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Archiver > OHHAMILT > 1999-11 > 0941464592


From: <>
Subject: Re: Funeral Home Records
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999 08:56:32 EST


I use both funeral home records and cemetery records as well as church
funeral records when available. The main purpose is to compare them for
similarities as well as any additional information which may be on one and
not the others.

Funeral homes can tell you interesting bits, like who attended the services,
who were pall bearers, who paid for the funeral, etc.

Church records (especially old ones) are wonderful to look at. I have the
funeral service documents from my great-great grandparents' funerals at St.
Peter in Chains in the 1890's. It describes in detail the number of
carriages, type of mass, time of services and trip to the cemetery, etc.

Cemeteries sometimes have more information than the death record, in that
they tell you who owned the cemetery plot used for the burial. You can
also sometimes find out the deceased's birthplace, spouse and childrens'
names, etc.

Also, don't forget to try to see the tombstone on the grave, if it's
possible. I didn't know the birthplace of two German ancestors for many
years, even the cemetery office didn't have the information. Then I finally
visited the gravesite and they were both plainly written on the monument!
And take pictures. You may need them later.

You will notice the "etc." which follows each paragraph above. Sometimes
there's more information, sometimes a lot less! That's why I try to get
all the documentation possible in order to find just one hint that may not be
provided by all the other sources.

Good luck.
Ann

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