Chicagoland Cemeteries

Cemetery Oversight Act in Illinois

2010-05-13T15:02:00.001-05:00

The following press release was issue 17 January 2010.

Governor Quinn Signs Cemetery Oversight Act
After Burr Oak Tragedy, New Consumer Law Sets Tougher Rules

CHICAGO – January 17, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed into law the Cemetery Oversight Act, which implements many of the reforms and recommendations of the Cemetery Oversight Task Force, which was created by the Governor last summer in response to the tragedy at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip.

The legislation creates a unified regulatory structure for the funeral and cemetery industries and provides rigorous oversight and regulation of Illinois’ cemeteries.

"We can never have another tragedy like the one at Burr Oak Cemetery. I want to thank the General Assembly for taking action to protect the families of Illinois and preserve the dignity of their loved ones,” said Governor Quinn. “With this new law, bereaved families will have a place to turn if they are not satisfied with the services provided by cemeteries, funeral directors and embalmers.”

Under the new law, all regulatory actions affecting after-death services will be overseen by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), which already regulates funeral directors and embalmers. IDFPR currently licenses more than one million professionals in nearly 100 industries and oversees financial institutions with more than $4 trillion in assets. House Bill 1188 was sponsored by Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago) and Representative Monique Davis (D-Chicago).

“Our loved ones must be treated with the same dignity and respect in death as in life. As a member of the Governor’s task force, we put together this comprehensive legislative reform that is consolidating all regulatory responsibilities into one agency, while strengthening consumer protection laws. This is about protecting the memories of those closest to us,” said Representative Davis.

The law also establishes a "Consumer Bill of Rights," so that grieving families understand what options are available to them, exactly where their loved one will be buried, and what each of the services they select will cost. The law will also prohibit cemeteries from requiring that consumers pay in cash.

“We cannot legislate morality,” said Senator Trotter. “But as lawmakers we can set guidelines for those who do business in Illinois to ensure they do so with uniformity and with protections for the consumer. This legislation is a pro-active initiative to bring peace-of-mind to the families that endured the horrendous affair at Burr Oak Cemetery.”

Managers of private, non-religious cemeteries will also now be required to obtain a license through the state. To obtain a license, applicants must pass an exam, provide evidence of character, and comply with continuing education requirements. Other cemetery workers must also complete a "Worker's Statement," which would be filed with IDFPR, detailing his or her work history and other evidence of character.

“This Act will make Illinois one of the leading pro-consumer states with respect to cemetery oversight,” said Joshua Slocum, Executive Director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance.

The act also requires the creation of a statewide database to keep record of every burial. This will assist future generations in finding the location of a loved one's remains and will help the state discover unlawful re-burials. It also requires cemeteries to post a sign in their office that contains the IDFPR consumer hotline number and information on how to file a complaint.

If a consumer files a complaint about a cemetery to IDFPR, that cemetery may be subject to disciplinary action, including fines up to $10,000 per violation of the Cemetery Oversight Act. Prohibited activities include: unprofessional conduct, charging for services not rendered, incompetence and failure to adequately maintain the cemetery grounds.

“The Department wants the public to know that we appreciate the magnitude of this new responsibility and that we will work tirelessly to ensure that the deceased are treated with reverence and care,” said Brent E. Adams, Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.

On July 16, 2009, Governor Quinn signed an executive order to form the Cemetery Oversight Task Force. Chaired by Patricia Brown Holmes, a partner with law firm Schiff Hardin LLP, the task force was charged with bolstering industry regulations and proposing needed consumer protections to ensure rigorous oversight and regulation of Illinois’ for-profit cemeteries. House Bill 1188 includes many of the task force’s recommendations.

Chicago Cemetery News

2010-03-05T13:04:00.001-06:00

I found two news articles that may be of interest regarding cemeteries in Chicago. Both appeared on the Chicago Breaking News Center website.

Tombstone Tuesday – 02/23/10

2010-02-23T06:32:00.000-06:00

Qui Riposa
Francesca Motta
Nata 16 Mar. 1920
Morta 11 Ott. 1927

Mother
1898-1945

Father
1885-1954

The Motta family is buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Update on St. Johannes Cemetery

2010-02-21T14:55:00.001-06:00

According to an article on the Chicago Breaking News Center website, “[a] state Appellate Court today temporarily barred the city of Chicago from acquiring a historic cemetery and relocating its graves to make way for a new runway at O'Hare International Airport.”

You can read the entire article, Court halts Chicago from moving graves near O'Hare, which includes additional information.

Tombstone Tuesday – 02/09/10

2010-02-09T06:28:00.000-06:00

Qui Riposa

Peter F Iozzi N. 25 Ott. . 1895 M. 19 Sett. 1954	Salvatore Iozzi N. 8 Ap. 1866 M. 5 Sett. 1927
Mary T Iozzi N 24 Ott. 1910 M. 8 Mac. 1995	Margherita Iozzi N. 4 Mar. 1863 M. 29 Luc. 1949

The Iozzi family is buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

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2010-01-31T00:30:00.001-06:00

Huguenot Cemetery Inventory 1892
Transcribed inventory of the Huguenot Cemetery in St. Augustine, Florida.
Tags: cemetery, inventory, history, genealogy, fl, florida

Posted from Diigo. The rest of The Association of Graveyard Rabbits group favorite links are here.

Tombstone Tuesday – 01/26/10

2010-01-26T06:27:00.000-06:00

La Gioia

Father
John
1874 [?] – 1925

Husband
Joseph
1899-1964

Wife
Pauline
1907-1990

John, Joseph, and Pauline are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

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2010-01-24T00:30:00.001-06:00

Green-Wood Discovery
Blogging in and about The Green-Wood Cemetery and The Green-Wood Historic Fund
Tags: Green-Wood, cemetery, Brooklyn, New York

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Tombstone Tuesday – 01/12/10

2010-01-12T06:20:00.000-06:00

Starting last week, I am alternating each week’s Tombstone Tuesday posts between this blog and my Cemeteries of Bloomington-Normal blog.

Qui Riposa

Battistina Cellacci
Nata 5 Apr 1909
Morta 25 Giu 1927

Vincenzo
1885-1941

Jennie
1888-1958

Riposa in Pace

Cellacci

Battistina, Vincenzo, and Jennie are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 12/29/09

2009-12-29T05:28:00.000-06:00

Bennett

Peter 1885-1927

Patrick 1872-1934

Peter and Patrick are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 12/22/09

2009-12-22T05:23:00.000-06:00

Qui
Riposa

Salvatore
M. 16 Lug. 1951
Di Anni 66

Assunta
M. 27 Mar. 1927
Di Anni 35

Terrana

Salvatore and Assunta are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

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2009-12-20T00:30:00.001-06:00

Cemeteries of Gallia County: Addison - Harrison
The cemeteries of Gallia County were censused between 1976 and 1983 by a group of volunteers chaired by Mary James. At that time Mary consulted many resources which led to the discovery of over 500 cemeteries in Gallia County. The Ohio Genealogical Society cemetery project chair has told us that so far Gallia County has reported more cemeteries than any other county in Ohio .
Tags: cemeteries, Gallia, County, Ohio
Oriental (NC) Daily Photo: Buzzard Bay / Lukens Cemetery
Tags: photo, North, Carolina, Oriental, Buzzard, Bay, Lukens, cemetery

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Tombstone Tuesday – 12/15/09

2009-12-15T05:18:00.000-06:00

Mary Be My Salvation

Maria
1868-1957

Dennis
1872-1912

Sullivan

Maria and Dennis are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

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2009-12-13T00:30:00.001-06:00

Iowa WPA Graves
Iowa Works Project Administration Graves Registration Survey
Tags: Iowa, Iowa cemeteries
Silverton, Colorado Hillside Cemetery
Tags: silverton, colorado, hillside, cemetery

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Tombstone Tuesday – 12/08/09

2009-12-08T05:16:00.000-06:00

Joseph J. Wintrol
1869-1929

Joseph is buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 12/01/09

2009-12-01T05:14:00.000-06:00

Coduto

Father
Fiorangelo
1881-1969

Mother
Christina
1881-1957

Fiorangelo and Christina are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 11/24/09

2009-11-24T05:11:00.000-06:00

Bottum

Father
George Hudson
1894-1979

Mother
Helen Veronica
1895-1927

Rest in Peace

George and Helen are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

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2009-11-22T00:30:00.001-06:00

DAR Cemetery Transcripts of Oakland Co., Michigan
At Oakland County GenWeb
Tags: michigan, oakland county

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Tombstone Tuesday – 11/17/09

2009-11-17T05:08:00.000-06:00

Father
Bert A. Grasso
1909-1966

Mother
Rose J. Grasso
1909-1982

Bert and Rose are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 11/10/09

2009-11-10T05:06:00.000-06:00

Joseph M Mariano
Illinois
RM3 USNR
World War II
Jan [??] 1924 Sept [??] 1971

Joseph is buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 11/03/09

2009-11-03T05:03:00.000-06:00

D’Alessandro

Father
Pasquale
1879-1959

Mother
Theresa
1881-1944

Rest in Peace

Pasquale and Theresa are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 10/27/09

2009-10-27T06:01:00.000-05:00

Father
Anthony Andriacchi
1860-1944

Mother
Elizabeth Andriacchi
1860-1936

Anthony and Elizabeth are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

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2009-10-25T01:30:00.001-05:00

War Grave and Memorial Photographs supplied by The War Graves Photographic Project
"The aim of The War Graves Photographic Project is to photograph every war grave, individual memorial, MoD grave, and family memorial of serving military personnel from WWI to the present day and make these available within a searchable database.

Now working as a joint venture with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, this will enable families, scholars and researchers to obtain, via the CWGC or TWGPP websites, a copy of the photograph of a grave or memorial which for many is impossible to visit due to the location."
Tags: history, war, graves, UK

Posted from Diigo. The rest of The Association of Graveyard Rabbits group favorite links are here.

Tombstone Tuesday – 10/20/09

2009-10-20T05:59:00.000-05:00

Emonds

Father
Louis
1843-1917

Brother
Albert
1878-1927

Mother
Obeline
1853-1937

Louis, Albert, and Obeline are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 10/13/09

2009-10-13T05:54:00.000-05:00

Chavoen

William
1879-1962

Amy
1882-1965

William and Amy are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 10/06/09

2009-10-06T05:50:00.000-05:00

Father
Fred Grice
1888-1951

Edna A. Grice
1889-1970

Jeanette A. Grice
1915-1984

The Grices are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 09/29/09

2009-09-29T06:48:00.000-05:00

Wilson

Mother
Elizabeth
1873-1927

Daughter
Elizabeth
1897-1946

Son
Joseph
1904-1959

The Wilsons are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

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2009-09-27T01:30:00.001-05:00

Friends of Shockoe Hill Cemetery
The cemetery, established in 1822, was the second municipal graveyard to be opened in Richmond, Virginia when the grounds of St. John’s Churchyard, the city’s oldest cemetery, neared its capacity for internments.
Tags: Shockoe Hill, cemetery, Richmond, Virginia
Friends of Cemeteries of Middle Georgia
This website contains searchable indexes to over 55,000 graves and over 1,000 cemeteries in Baldwin, Hancock, Jones, Washington and Wilkinson Counties, Georgia. Click on the links at the left or on the desired area on the map to go to the cemetery listings.
Tags: cemeteries, Middle Georgia, Baldwin, Hancock, Jones, Washington, Wilkinson

Posted from Diigo. The rest of The Association of Graveyard Rabbits group favorite links are here.

Tombstone Tuesday – 09/22/09

2009-09-22T06:46:00.000-05:00

Grandaughter
Marie Defalco
1923-1932

Marie is buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 09/15/09

2009-09-15T06:44:00.000-05:00

John Francis Boyd
US Army
Korea

John is buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 09/08/09

2009-09-08T06:41:00.000-05:00

Barnett

Ralph J.
1902-1927

Richard T.
1870-1954

Minnie I.
1877-1964

Catherine M.
1903-1961

Rapaz

Edward
1905-1987

Barbara
1916-1995

They are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 09/01/09

2009-09-01T07:38:00.000-05:00

Sister
Anna J. Heaney
1896-1982

Brother
John J. Heaney
1901-1959

Anna and John are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 08/25/09

2009-08-25T07:36:00.000-05:00

Leardi

Guido 1869-1927

Fiorentina 1884-1949

They are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 08/18/09

2009-08-18T07:33:00.000-05:00

James Weir
Born May 15 1879
Died Sept 30 1927

Mother
Margaret Weir
1899-1934

Joan M. Garcia
1927-1995

Heaney

They are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

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2009-08-16T01:30:00.001-05:00

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Tombstone Tuesday – 08/11/09

2009-08-11T07:11:00.000-05:00

Sokolis

Theador Sokolis
1908-1927

William E. Sokolis
1910-1945

Mother
Dora Sokolis
Jan. 11, 1880 Oct. 11, 1965

Rest in Peace

The Sokolis’ are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside.

Tombstone Tuesday – 08/04/09

2009-08-04T07:11:00.000-05:00

Burr Oak Cemetery – Database Now Online

2009-08-02T13:39:00.001-05:00

The horrific tragedy that occurred at Burr Oaks Cemetery in Alsip is unfortunate. Fortunately, the Cook County Sherriff's office has been working hard to put together a database in order to help families find their loved ones buried at Burr Oak.

The database is now online. It is not yet complete, but they are continuously working on updating it.

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2009-08-02T01:30:00.001-05:00

Cape Cod (Barnstable County), Massachusetts Gravestones
Tags: Cape Cod, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, gravestones
Collection: Graveyards in St. Johns County, FL
A collection of photos from cemeteries located in St. Augustine and St. Johns County, Florida. This collection complements the articles posted at the Graveyard Rabbit of Moultrie Creek site located at rabbit.moultriecreek.us which supports cemetery research in this area.
Tags: graveyards, cemetery, history, archive, photos, FL, Florida, StJohns
UMarmot » Gravestones
Association for Gravestone Studies Collection
Tags: Association for Gravestone Studies, stone carving, sepulchral monuments
The Association for Gravestone Studies - External Resources
Tags: Association for Gravestone Studies, resources
Flickr: Historical Memorials, Tombstones and Graves
Tags: photos, archive, history, tombstones, memorials

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Tombstone Tuesday – 07/28/09

2009-07-28T06:47:00.000-05:00

Perri

Vito
1974-1927

Baby
Victor

Teresa
1874-1947

Katherine Barich
1911 Daughter 2006

They are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery (section 24)
in Hillside, Cook, Illinois.

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2009-07-26T01:30:00.001-05:00

Gravestone Photo Project
The Gravestone Photo Project (GPP) is a PHP software project that was designed to provide a web-based archive of aging gravestone images.
Tags: gravestone, photo

Posted from Diigo. The rest of The Association of Graveyard Rabbits group favorite links are here.

Tombstone Tuesday – 07/21/09

2009-07-21T06:44:00.000-05:00

Marie Rattazzi
Died Jan. 18, 1965
Age 81

Giuseppe Rattazzi
Died Nov. 13, 1926
Age 41 Yrs

Frank Rattazzi
Died July 8, 1937
Age 20 Yrs

They are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery (section 24)
in Hillside, Cook, Illinois.

Tombstone Tuesday – 07/14/09

2009-07-14T06:41:00.000-05:00

Di Lorenzo

Lena
B. July 25, 1885
D. July 16, 1945

Peter
B. Sept. 3, 1875
D. March 13, 1927

Jennie
Riccio
1902-1980

Daniel
Riccio
1900 “Duke” 1985

Rest in Peace

They are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery (section 24)
in Hillside, Cook, Illinois.

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2009-07-12T01:30:00.001-05:00

Graveyard Rabbit of Wichita County, Texas
Tags: gyra, gyrabbit, TX, Texas, Wichita

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Tombstone Tuesday – 07/07/09

2009-07-07T06:31:00.000-05:00

Bennett

Peter 1885-1927

Patrick 1872-1934

Peter and Patrick are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery (section 24)
in Hillside, Cook, Illinois.

Tombstone Tuesday – 06/30/09

2009-06-30T11:00:00.000-05:00

Scaduto

Michela
N. 17 Feb. 1875
M. 28 Apr. 1927

Giuseppe
21 Mag. 1871
1 Apr. 1953

Philip
1903-1975

Anna
1899-1951

They are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery (section 24)
in Hillside, Cook, Illinois.

Diigo GYR Bookmarks (weekly)

2009-06-28T01:28:00.001-05:00

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Tombstone Tuesday – 06/23/09

2009-06-23T05:55:00.000-05:00

Andolina

Qui Riposa

Maria
1881-1927

Sarah
1914-1937

Francesco
1977-1951

They are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery (section 24)
in Hillside, Cook, Illinois.

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2009-06-21T01:28:00.001-05:00

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Tombstone Tuesday – 06/16/09

2009-06-16T05:53:00.000-05:00

Rito

Michelle
Born
Oct. 15, 1858
Died
Jan. 9, 1927

Alice
Born
Oct. 15, 1893
Died
July 1, 1968

Dominic John
Zingarelli
3/10-9/5 1937

Maria Giuseppa
Born
April 23, 1858
Died
July 5, 1941

Joseph A
Born
Oct. 15, 1890
Died
Dec. 12, 1948

Rest in Peace

They are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery (section 24)
in Hillside, Cook, Illinois.

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2009-06-14T01:28:00.001-05:00

Old City Cemetery of Lynchburg, Virginia
Established 1806 -- A Virginia Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places -- The Oldest Continuously-Operated Public Cemetery in Virginia
Tags: graves, graveyard, cemetery, garden, Lynchburg, Virginia
What is White Bronze?
Edited from Monumental Bronze: A Representative American Company
By Barbara Rotundo
Tags: tombstone, gravestone, memorials, bronze

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Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

2009-06-13T13:20:00.001-05:00

The topic for the July 2009 edition of the Graveyard Rabbits Carnival is obituaries.

This one is going to be a challenge of sorts. The “rules” are quite simple: Find a grave, then find the obituary, or vice versa. Post your finds to your blog and submit it to the carnival.

What is Abe Lincoln doing on the Chicagoland Cemeteries blog? Well for starters, Lincoln was our 16th president and he was prominent in the state of Illinois. And because of this, Chicago was part of the Funeral Train that passed through several cities on it's way to its final destination in Springfield.

Since this is the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, there has been a lot of buzz this year about Lincoln. I had the opportunity to visit his tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield and wanted to share it with you. This felt like a good place, since there is a tie to Chicago, and this particular carnival seemed like a good opportunity to do so.

I couldn’t find an actual obituary (although I’m sure at least one exists), but I did find some interesting information related to the Chicago funeral. Chicago was the second-to-last stop on the Funeral Train before heading to Springfield for Lincoln’s burial. Lincoln’s body arrived in Chicago on 1 May 1865; there was a processional to the court house where he lay in state for viewing. The train departed on the evening of 2 May 1865 en route to Springfield.

Following are some excerpts of interest related to the Chicago funeral, as well as photos.

Interesting Facts (abstracted from a pamphlet out out by Batesville Casket Company, Inc.:

Lincoln’s son, Willie, who died in 1862, was disinterred and went with Lincoln’s body on the Funeral Train.
Lincoln’s body was embalmed in a way that allowed for him to be viewed for nearly three weeks.
“It is estimated that one million people viewed President Lincoln’s body from the time of his death until his burial in Springfield, Illinois.”
Lincoln and his son were placed in a temporary vault until the tomb was completed in 1874.
After attempts to steal Lincoln’s body, his son Robert decided that a new burial chamber be constructed to protect the body.
Lincoln’s coffin now rests in a cage “10 feet deep, encased in 4,000 pounds of concrete.”

Tombstone Tuesday – 06/09/09

2009-06-09T05:46:00.000-05:00

Qui Riposa

Isabella Magliano
Nata 4 Ott. 1883
Morta 1 Ott. 1926

Riposa in Pace

Isabella is buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery (section 24)
in Hillside, Cook, Illinois.

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2009-06-07T01:28:00.001-05:00

Christian County Historical/Genealogical Society - Google Maps
All known cemeteries in Christian County, IL
Tags: Christian County IL Cemeteries, Christian, County, Cemetery, Location, Illinois

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Tombstone Tuesday – 06/02/09

2009-06-02T05:41:00.000-05:00

Cellacci

Battistina Cellacci
Nata 5 Apr 1909
Morta 25 Giu 1927

Vincenzo
1885-1941

Jennie
1888-1958

Riposa in Pace

Battistina, Vincenzo, and Jennie are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery (section 24)
in Hillside, Cook, Illinois.

St. Johannes Cemetery Relocation

2009-05-31T09:23:00.001-05:00

An alert released on May 8th, at the City of Chicago O’Hare Modernization Program website, indicates that plans for the O’Hare expansion are moving forward and that St. Johannes Cemetery will definitely be impacted, resulting in the disinterment and reinterment of those buried there.

NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS WITH RELATIVES BURIED AT ST. JOHANNES CEMETERY, ADDISON TOWNSHIP, DUPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS

The City of Chicago is notifying relatives of individuals buried in St. Johannes Cemetery that the City has commenced legal proceedings to acquire the cemetery for the O’Hare Modernization Program. As part of the project, the City of Chicago plans to relocate all graves from St. Johannes Cemetery to other cemeteries.

If you are related to a person who is buried in St. Johannes Cemetery, you may have an opportunity to participate in the relocation process.

It is the City’s intention to carry out the disinterment and reinterment process at St. Johannes Cemetery in a dignified and respectful manner in consultation with the affected relatives. The City will be responsible for paying all necessary and reasonable costs associated with the relocation of the graves.

If you are related to a person buried in St. Johannes Cemetery and wish to learn more about the relocation process, please call the O’Hare Modernization Program’s Cemetery Administrator at 773-462-8441 or you may write to: Cemetery Administrator at P.O. Box 66848, 10510 W. Zemke Road, Chicago, Illinois, 60666.

If you are aware of any other person that should receive this notice, please let them know or notify the Cemetery Administrator with their information.

Wunder’s Cemetery Walk

2009-05-28T21:31:00.001-05:00

Wunder’s Cemetery, located at 3969 N. Clark, Chicago, is celebrating its 150th anniversary. To commemorate the celebration, they will be having a guided walking tour on June 28th. For more information, call 773-525-4028.

2 Chicago Cemetery Resources; 1 New, 1 Old

2009-05-19T14:25:00.001-05:00

Soon Chicagoans will be able to reference the Chicago Burial Permits: 1871-1933 microfilm in their own backyard, free of charge. The Chicago Genealogical Society is donating the entire set of film to Newberry Library in Chicago.

The anticipated cemetery book is finally available. Chicago Cemetery Records 1847-1863: sexton's reports and certificates, treasurer receipts, deeds, and undertakers' reports is a a 296-page book put together by the Chicago Genealogical Society. It is available for purchase through the Chicago Genealogical Society. It may also be hitting library shelves, so be sure to check your library or WorldCat.

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2009-05-17T01:29:00.001-05:00

American Battle Monuments Commission
Tags: govt, webdesign, genealogy, database, military, USA, cemeteries, graveyards

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Diigo GYR Bookmarks (weekly)

2009-05-10T01:29:00.001-05:00

TheCemeteryClub
Forum for cemetery lovers and fans of Epitaphs Magazine.
Tags: no_tag

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Diigo GYR Bookmarks (weekly)

2009-05-03T01:29:00.001-05:00

The Strange Story of the Picolata Cemetery : Graveyard Rabbit of Moultrie Creek
Tags: cemetery, military, FL, Florida, Picolata, graveyard, St. Johns
The Churchyard at St. Ambrose Parish : Graveyard Rabbit of Moultrie Creek
Tags: cemetery, graveyard, FL, Florida, St. Ambrose, Elkton, St. Johns
Evergreen Cemetery : Graveyard Rabbit of Moultrie Creek
Tags: cemetery, graveyard, FL, Florida, St. Augustine
Tolomato Cemetery : Graveyard Rabbit of Moultrie Creek
Tags: cemetery, graveyard, FL, Florida, St. Augustine, Minorcan
Mission of Nombre de Dios : Graveyard Rabbit of Moultrie Creek
Tags: cemetery, graveyard, FL, Florida, St. Augustine
St. Augustine National Cemetery : Graveyard Rabbit of Moultrie Creek
Tags: cemetery, graveyard, national, military, St. Augustine, FL, Florida
The Huguenot Cemetery : Graveyard Rabbit of Moultrie Creek
Tags: graveyard, cemetery, FL, Florida, St. Augustine
Google Map Generator
Tags: no_tag
Cemetery Information - City of Rome, Georgia
Tags: GA, Georgia, Rome, cemetery, graveyard
Place:Sykes Road Cemetery, Oktibbeha, Mississippi, United States - Genealogy
Tags: cemetery, graveyard, MS, Mississippi, Oktibbeha
Category:Cemeteries of Florida, United States - Genealogy
Tags: cemetery, graveyard, FL, Florida
Flickr: Southern Cemeteries
This Flickr group offers thousands of photos taken in cemeteries throughout the south.
Tags: genealogy, cemetery, graveyard, gravestone, grave markers, tombstones
Flickr: Cities of the dead
Cemetery photos from around the world.
Tags: genealogy, cemetery, graveyard, gravestone, grave marker, tombstone, photos
Flickr: New Hope South Baptist Church Cemetery
Tags: GA, Georgia, Chattooga, Holland, cemetery, graveyard, gravestones

Posted from Diigo. The rest of The Association of Graveyard Rabbits group favorite links are here.

Reflections: The American Funeral Tour

2009-05-01T19:33:00.001-05:00

Interested in learning more about funeral and mourning customs? Then head on over to Reflections: The American Funeral Tour to see when this mobile exhibit will be in a town near you!

Diigo GYR Bookmarks (weekly)

2009-04-26T01:29:00.001-05:00

Posted from Diigo. The rest of The Association of Graveyard Rabbits group favorite links are here.

Preserving Cemeteries in Illinois

2009-04-21T21:21:00.001-05:00

How do you get started on preserving a cemetery in the state of Illinois? Based on information obtained from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA), here's what I've found.

First off, research is important. You need to determine the ownership of the cemetery in order to seek permission. Your best bet probably would be to first, contact the owner to gain access to the cemetery to do further research and analysis, if you have not already done so.

Once you have gained access to the cemetery, take an inventory of the cemetery's features, including markers, fences/gates, paths/roads, etc. and the condition they are in. Then begin to construct a plan for the restoration work you would like to do. See Illinois Historic Cemetery Preservation Handbook: A Guide to Basic Preservation for more details on constructing a plan.

With a plan in hand, seek permission from the owner to begin work. I think you're better off having a plan when seeking this permission, as opposed to just asking without any discernable idea of what you actually want to do. The IHPA has a Permission to Clean and Preserve a Historic Illinois Cemetery form that gets this agreement in writing and starts the permit-obtaining process (basic work, including cleaning or repairing markers requires a permit in Illinois). Also note "that you are required to demonstrate that you have received proper training in basic cemetery preservation methods before you will be authorized to continue. Work can not begin until you have received a written permit from the IHPA." (IHPA FAQs)

Please also be aware that there are many state and county laws concerning cemeteries. See Stones and Statues: Laws Governing Illinois Cemeteries and the IHPA's "Laws Protecting Illinois Cemeteries" web page for more information. When in doubt--CALL!

The Illinois Historic Cemetery Preservation Handbook: A Guide to Basic Preservation also provides a good deal of information pertaining to preserving marble stones, as well as a visual guide to types of stones and marker styles. It's certainly worth taking a look at for just these resources alone!

The IHPA has an FAQ page that answers questions specific to Illinois cemeteries, but also discusses, in general, why cemeteries become abandoned and why preservation is important. This is also a great read!

This article was written for the May 2009 edition of the Graveyard Rabbits Carnival.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, not am I well-versed in Illinois cemetery laws. What was written above is an interpretation of the various sources presented on the IHPA's website.

Tombstone Tuesday - 04/21/09

2009-04-21T06:12:00.000-05:00

Clearly this is not a photo of a tombstone. And, this was not photographed in Chicago. So what in the world is it doing here on the Chicagoland GYR blog for Tombstone Tuesday?

This is a photo of my stepfather scattering the ashes of my grandparents, Harold Leslie MILLER and Marie Ethel ROTTMAN. My Chicago-born-and-raised grandparents are now "buried" somewhere in Arizona.

Diigo GYR Bookmarks (weekly)

2009-04-19T01:30:00.001-05:00

Posted from Diigo. The rest of The Association of Graveyard Rabbits group favorite links are here.

Diigo GYR Bookmarks (weekly)

2009-04-12T01:30:00.001-05:00

SSRN-Grave Matters: The Ancient Rights of the Graveyard by Alfred Brophy
Tags: cemetery, graveyard, legal

Posted from Diigo. The rest of The Association of Graveyard Rabbits group favorite links are here.

Burial/Funeral Custom Tidbits

2009-03-26T19:04:00.001-05:00

The topic for the April edition of the Graveyard Rabbits Carnival is burial customs. In preparing to write this article, I set out to find an interesting custom to explore. What I came across were many interesting tidbits, none of which seemed big enough to discuss in one post. So instead, I am going to talk about several of them here in this article. Please not that these refer mainly to American customs, and may vary by religion.

Tidbit #1

The visitation before the funeral, also known as a wake, is a fairly standard custom in today's society. Because preservation of the body is done mainly through embalming, a visitation can occur a few days after death, and may last a couple of days. The visitation offers a chance for family, friends, and acquaintances to pay their final respects to the deceased. But how did this originated?

In addition to the social aspect mentioned above, a wake served a practical purpose back in the day when preservation of the body was more difficult. The deceased was typically laid out in someone's home. Someone was always with the body to keep it safe from insects, animals, and body snatchers.

Tidbit #2

Before the mid-eighteenth century, Americans were typically wrapped in a cloth sheet or blanket for burial. Coffins began to emerge around the mid-eighteenth century. They were made of wood and usually constructed by a carpenter or cabinetmaker. What's interesting is that they were constructed based on the deceased's measurements. Around the early nineteenth century, metal coffins emerged. And about the same time the mass-production of coffins began. Eventually, coffins became known as caskets. If you'd like to know more about caskets and their designs, check out the patent search on Google.

Tidbit #3

Today, wearing black or dark clothing is still a pretty common custom. But it's not practised in the same way today. People believed that the color black warded off spirits. Additionally, it became custom for people to wear black for a specific period of grieving. For example, a widow would wear black for two years, whereas a grandchild or sibling would wear black for six months.

Tidbit #4

Postmortem photography is evidentially still popular today, although not touted so much as it used to be for various reasons. Many people would photograph the deceased, especially children, as they may not have lived long enough to have had a photograph taken when they were alive. These photographs would be hung on walls and placed in albums, just like any other photograph. They were also used on mourning cards. Many times, a flower or rosary would be placed in the deceased's hands to signify death.

There are so many more interesting tidbits related to burial and funeral customs, but time is limiting and I am not able to share them all. I hope that you found these interesting and maybe even learned something new.

Diigo GYR Bookmarks (weekly)

2009-03-22T01:30:00.001-05:00

VII. Glossary: Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering Cemeteries and Burial Places, National Register of Historic Places Bulletin (Nrb 41)
Tags: cemeteries, burial, cemetery, grave markers, glossary
Grave and Gravestone Markings and Symbols
Tags: gravestone symbols
Cemetery Iconography
Tags: gravestone symbols
Cemetery Symbols
Tags: gravestone symbols
Glossary of Cemetery Terms
From Rochester's History
Tags: cemetery, graveyard, research, glossary
FuneralNet- Funeral Industry Glossary of Terms
Tags: glossary, funeral
A Guide to Common Alabama Grave Markers
From the Alabama Historical Commission, this PDF document is a very nice illustrated glossary of cemetery/grave marker terms.
Tags: glossary, cemetery, graveyard, marker
GLOSSARY OF FUNERAL AND CEMETERY TERMS | MonumentsInStone
Tags: glossary, cemetery, funeral

Posted from Diigo. The rest of The Association of Graveyard Rabbits group favorite links are here.

Diigo GYR Bookmarks - Weekly (weekly)

2009-03-15T01:30:00.001-05:00

The Project Gutenberg eBook of In Search of Gravestones Old and Curious, by W. T. Vincent.
Look at the HTML version to see images. Download zipped HTML to get copies of all images.
Tags: gravestones, gutenberg
cemeteries
Tags: grya, blog
StandingStones
Tags: gyra, blog
New Orleans Graveyard Rabbit
Tags: gyra, blog

Posted from Diigo. The rest of The Association of Graveyard Rabbits group favorite links are here.

Tombstone Tuesday - 03/10/09

2009-03-10T03:51:00.000-05:00

Cahill
Joseph
1945-1989

My dad, Joseph CAHILL, would have celebrated his 64th birthday last Friday, March 6.

Joe is buried at Elm Lawn Cemetery, Elmhurst, Illinois (Section 8, Lot 340).