Wonderfully written and inspiring….hope to visit my grandfathers grave in Japan, though the cemetery may have been turned into a park??….must find out and get on with research and travel!! Thank you Jane for your lovely letters, cards and sharing family stories. Wish I could write like you!! 🌺🙌🤩🙌😘
Sadly, though I’ve lived in many of the world's great cities, I’ve never lived near the homes or graveyards of my ancestors. This is such an inspiring story.
If I can manage it, I'm inspired to add several travel destinations to my bucket list now.
Thanks for your story about maintaining your family Cemetry monuments. Yes it is important, my mum and dad have been buried together even though they died 37 years separately,,my siblings and I changed the monument to describe their life together, including myself and siblings and grandchildren The complete family story.
I love the cemeteries in countries where they add a photograph of the person. It makes it so personal. We are running out of space for burials in the UK, so they are re-using very old graves. After excavating the remains from the existing grave, digging the grave deeper, and re-interring the original remains, with the remaining space used for a new burial. There are strict regulations and public consultation beforehand.
That is the difficulty! I would love to use a photo taken when I was young, but it is more honest to use a photo taken around the age you are when you die. How about you?
I would want a picture that I’m happy with. I think it’s authentic to use an image from any stage of life. However it seems to be cultural practice to use a version of the older self.
Hello Jane, I find ancestry is fascinating. I also agree that cemeteries are important. I didn’t get to know any of my Mum’s relatives because my Mum was an orphan. I’m pleased that I was able to organise a lovely plaque for my maternal grandmother at the Lutwyche cemetery in Brisbane. I never met my grandmother (she died 1934) but I felt compelled to put a plaque on her unmarked grave for her, me & my Mum.
I also arranged lovely plaques for my parents. After my parents died, I have met a 2nd cousin on my mother’s side & we keep in touch. I’ve also sent away my DNA, so that hopefully will be interesting! Everyone has a story! Thank you for your thought provoking posts.
Lovely post Jane. I have spent many hours exploring cemeteries, here in Australia but also USA and UK, to uncover my family past. One does feel a sense of presence when coming face to face, at last, with the grave of an ancestor, whether a tombstone is present or not.
Living across the road from the cemetery and seeing it run out of room over the last 30 years, I’ve wondered what all the fuss is about and why we are even still burying people when cremation would be so much more efficient when it comes to the land use. However, you have given me much to think about, they are indeed historical places that pay homage to those who have come before us. Thankyou.
Do you think the memorial plaques in crematorium spaces hold the same value as headstones in a graveyard?
I visited my sister's recently, for the first and possibly the only time. I had no sense of her presence there, I wasn't really expecting to. I know my niece and nephew visit and have conversations with their Mum there.
Maybe it depends on your relationship with the dead person. I was much more emotional about choosing which flowers to place, than actually being at the site.
The crematorium niches are different. There's something about a ramshackled cemetery that really draws me. But sometimes it's all about the place. A very personal issue!
Great post Jane, such a well-told personal story ... really enjoyed reading this!
Thank-you David!
Wonderfully written and inspiring….hope to visit my grandfathers grave in Japan, though the cemetery may have been turned into a park??….must find out and get on with research and travel!! Thank you Jane for your lovely letters, cards and sharing family stories. Wish I could write like you!! 🌺🙌🤩🙌😘
Big hug 🤗
And I wish I had your artistic ability! Hope to see you soon. Let's chat soon.
I think monuments and gravestones say as much about those who survived as the dead that they memorialise.
I find it interesting that the St. Andrew’s Society contributes to the upkeep of headstone of Phineas.
I try to preserve the memories of the deceased by recording them and as much as possible as I can find out about their lives.
Hello Anne. I agree wholeheartedly!
Sadly, though I’ve lived in many of the world's great cities, I’ve never lived near the homes or graveyards of my ancestors. This is such an inspiring story.
If I can manage it, I'm inspired to add several travel destinations to my bucket list now.
As long as we are the walking ones!
Yes!!!
Hi Jane
Thanks for your story about maintaining your family Cemetry monuments. Yes it is important, my mum and dad have been buried together even though they died 37 years separately,,my siblings and I changed the monument to describe their life together, including myself and siblings and grandchildren The complete family story.
I hope you are well Jane and your family.
Regards LAURIE ABELA
Oh I love that Laurie, updating the story! Perfect. Well done.
I love the cemeteries in countries where they add a photograph of the person. It makes it so personal. We are running out of space for burials in the UK, so they are re-using very old graves. After excavating the remains from the existing grave, digging the grave deeper, and re-interring the original remains, with the remaining space used for a new burial. There are strict regulations and public consultation beforehand.
That's a great idea, Kate (reburials). Regarding the photos, what photo from which stage of life would you use?!
That is the difficulty! I would love to use a photo taken when I was young, but it is more honest to use a photo taken around the age you are when you die. How about you?
I would want a picture that I’m happy with. I think it’s authentic to use an image from any stage of life. However it seems to be cultural practice to use a version of the older self.
Hello Jane, I find ancestry is fascinating. I also agree that cemeteries are important. I didn’t get to know any of my Mum’s relatives because my Mum was an orphan. I’m pleased that I was able to organise a lovely plaque for my maternal grandmother at the Lutwyche cemetery in Brisbane. I never met my grandmother (she died 1934) but I felt compelled to put a plaque on her unmarked grave for her, me & my Mum.
I also arranged lovely plaques for my parents. After my parents died, I have met a 2nd cousin on my mother’s side & we keep in touch. I’ve also sent away my DNA, so that hopefully will be interesting! Everyone has a story! Thank you for your thought provoking posts.
Hello Susan, how lovely that you've done all of that. Through hardship, much good comes of it. I'm so pleased to hear from you.
Hi Susan, ta for sharing your wonderful story about your family and their monuments that you organised. Regards Laurie
Beautifully told, Jane. Thank you.
Lovely post Jane. I have spent many hours exploring cemeteries, here in Australia but also USA and UK, to uncover my family past. One does feel a sense of presence when coming face to face, at last, with the grave of an ancestor, whether a tombstone is present or not.
Thank-you Mark. I can think of nothing more wonderful than a walk through a cemetery!
Living across the road from the cemetery and seeing it run out of room over the last 30 years, I’ve wondered what all the fuss is about and why we are even still burying people when cremation would be so much more efficient when it comes to the land use. However, you have given me much to think about, they are indeed historical places that pay homage to those who have come before us. Thankyou.
You have some lovely cemeteries nearby. Thank-you Ann. Hope you are well.
Do you think the memorial plaques in crematorium spaces hold the same value as headstones in a graveyard?
I visited my sister's recently, for the first and possibly the only time. I had no sense of her presence there, I wasn't really expecting to. I know my niece and nephew visit and have conversations with their Mum there.
Maybe it depends on your relationship with the dead person. I was much more emotional about choosing which flowers to place, than actually being at the site.
The crematorium niches are different. There's something about a ramshackled cemetery that really draws me. But sometimes it's all about the place. A very personal issue!