the work get started,” Streiner said.