No doubt traditional burials are still being done and will be for quite some time but there is an upswing in cremations. Look at Joan Rivers who died recently. She wanted a “Hollywood” sendoff but the finally was being cremated rather than a memorial for fans to visit. The older cemeteries (ie established in the 1800’s) are having fewer and fewer burials as each generation progresses on. Family want less costs, less fuss, less maintenance connected with cremation. I know some religions frown upon it but even those are giving in these days as well. 


The down side is that these older cemeteries are now being neglected, especially ones that do not provide for perpetual care but rely on the family to maintain the grave sites. Yes, people move away but even the weekend day trips that include visits to family cemeteries are becoming a thing of the past. Gone are the days when people would even hold picnics at gravesites. Oakwood Cemetery has an old restored bath house building they now use for storage but still stands as a reminder for those who use to visit and picnic and was even a point of interest for sightseers along trolley routes at the turn of the 20th century. 

And forget where grandpa is buried? That goes hand-in-hand with the hobby of genealogy also falling to the wayside. You would be hard pressed to get an answer with todays children as to who their grandparents are including their names or where they live – let alone where they are buried. They just don’t have an interest in “old things” but only live for the moment. 

Eric 

  

-----Original Message----- 
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Schug-O'Neill, Diane 
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2014 9:12 AM 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] Cemeteries and Burial question 

I agree with PJFenton, that current migration can cause a lot of "family forgetfulness" and folks just don't know where gramps ended up. 

On another note: 
I was just told about some dog walking groups paying big bucks for the use of the grounds. They actually pay dues and that can go a long way towards paying cemetery costs. This sort of out-of-the-box thinking can go a long way. 

Diane 

Diane T. Schug-O'Neill 
Digital Conversion Specialist 
Geography and Map Division 
Library of Congress 

http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/ 

The opinions  expressed in this email are mine and may not necessarily reflet the policies of thee Library of Congress as an institution. 



-----Original Message----- 
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joanne Fenton 
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2014 3:47 PM 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Subject: Re: Cemeteries and Burial question 

We have become so migratory that many family ties are lost. Ancestor searching may repair some. Recently in the Halls Community of Knox County TN the local citizens with County help restored the cemetery of their founder Thomas Hall. 
It takes persistence. 
PJFenton 

Sent from my iPhone 

  


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