With Remembrance Day coming up on November 11, I have been thinking a lot about the quiet way we honour those who have served.
One of my favourite ways to reflect is by visiting military graves. There is something powerful about finding these simple, dignified markers in cemeteries across the country.
So, I thought this would be a meaningful time to share a collection of Canadian military gravestones that I have photographed over the years. Each one tells a story, and together they remind us that service and sacrifice are never forgotten.
Canadian Armed Forces members who pass away during service are honoured with a standard military tombstone. These gravestones are arranged through the Department of National Defence and placed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission when the marker is in one of their cemeteries, or by Public Works and Government Services Canada when it is in a civilian cemetery.1 The goal is to maintain a consistent style and honour each member with the same level of care.1
Veterans who are buried in civilian cemeteries can also receive grave marker support. Veterans Affairs Canada runs a Grave Marker Maintenance Program that repairs, cleans, and restores veteran markers across the country.2
In 2023 alone, more than 110,000 repairs were carried out in communities big and small.3 It is pretty incredible to think about how much work goes into preserving these stones and their stories.
There are clear rules that guide what goes on a military gravestone. The design is simple and respectful. Each one includes the person’s name, rank, service number, unit or branch, and date of death. If the family wishes, an approved religious emblem or a personal inscription can be added. The stones are all made in the same style and materials, so they stay uniform and recognizable.1
Military graves remind us that history is not just something in books. It’s carved in stone and tended with care. Next time you are exploring a cemetery and you see one of these markers, take a moment to pause.
Even though Halloween has just passed, it still feels like a perfect time to share another ghost story.
One that stands out is the tale of the Bird family of Bracebridge, Ontario, and the mysterious history of Woodchester Villa. A house known for both its striking architecture and its lingering ghostly rumours.
In April of 2024, my mother and I took a trip to Bracebridge to explore this unique historic site. It was Easter weekend and our first road trip of the season. The Spring thaw had come early, but spring itself hadn’t quite arrived yet. The trees were bare, and the grass was still brown, giving the whole day an autumn feel.
It was fitting, since we were there to visit ghosts.
Built in 1882, Woodchester Villa was the dream home of Henry James Bird, a successful wool mill owner who made his mark in Bracebridge, Ontario.1 Henry was born on January 3, 1842, in Woodchester, England, the youngest of eleven children.2 He learned the wool trade in his home country before spending time in Australia and the United States, eventually settling in Canada in 1867.2
Before finding his footing in Bracebridge, Henry worked for the Rosamond Woollen Company in Lanark County.2 A few years later, he bought a mill in Glen Allan, but after a terrible flood damaged the property, he decided it was time for a change.2 Tragically, before he could make the move north, his first wife, Sarah Jane Fraser, and their two young children died of tuberculosis.2 In 1872, Henry moved to Bracebridge, where he opened the Bird Woollen Mill beside the falls.2
Henry quickly became a respected businessman and community leader. He served on the town council and helped bring new public utilities to the growing town, including its first water and fire protection systems.2 His success and civic pride eventually led him to build his grand home, naming it “Woodchester” after the village where his story began.2
Woodchester Villa
Although Woodchester Villa was ahead of its time, it’s also long been tied to strange happenings that add to its eerie charm. The house was closed during our visit, but we spent plenty of time admiring its design and reading the educational panels scattered around the property. They helped us picture what life might have been like for the Bird family living within those walls.
I wandered around the grounds with my camera, hoping to catch a flicker of movement from inside. We didn’t see any spirits, but the landscape itself felt charged, as if the past still lingered quietly on that secluded hilltop.
Woodchester Villa is one of Ontario’s finest examples of an Octagonal house.1 The eight-sided design was inspired by Orson Squire Fowler, an American phrenologist and author who believed octagon homes were healthier and more efficient than traditional square houses.1 Bird fully embraced this philosophy, creating a three-storey home that blended innovation with comfort.2
Inside, the villa featured some impressive amenities for the late 1800s, like indoor plumbing supplied by rainwater tanks on the second floor, a ventilation system that circulated air throughout the house, and even electric lighting, which was rare for the time.2
For all its beauty and history, Woodchester Villa has a reputation for being one of the most haunted spots in Bracebridge. Behind its restored walls, many believe something otherworldly lingers.3
Stories tell of a spectral woman and two ghostly children who seem to wander the rooms.3 Visitors and staff have reported hearing the soft cries of a baby, the quick steps of little feet on the upper floors, and the faint sound of a woman’s voice singing somewhere in the distance.3 Cold spots are often felt throughout the house, especially near the basement stairs. Some have also described the air growing so cold they could see their breath, even in the middle of summer.3
While no one can say for sure who these spirits are, many believe the ghostly woman could be Henry Bird’s first wife, Sarah Jane, accompanied by their two young children.3 All three died of tuberculosis before Henry moved to Bracebridge. Perhaps, as Andrew Hind suggests in Muskoka’s Most Haunted 2, their sudden, tragic deaths left them unable to rest, and they followed Bird north to the home he would later build.3
The idea is both eerie and oddly touching. If the spirits truly belong to Henry’s lost family, Woodchester may represent the life they were meant to share, their love quietly echoing through the halls, long after death.
Bracebridge United Cemetery
After exploring the villa grounds, we visited the nearby Bracebridge United Cemetery, where Henry James Bird and his family are buried.
The cemetery was quiet and calm, yet the connection between the villa and the family’s final resting place added an eerie layer to our visit. Standing at Henry’s grave, I felt surrounded by history and maybe something more. Whether it’s the family’s hardships or the strange energy tied to their home, the Bird story seems to linger beyond the grave.
The Bird family’s story and their haunted home remind us how easily history and mystery can intertwine. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, there’s something about Woodchester Villa that still feels alive with the past.
For anyone interested in cemetery tourism or dark local history, this hauntingly beautiful site is well worth the visit.
October is full of gatherings. Friends, family, and food, all come together this time of year, with Thanksgiving feasts and Halloween parties aplenty. And what better spooky treat to bring to a fall party than a recipe made from a gravestone?
That’s exactly what Rosie Grant’s new book, To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes, is all about. As someone who often tries out gravestone recipes, I knew this cookbook had to be added to my collection and, of course, reviewed on the blog!
Rosie Grant is a digital archivist and cemetery enthusiast known as @GhostlyArchive on social media. While interning at Washington, D.C.’s Congressional Cemetery, she began to notice the unique things people had engraved on their gravestones.1 After some digging, she discovered that some even included recipes.1 That discovery sparked her project of cooking gravestone recipes and sharing the stories behind them, which eventually led to her new book, To Die For.1
Published in 2025 by HarperCollins, To Die For includes 40 recipes collected from gravestones around the world. Each recipe comes with beautiful full-colour photographs, stories about the people behind the dishes, and even tips on how to document your own family recipes.
“For so many, food is a touching, nostalgic thing that brings us together. So much so that some families choose to remember their loved ones through the dishes they made and the food that brought comfort to those around them by immortalizing their recipes on their gravestones.
Thoughtfully and respectfully explored, Rosie has documented this connection between food, legacy, and family, remembering the deceased through the recipes they most loved, and giving their families a platform to share their loved one’s story and cherished dish with the world.”
To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes by Rosie Grant
This is a gorgeous book. The cover illustrations are lovely, and the glossy photos that accompany each recipe are beautiful. The recipes are organized into familiar categories like cookies & brownies, pies & cobblers, and also includes a few savoury dishes too. One of my favourite touches is the inclusion of sample menus at the back of the book. They show how to create an entire meal using only gravestone recipes, which I thought was a fun addition.
What really makes To Die For special though, are the stories. Grant includes personal notes and memories from the families, showing how food connects generations. The stories are touching and heartfelt, reminding us that a recipe is more than just a list of ingredients. It can be a memory, a legacy, and a link to those we’ve lost.
To Die For is a must-read for anyone who loves cemeteries, cooking, or the idea of keeping memories alive through food. It’s a perfect October read, and it would make a great addition to any cookbook shelf. I’ve already tried about half of the recipes in this book, but I’m looking forward to trying out more.
Whether you bake something from its pages or just enjoy the stories, this book captures the sweetness of remembrance in such a unique way.
Thanks for reading!
I am always on the hunt for cemetery-related book recommendations. If you are an author and have a cemetery-related book you would like me to review, please reach out at hello@chantallarochelle.ca. I would love to hear from you!
After visiting countless cemeteries, you start to notice patterns. Symbols that repeat in different styles and settings. Some are subtle, while others are bold, but each carry its own meaning.
For today’s collection, I want to take a closer look at the symbols associated with the Freemasons and share some examples I’ve photographed over the years.
Freemasonry is one of the oldest and most widespread fraternal organizations in the world. It began with stonemason guilds of the late Middle Ages.1 Over time, it became a society that focuses on moral integrity, personal growth, and helping the community, all while keeping rituals and symbols that have been passed down for centuries.1 Membership was traditionally men only, and lodges operate under larger governing bodies called Grand Lodges.1
Although often secretive, Freemasonry is not a religion. It is a system of moral and ethical teachings that encourages members to live good lives, help others, and seek knowledge.1 Its symbols, which appear in cemeteries, and historic buildings, serve as reminders of ethics, morality, and brotherhood.2
Possibly the most iconic symbol of Freemasonry is the square and compass, tools once used by stonemasons. In Masonic teachings, the square represents acting morally and treating others fairly.3 The compass symbol reminds members to control their desires.3 The “G” in the center is thought to represent Gnosis (the Greek word for knowledge), Generations (passing knowledge down through the ages), and God.3
Another common gravestone symbol shows two hands clasped in a handshake. If both hands have suit cuffs, it is a fraternal handshake, symbolizing brotherhood.3
The Freemasons also have a sister organization called the Order of the Eastern Star (OES). It was created to allow female relatives of Master Masons to join in Masonic activities. Today, both men and women can become members.
The OES symbol is an inverted five-pointed star, with each point representing one of the five Biblical heroines and the different roles that a woman can play in life.3 Some people mistake the inverted star as evil or witchcraft, but it actually stands for humility and sacrifice. It’s a reminder of the organization’s values: charity, loyalty, and moral integrity.4
Symbols used by the Freemasons and the Order of the Eastern Star offer us an interesting way to look at history, values, and community. Whether carved in stone or hidden in plain sight, each symbol tells a story and encourages reflection.
For this month’s book review, I want to share Graves of the Great & Famous. I actually received this book as a Christmas gift from my nephew last year, and I have to say, it was a perfect gift! It’s the kind of book that immediately made me want to start flipping through the pages.
The book, written by Alastair Horne and published in 2022, is a fairly recent release. It’s a fresh addition to any collection for those who enjoy exploring history through graves.
“From Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and Princess Diana to Napoleon Bonaparte, Eva Peron, and John Gotti, this book provides a guide to the graves of some of the most renowned figures (good and bad) throughout history. Some, such as communist leaders Ho Chi Minh and Vladimir Lenin, are interred in great mausoleums, where they are visited by millions each year; others are buried in little-known country graveyards.”
One of the first things that stood out to me about this book is just how beautiful it is. It’s filled with full-colour photographs of graves from around the world, making it as much fun to flip through as it is to sit down and read.
It’s a fairly compact guide, but it manages to pack in a lot of detail without ever feeling overwhelming. The only thing I didn’t love was the way it breaks up the main entries with small grave highlights, which sometimes meant flipping back and forth between sections. Not a huge issue, but a bit distracting at times.
Overall, I found it to be a quick and engaging read. It’s one of those books you can pick up for a few minutes and still feel like you’ve learned something new. The stories themselves are fascinating! Some are scandalous or mysterious, while others are deeply heartfelt. One that really stayed with me was the story of Diane Fossey, the primatologist who dedicated her life to studying mountain gorillas. She’s buried in the graveyard she established for the gorillas she worked so closely with, which feels both moving and fitting. The book is filled with stories like that. Some you may already know, and others you might never have heard before.
I think anyone curious about where famous people are buried would really enjoy this book. Cemetery enthusiasts, history buffs, or even casual readers who love a good grave story will find something to appreciate here. For me, it’s the kind of book I know I’ll return to again, to flip through the photos and rediscover the stories.
Have you read Graves of the Great & Famous? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Thanks for reading!
I am always on the hunt for cemetery-related book recommendations. If you are an author and have a cemetery-related book you would like me to review, please reach out at hello@chantallarochelle.ca. I would love to hear from you!
I rarely stop to think about where our drinking water comes from, let alone whether it’s safe.
In May 2000, the small town of Walkerton, Ontario, faced one of Canada’s worst public health disasters. Contaminated water led to the deaths of seven people and made more than 2,300 people sick.1
Walkerton is about a four-hour drive from where I live, and this year marks the 25th anniversary of that tragedy. In June, my mother and I took a road trip there to visit some of the sites connected to the outbreak and to pay our respects to the lives that were lost.
You might remember hearing about this on the news. Walkerton’s drinking water became contaminated with E.coli.1 The source of the contamination was traced back to Well #5, where runoff from a nearby farm had entered the groundwater. Heavy rainfall in early May 2000 carried manure into the well, and the danger was made worse by human error and poor safety practices at the time.1
For days, residents kept drinking the water, completely unaware of the risk. Once it was realized what was happening, it was too late. Within weeks, seven people had died and more than 2,300 others became seriously ill.1 Many survivors continue to live with lasting health problems even today.
The Walkerton Inquiry, led by the Honourable Dennis R. O’Connor, later showed that this wasn’t just one bad well—but a series of failures. Training was inadequate, oversight was weak, and protocols weren’t followed the way they should have been. Out of this tragedy came stricter water safety regulations for Ontario, which eventually shaped how drinking water is managed across Canada.2
Visiting Walkerton
When we arrived in Walkerton, our first stop was the Walkerton Clean Water Centre. It first opened in 2004, and since then has trained over 23,000 water system operators.3 The new state-of-the-art building, which we visited, was opened in 2010. It features a demonstration water distribution system for hands-on training, more room to host seminars, and space to conduct research.3
In May of this year, they offered tours of the facility, close to the anniversary of the tragedy. The timing didn’t work out for us to take a tour, but I still wanted to take a look at the building.
It’s a modern building, with a lovely koi pond just outside its main doors. The large windows have a nice view of the pond, and let in a lot of natural light. There is also a small pond across from the entrance, overgrown with tall grass and cattails, that is surrounded by a little trail loop. I imagine the staff take advantage of that little walking trail on their lunch breaks. I think the water features, while also being pretty, act as little reminders of how important water is to our ecosystem and us.
Our next stop brought us to a small cemetery that wasn’t connected to the tragedy. I am not one to pass up a cemetery visit though, so we made our way to visit. It just so happened to be very close to the Walkerton water tower. After that, we decided to visit a few more cemeteries, the last one of the day being Calvary Cemetery.
Calvary Cemetery is on the outskirts, just south of the town. This cemetery visit was important for our journey, as it is the final resting place of two people who died in the water tragedy.
Edith Pearson, a mother of five and a grandmother of 13, passed away at the age of 82.4 Not far from her rests Lenore Al, a retired part-time librarian, who passed away at the London Health Sciences Centre at the age of 66.4 Their memorial services were held both during the same week.5
It was a very reflective visit, as my mother and I walked the rows searching for these specific graves. It was a scary thought to think what could happen by just drinking a glass of water. Standing in front of their graves also made their story real, bringing it off the page and into reality.
After that somber visit, I thought it might be a good idea to visit something a little more hopeful. The Walkerton Heritage Water Garden features a waterfall that gushes out from a crack in a large rock formation. It’s inspired by the biblical story of Moses, who struck a rock in the desert to bring water to the Israelites.6 It represents water as a positive symbol of life, healing and renewal. The waterfall pours into a small pond that is surrounded by a larger walking trail. There are benches and small clusters of flowers and tall grass that dot the path that leads you back to the memorial fountain.
It was a hot day when we visited, so the occasional cool spray from the waterfall was very welcome. It was a nice little spot for a small walk, but the constant running water made it hard to forget why it was there.
Our first day in Walkerton was a long one. Shortly after our walk, we found something to eat and then settled in to our motel for the night. We had one more site we had to visit.
The next morning, after a good breakfast, I wanted to find Well #5.
Sometimes while planning and researching, it can be tricky to find exact locations, even in this digital age. But I thought we have to give it a try. So with only a street name in my GPS we headed out.
Slowly driving down the dirt road, we kept our eyes peeled for signs of the well. I was getting worried as we reached the end of the road, but I caught the glimmer of what looked like a silver plaque.
We found the well, which has since been capped off, tucked in behind a small building on the edge of a farmer’s field. Today, it’s just a large cement pad with a small silver plaque. If you didn’t know what you were looking at, you may think nothing of it, but the plaque tells the whole story.
“Well 5 Memorial / This plaque marks the location of Walkerton’s former Well 5 / which supplied a portion of the town’s drinking water from / 1978 into the spring of 2000. In mid May of the year 2000, / extremely heavy rains washed a toxic blend of biological / pathogens through the soils and into the vulnerable shaft of / Well 5 and ultimately into Walkerton’s Municipal drinking / water system. The resulting contamination of the town’s / drinking water system lead to the deaths of seven people and / caused thousands of others to fall ill. It is hoped that all those / who visit this location will reflect upon the multiple causes of / this tragedy and will be filled with a renewed reverence for the / comprehensive stewardship of the waters that sustain us all.”
Finding the well was a moving moment, and as the plaque suggested, my mother and I took some time to reflect as we looked into the farmer’s field and at the old well.
The story of Walkerton didn’t end in 2000. For many survivors, the contamination left behind long-term health complications that they will carry for the rest of their lives. One of those people was Robbie Schnurr, who became seriously ill during the outbreak.7 The illness damaged his kidneys and digestive system, leaving him to cope with constant pain and health struggles for nearly two decades.7
In May of 2018, Robbie made the heartbreaking decision to end his life through Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID).7 He was just 51 years old. The illness caused by Walkerton’s poisoned water was just too heavy a toll.7 Robbie’s story is a reminder that the impact of what happened in Walkerton wasn’t confined to the weeks of the outbreak. It rippled out for years, forever altering lives and families.
Moving Forward
One of the outcomes of the Walkerton Inquiry was a complete overhaul of Ontario’s drinking water regulations. New laws were brought in to ensure public accountability, proper testing, and better training for those operating municipal water systems—all with the goal of making sure something like this never happens again.2
And yet, even in 2025, not every community in Canada can count on that promise. Some First Nation reserves continue to struggle with unsafe drinking water, some living under boil-water advisories that have lasted for years.8
It’s a frustrating and heartbreaking reality. Safe drinking water should be a basic human right, not a privilege.
Visiting Walkerton was an educational and somber experience. Standing at the memorial fountain, walking through the cemetery, and pausing at Well #5 all carried more weight than just stops on a road trip. It was a chance to reflect on a tragedy that forever shaped this small town, and to see how its lessons continue to make Ontario’s communities safer today.
Twenty-five years later, the Walkerton water tragedy remains a powerful reminder of what’s at stake when safety is ignored. It also reminds us of the resilience of a community that continues to honour those lost, while moving forward with a commitment to never forget.
I’ve been reading cemetery-related books for a long time now, so when I spotted this one on Amazon, I was immediately intrigued. The title promised a fascinating dive into graveyards and everything connected to them—a must-read for anyone interested in the eerie, mysterious, and macabre side of cemeteries.
Today, I’m sharing my review of Cemetery Stories: Haunted Graveyards, Embalming Secrets, and the Life of a Corpse After Death by Katherine Ramsland.
Ramsland, a professor of forensic psychology and author, what happens after death—how society deals with it, the process of burial, and what takes place in and around cemeteries. She interviews a range of people in the American death industry, covering topics from embalming and funeral practices to more unusual and supernatural stories.
“Admit it: You’re fascinated by cemeteries. We all die, and for most of us, a cemetery is our final resting place. But how many people really know what goes on inside, around, and beyond them? Enter the world of the dead as Katherine Ramsland talks to mortuary assistants, gravediggers, funeral home owners, and more, and find out about: If you’ve ever scoffed at the high price of burying the dead, or ever wondered how your loved ones are handled when they die, or simply stared at tombstones with morbid fascination, then take a trip with Katherine Ramsland and learn about the booming industry — and strange tales — that surround cemeteries everywhere.”
Despite the title, I found the actual cemetery content surprisingly sparse. The stories and interviews are interesting, but each topic is covered quickly before moving on to the next. The book feels more like a broad overview of the funeral industry, with only a small portion devoted to cemeteries.
If you’re already familiar with the basics of the death industry, you might find it too surface-level to offer anything new. That being said, I think Cemetery Stories would be a good fit for readers who are just starting to explore funeral practices and cemeteries.
One section I struggled with was the final chapter, which discusses necrophilia. In my opinion, it was unnecessarily graphic and didn’t match the tone of the rest of the book. It felt gratuitous and didn’t really add anything meaningful to the overall discussion.
That said, if you’re new to the subject or curious about the behind-the-scenes aspects of death care, this book is a decent introduction. It covers a wide range of topics and provides some memorable glimpses into the industry. Just be aware that it’s not in-depth by any means—and you might want to skip that last chapter if you’d rather avoid reading explicit material.
Thanks for reading!
I am always on the hunt for cemetery-related book recommendations. If you are an author and have a cemetery-related book you would like me to review, please reach out at hello@chantallarochelle.ca. I would love to hear from you!
Tuesday, August 19, is World Photography Day, a day to celebrate the art of photography in all its forms.
Over the years, I’ve dabbled in just about every type of photography—product, food, portrait, weddings—but nothing has ever felt as natural or creatively fulfilling as photographing cemeteries and gravestones.
I find there’s something deeply meaningful about capturing the details of an old tombstone, the way the light filters through the trees, or the quiet beauty of a forgotten graveyard. Cemeteries are full of history, and every stone has a story to tell. But stone doesn’t last forever—inscriptions fade, wooden markers break, and time slowly wears away these pieces of the past.
That’s why I believe cemetery photography is more than just an creative hobby, it’s a way of preserving history.
So today, on World Photography Day, I’m celebrating the quiet art of cemetery photography—the way it connects us to the past, sparks curiosity, and ensures that these stories aren’t lost to time.
If you’ve ever thought about bringing your camera (or even just your phone) to a cemetery, I highly recommend it. You never know what history you might capture.
Do you have a favourite cemetery photo you’ve taken? I’d love to see it! Share it with me on Facebook or Instagram and don’t forget to use the tag #WorldPhotographyDay.
Summer is winding down, but everything still feels full of life.
Trees are lush with green leaves, flowers are in full bloom, and the bees are buzzing all around. Cemeteries reflect that same energy. It’s the time of year when nature is at it’s fullest—and in cemeteries, that adds an extra layer of meaning.
Even in these quiet places, there’s life all around. It reminds me that cemeteries aren’t only about endings—they’re also about remembering lives that were full, loved, and meaningful.
Sometimes, it’s not just the greenery that brings cemeteries to life; it’s the wildlife too, and summer can be the best time to spot them.
On a recent visit to Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery in Montréal, I spotted a couple of groundhogs throughout the cemetery who froze in place when they saw me. Like little furry statues, they stared me down until I had passed by. Moments like that make cemeteries feel even more alive, with nature and memory sharing the same space.
Of course, summer cemetery visits do have their challenges. The noonday sun can be intense, and without shade, it can be easy to overheat. On summer road trips, sunscreen and water are a must! Sometimes I’ll even sit down to rest under a tree—a chance to slow down for a minute and also take it all in.
Another thing I love about graving in the summer—especially here in Northern Ontario—is the longer daylight hours. Around this time of year, the sun usually sets between 8:30 and 9 p.m., which gives me lots of time to explore and take photos.
This post wraps up my series exploring how cemeteries change throughout the seasons. If you missed the earlier posts, you can still read about cemeteries in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. Each season really does bring its own mood.
What’s your favourite season to visit cemeteries?
Mine is still Fall. I can’t resist the crunchy leaves, cooler air, and all the moody vibes that come with Halloween season. But honestly, every season has something beautiful to offer, and I’ve enjoyed exploring them all.
It’s that time of year again—time to unplug, unwind, and hit the road!
I’ll be taking a little break to relax, recharge, and of course, do some sightseeing (because let’s be real, I can’t resist a good road trip).
Naturally, the time off will include a few cemetery visits, because what’s a vacation without a little gravestone hunting? I’ve got some exciting road trips planned, and I’m sure they’ll lead to some interesting stories for future blog posts.
While there won’t be any new blog posts during my break, my regular scheduled social media posts will still be going up.
I’ll be back soon with plenty to share, but in the meantime, I hope you all have a great summer!
Cemetery Photography by Chantal Larochelle 