AUS-QLD-SE-Germans-L Archives

From: "Lance" <>
Subject: Re: Grave preparation
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 11:55:15 +1000
References: <004401c0bb85$cfeaf420$53217418@oemcomputer>

Beverly's message brought to mind some tips on cemetery visiting that I read
a while back. It can be found at:
http://ancestry.excite.com/library/view/news/articles/619.asp
Useful tips for any one thinking of visiting a cemetery and participating in
a "clean-up" - a great idea, I might add!

Lance
----- Original Message -----
From: "Beverly" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 1:00 AM
Subject: Grave preparation


I learned a valuable lesson about holding Family Reunions. Have someone go
out to the graveyards of the ancestors and have them clean up the graves.
The attendees make the pilgrimage to the graves as part of the reunion.

My uncle and his committee of 3, went out to the Toowoomba Cemetery and
really cleaned up the old graves. Many of the ancestors have been dead for
over 50 yrs and the weeds had taken over. They cleaned the graves up and
put new stones on one and it looked really nice.

While I was at the Cemetery I noticed that many of the older graves have
cracked foundations, caved in area's over the body and I was warned that
snakes sometimes make their homes in such places.

So, those of you who are wandering around old graveyards, be careful that
you do not come across some slithering residents as you visit the ancestors
graves.

Another thing I found was the up to date Sexton's office. They were able to
give me a printout of all the family who were buried in the cemetery. They
even had the cause of death printed on the page and after almost 40 yrs, I
found out the cause of death of my mother. I was still a teenager when she
died and was told that she had problems with her tummy and that is why she
died. It was a shock to sit there in the Sexton's office and read her cause
of death.

Perhaps we should be more specific with our children when someone close to
them dies - tell them the cause and not let them find out when they go to a
Sexton's office or get a death certificate. Our culture does not deal well
with death. It is easier for children to live with the passing when the
truth is told to them instead of some story that is told to "soften the blow
of the loss".

As I think of things that happened, I will write them to the list. This
trip to my home was an epiphany of sorts and it is much like doing
Genealogy - I am piecing my past together much as we piece our ancestors
lives together. Perhaps that is why I am engrossed in doing genealogy in
the first place.

cheers, Beverly.

Life on earth is expensive. The biggest
perk is the free trip around the sun.
Wear a hat and enjoy the ride....


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This thread:

• Grave preparation by "Beverly" <>

  • Re: Grave preparation by "Lance" <>