Tag: Gravestone

The Beauty and Symbolism of Cemeteries in Winter

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As winter settles in, it’s hard to ignore the changing of the seasons. The chilly air, shorter days, and the snow-covered gravestones mark the end of field season for me. I have always seen snow-covered cemeteries as just too risky to explore—both for me and the gravestones.

While the cold usually keeps me indoors for the next couple of months, it brings something special to the cemeteries I love so much. There is a stillness in the air, and cemeteries in winter do offer something unique that cemeteries in the warmer months just don’t have.

  • Civic Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2024

Winter is often seen as a time for rest and renewal. Nature takes a break during these colder months, and cemeteries seem to do the same. The chill in the air makes everything feel still.

For me, the winter season is a time to focus on rest and recharging, while also refocusing on photo editing and research. Nothing is more relaxing to me than being curled up on the couch with a good book. But winter is also a time for reflection on life’s cycles. The season reminds us that life, like death, is all part of the same cycle. Nature’s rhythms, whether still still or full of growth are always changing, just like us.

I’ll be honest, winter is not my favorite season, and I don’t have a lot of experience visiting cemeteries in the snow. The bitter cold and early darkness does not appeal to me. But I will admit that cemeteries in winter have an almost haunting beauty that I can’t ignore.

The bare trees against a pale sky, and the contrast between the dark gravestones against white snow, create a mood that’s both peaceful and a bit mysterious. It’s the kind of scene that makes you stop for a moment.

Even though this isn’t the time I usually seek out cemeteries, I made an effort this weekend to stop in to one, to appreciate the unique atmosphere it creates.

  • Civic Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2024

One interesting thing I found about cemeteries in the winter is the light. With the sun being lower in the sky, the light creates long and dramatic shadows, adding texture and depth to the landscape. I find the gravestones just look different in the winter light.

The unique angles of the light during winter do make it a great time to play around with shadows and textures. For anyone interested in photography, winter cemeteries offer a chance to capture the landscape in a new way.

  • Civic Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2024

As I think about how winter enhances the beauty of cemeteries, I realize that the symbolism of the season offers us an important reminder of the ongoing cycle of life. Winter is a time of rest and reflection, but it’s also a time to prepare for what comes next.

So will you be visiting any cemeteries this winter? Whether you’re stopping by to honor a loved one or just take in the beauty of the season, cemeteries in the winter do have a lot to offer.

Thanks for reading!

Cemetery Book Review: Over My Dead Body

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For this month’s cemetery book review, I want to share another pick from the Association for Gravestone Studies Book Club. Published in 2023, Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries is a spirited tour through some historic cemeteries in the United States.

Written by Greg Melville, an adventure journalist, and fellow taphophile, Over My Dead Body explores the many facets of how and why we bury our dead. From history, to land use and sustainability, this book covers a little of everything.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

“Melville’s Over My Dead Body is a lively (pun intended) and wide-ranging history of cemeteries, places that have mirrored the passing eras in history but have also shaped it. Cemeteries have given birth to landscape architecture and famous parks, as well as influenced architectural styles. They’ve inspired and motivated some of our greatest poets and authors—Emerson, Whitman, and Dickinson. They have been used as political tools to shift the country’s discourse and as important symbols of the United States’ ambition and reach.”

  • Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries by Greg Melville.

Over My Dead Body is a fun and easy-to-read exploration of some of America’s most historic cemeteries. I have the softcover edition, which is perfect for lounging with on a weekend afternoon. Each chapter focuses on a different cemetery, where Melville shares both the history of the place and his personal experience visiting it. I really enjoyed how each chapter felt like a history lesson and a travelogue rolled into one.

What made the book especially enjoyable for me was how much Melville’s passion for cemeteries mirrored my own. Even though I am exploring cemeteries here in Canada while he is in the U.S., his observations and reflections on the stories these places hold felt familiar. I felt like Melville might be a kindred spirit—someone who gets why we’re drawn to cemeteries in the first place.

The book is lighthearted for the most part, but it does touch on some darker aspects of history. It made me think deeply about how cemeteries not only reflect the past but also shape the way we remember those who came before us.

So if you are fascinated by cemeteries and the stories they hold, I highly recommend Over My Dead Body by Greg Melville. Its unique blend of history, personal reflection, and insightful exploration will appeal to both casual readers and avid taphophiles alike.

Have you read Over My Dead Body? I would love to read your thoughts about it 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.

A Gift Guide for Taphophiles: 2024 Edition

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The holiday season is officially upon us, so it’s time to start thinking about the perfect gifts for the taphophiles in your life!

Whether you’re shopping for a friend who has a deep love of cemeteries, or a family member who enjoys the fascinating history of gravestones, this year’s 2024 gift guide has something unique for everyone.

This year, my round-up features 13 unique items from stunning jewelry and a death-positive card game, to cemetery-related books and even a set of crayons for the creatively inclined.

Whether they’re into history, art, or just a bit of cemetery fun, these handpicked items will surely delight all the graveyard enthusiasts in your life!

  • A gift guide for taphophiles: 2024 edition

222 Cemeteries to See Before You Die by Loren Rhoads

Perfect for aspiring cemetery explorers and dedicated taphophiles alike, this beautiful guide to the world’s most fascinating and offbeat cemeteries has been freshly updated with 23 new, must-see locations. It is a must-have for any cemetery lover’s bookshelf!

  • 222 Cemeteries to See Before You Die by Loren Rhoads. Photo from Amazon.ca

2025 Gravestones Calendar

This 2025 calendar by stonecutter Andrew Carr, also known as Stones Over Bones on Etsy, features 12 stunning photos of intricate gravestones carved by some of the finest New England artisans. It’s a year-round celebration of cemetery symbolism and art. This would make a great gift for anyone who appreciates the beauty of gravestones.

  • 2025 Gravestones Calendar created by stonecutter, Andrew Carr. Photo supplied.

Classic Gravestone T-shirt

This classic gravestone design by PoisonBlood on Red Bubble, is a simple, yet stylish way to wear your love of cemeteries. Featuring a clean white gravestone print with the iconic R.I.P. message, this shirt is a bold yet subtle statement. Available in a variety of colors, it’s a perfect everyday tee.

  • Classic Gravestone T-Shirt, design by Poison Blood. Photo from Red Bubble.

Cooking with Ghosts: A Grief and Recipe Journal by Mortician in the Kitchen

This beautifully designed book blends the mindful practice of journaling with the comfort of cooking. Like a gravestone preserves memories, this book helps you honor loved ones by reflecting on shared meals and documenting family recipes. With prompts to guide your memories and blank recipe pages to record treasured dishes, it’s a unique way to keep those connections alive.

Please note that this book currently only ships within the United States.

  • Cooking with Ghosts: A Grief and Recipe Journal by Mortician in the Kitchen. Photo taken from the Mortician in the Kitchen website.

The Death Deck

The Death Deck is the perfect party game to break the taboo around talking about death. With 112 cards full of multiple-choice and open-ended questions, this game will have you, and your family and friends surprising each other with lively conversation about death—and you might even learn something new about yourselves.

  • The Death Deck. Photo from the Death Deck website.

Early New England Cemetery Stone Stickers

Everybody loves stickers! These Early New England Cemetery Stone stickers by Gh0stBreathArt are inspired by gravestones from the 1600s-1700s. Each sticker showcases a unique design, along with the name of the original stone carver. Perfect for decorating laptops, water bottles, or notebooks.

  • Early New England Cemetery Stone stickers by Gh0stBreathArt. Photo from Etsy.

Grave Moss Pendant

This grave moss pendant, created by Mist Metal and Stone, is a truly unique piece of jewelry, made from real moss carefully collected (with permission) from a late 1800s gravestone. The moss is preserved in eco resin and set in steel, creating a one-of-kind keepsake. Be sure to check out the rest of their Etsy shop, as they offer many other unique and beautiful pieces for sale.

  • Grave Moss Pendant created by Mist Metal and Stone. Photo from Etsy.

Gravestone Crayon Set

These fun and quirky gravestone-shaped crayons, created by In Wonderment on Etsy, make a unique and playful gift! This set includes 6 multi-colored crayons, each featuring a different gravestone design. Hand-poured from 100% Crayola crayons, they are perfect for art lovers, and creative types.

  • Gravestone Crayon Set created by In Wonderment. Photo from Etsy.

Guess Where Trips

Guess Where Trips offers a fun and adventurous way to explore new places with a twist of mystery! Each trip includes a Before You Go package and four surprise stops filled with unique destinations, recommendations, and fun facts. You can choose from a variety of day trips based on your interests, but I wanted to highlight two of the trips that feature cemeteries: Historic Haunts and Beautifully Haunted.

This summer, I had the chance to experience their Historic Haunts tour and had an amazing time exploring spooky spots like haunted buildings and eerie cemeteries.

  • Historic Haunts tour by Guess Where Trips. Photo from my own Historic Haunts Tour, Summer of 2024.

I Forgot Something 8×10 Art Print

Created by Night Spirit Studio, this beautiful art print titled I Forgot Something is inspired by 1800s mourning watercolor paintings. These mourning paintings were historically created by schoolgirls and featured gravestone symbolism like urns and weeping willows. With its giclée print quality and haunting design, this vintage-inspired piece would make a lovely addition to any art collection.

  • I Forgot Something 8×10 Art Print created by Night Spirit Studio. Photo from Etsy.

Oval Burial Plot Necklace

Created by Mockingbird Lane Artistries, this darkly beautiful piece blends together art, history, and nature. Featuring a hand-painted mini gravestone, lichen harvested from a cemetery, and graveyard dirt from the filming location of Night of the Living Dead. This lovely piece would make a perfect addition to any jewelry or film memorabilia collection.

  • Oval Burial Plot Necklace created by Mockingbird Lane Artistries. Photo from Mockingbird Lane Artistries website.

Pleasure Grounds of Death: The Rural Cemetery in Nineteenth-Century America by Joy M. Giguere

Pleasure Grounds of Death explores the fascinating history of how rural cemeteries became popular spots for strolls and picnics, and grew to influence American culture, community identity, and social issues of the time. A perfect read for history lovers, cemetery enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the cultural significance of these beautiful resting places.

  • Pleasure Grounds of Death: The Rural Cemetery in Nineteenth-Century America by Joy M. Giguere. Photo from Amazon.ca

Support Your Local Cemetery Sweatshirt

The Support Your Local Cemetery sweatshirt from Everything After Co. on Etsy is a perfect blend of humor and dark aesthetic, making it an ideal gift for any taphophile. Featuring a retro design, it comes in four different colors and is made from a comfortable cotton-polyester blend—perfect for lounging or cemetery exploring.

  • Support Your Local Cemetery sweatshirt from Everything After Co. Photo from Etsy.

As you navigate the holiday season in search of the perfect gift, remember that it’s the thought behind the gifts that make it truly special. Whether your gifting something spooky, historical or simply unique, these items are sure to spark conversation and bring joy.

Happy gifting, and thanks for reading!

Cemetery Photography by Chantal Larochelle is not affiliated with any of the brands or artists featured in this guide, and I do not receive any compensation or proceeds from sales. I am simply sharing products I love!

Cemetery Recipes: Texas Sheet Cake

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With my birthday coming up at the end of the month, I thought it would be fun to try out a cake recipe for this month’s gravestone recipe. I found the perfect fit with this Texas Sheet Cake.

This recipe can be found on the gravestone of Helen Rose (Keathley) Sweers, who is laid to rest in Blain Cemetery in Cutlerville, Michigan.

  • Gravestone of Helen Sweers. Photo by Find a Grave contributor, Photograver Lori.

Sweers passed away on December 30, 2017, at the age of 77. Her brief obituary describes her as a wife, mother, and grandmother, who deeply loved God, her family, and everyone in her life.1

While her obituary doesn’t mention a passion for baking, the recipe engraved on the back of her gravestone tells a different story.

“Made with Love by Helen Sweers”

  • Texas sheet cake recipe on gravestone of Helen Sweers
    Texas Sheet Cake Recipe. Photo by Find a Grave contributor, G.

Texas Sheet Cake

(As inscribed on the gravestone of Helen Sweers)

Made with Love by Helen Sweers

  • 2 Sticks Butter
  • 1 Cup Water
  • 3 Tbs Cocoa
  • 2 Cups Flour, Sifted
  • 2 Cups White Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/2 Cup Sour Milk
  • 1/2 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 Tsp Baking Powder

Bring butter, water, cocoa to a boil. In a bowl mix flour, sugar, eggs, sour milk, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Mix well. Add boiled mixture to flour mixture. Pour on a greased jelly roll pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Frosting

1 stick butter – melted
Then add:
⦁ 1/3 cup milk
⦁ 1 Tbs cocoa
⦁ 1 Tsp vanilla

Cook on stove top. When mixed add one box powdered sugar or about 4 cups. Pour onto hot cake. Spread. Top with walnuts.

In the Kitchen

I had never heard of Texas Sheet Cake before, so I did learn something new with this recipe. A Texas Sheet Cake is a chocolate cake, baked in a jelly roll pan (which is a pan similar to a cookie sheet, but deeper). This gives the cake its signature large, thin shape.

I ended up purchasing a jelly roll pan specifically to make this recipe. It could double as a cookie sheet if needed, but I think I’ll use it again for future baking, so I will get some use out of it either way.

The ingredients for this recipe are mostly staples, so I didn’t need to make an extra grocery trip. However, I did have questions about the sour milk.

Sour milk has a tart taste, either because it’s just starting to spoil or because it was soured on purpose.2 This made me think that this might be a Depression-era recipe, as many recipes of that time were designed to avoid food waste and used sour milk.2 Buttermilk could be a good substitute for sour milk, but I opted to make my own. I found sour milk recipes online that called for 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice, for 1 cup of milk. This recipe only calls for a 1/2 cup of sour milk, so I used a 1/2 tablespoon of vinegar.

I let the sour milk sit for a few minutes to curdle while I gathered the rest of my ingredients and preheated the oven.

The recipe instructions are clear so I didn’t have any trouble mixing everything together. I was a bit concerned when it came time to pour the batter into the jelly roll pan. I voiced those concerns to Helen, while I poured in the batter. Talking to the person whose recipe I’m following makes me feel like they’re with me in the kitchen. It can sometimes be a comforting reminder to trust the process.

The pan was quite full, but I had faith that it would work out. And it did—well, sort of. I put the pan in the oven and let it bake for the full 15 minutes. I used the classic toothpick test to see if it was ready, but ended up needing to bake it for 5 more minutes, and then another 5 minutes after that. The center was quite thick and needed a bit more time to bake all the way through.

While the cake baked, I worked on the frosting. Since I had to bake the cake a little longer, I kept the frosting on low heat so it would be ready when the cake was done.

The recipe says to pour the frosting onto the hot cake. The cake didn’t rise, but it didn’t have a lot of room for icing either and I was afraid it would spill over the sides and make a big mess. To avoid that, I used a spatula to carefully spread small amounts at a time. In the end, I was able to cover the whole cake without any issues. I then topped it with a handful of walnuts.

After it cooled, the frosting firmed up a bit, creating a nice crackle when you sliced through the cake.

Texas Sheet Cake, recipe from the gravestone of Helen Sweers.

I love the way this Texas Sheet Cake turned out!

It’s chocolatey and moist, but the real highlight is the frosting. It adds just the right sweetness, although I’ll warn you—it’s really sweet, so a little slice goes a long way.

This cake is big, making it perfect for sharing at a family gathering or other special occasion. I made it to celebrate my birthday, and it was perfect for sharing with loved ones.

Recreating these gravestone recipes has become a meaningful way for me to connect with those whose stories live on in such a personal way. It’s a comforting reminder that food has a power that can bring us together, even across time. I always say that recreating these gravestone recipes really is the sweetest way to remember someone.

Will you be giving this recipe a try? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and experiences in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

References:

  1. Helen Sweers Obituary | Grand Rapids Press
  2. What Is Sour Milk — And Is It Safe To Use? | All Recipes

Stone Stories: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

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In honor of Remembrance Day this year, Monday, November 11th, I want to take a moment to reflect on the significance of this solemn occasion and the powerful symbol of sacrifice that is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

This day, which marks the end of hostilities during the First World War and honors all who have served in times of conflict, holds deep meaning for Canadians. While Remembrance Day has been observed since 1919, its evolution over the years—from its origins as Armistice Day to the shift in date and name in 1931—demonstrates its lasting importance in our collective memory.1 In this week’s post, I want to delve into the history behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a tribute that today stands as a symbol of the many soldiers who gave their lives without recognition.

  • Lasalle Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2011

The Unknown Soldier

The tomb of the unknown soldier lies in front of the National War Memorial at Parliament Hill. The large monument, a cenotaph, was unveiled in 1939 to commemorate the Canadian response to the First World War. It has grown to symbolize the sacrifice of all Canadians who have served in times of war.2

  • National War Memorial. Parliament Hill, Ottawa ON ©2024

The Royal Canadian Legion, with help from Veteran’s Affairs Canada, began work to bring the Unknown Soldier home in the spring of 1998.3 As a Millenium project, this undertaking was not an easy task and many veterans were anxious to see this tomb built, as a reminder for new generations of the cause and consequences of war.3,4

Exhaustive work was completed to choose the remains that would be repatriated. The remains were selected from among 6,846 unknown soldiers of the First World War.5 The set of remains that now lie at rest in the sarcophagus at the base of the war memorial comes from Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, in Souchez, France.4

The Unknown Soldier’s remains were exhumed on May 25, 2000, by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The remains were then repatriated to Canada in a Canadian Forces aircraft, where they would lay in state for three days in the Hall of Honor in the Centre Block of Parliament.5 On May 28, 2000, the remains were laid to rest in a sarcophagus made of granite, during an interment ceremony. Soil from each Canadian province and territory was placed on the casket. They also included some soil from France.6

The inscription on the tomb reads “The Unknown Soldier / Le Soldat inconnu”. There is also a brass plaque embedded in the ground in front of the tomb which reads: “Here lie the remains / of Canada’s Unknown Soldier. / Please treat this grave / with respect.”

The tomb of the Unknown Soldier
A sign that says "Respect and Silence" found at the tomb of the unknown soldier, in Ottawa
The tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The plaque found at the base of the grave of the unknown soldier

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Parliament Hill, Ottawa ON ©2024

The tombstone marking the first resting place of our unknown soldier, in France, was also brought to Canada and now hangs in the Memorial Hall of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

The inscription reads: “A Soldier / of the Great War / A Canadian Regiment / Known Unto God”

  • Original gravestone of the Unknown Soldier, Canadian War Museum. Photo by Craig Baird, Canadian History Ehx https://canadaehx.com/ Photo used with permission.

The Memorial Hall of the Canadian War Museum has a unique design feature, where every year on November 11th, at 11 a.m. the sun filters through a window in the hall, directly illuminating the headstone.7

A new gravestone was placed to mark the original burial site, now empty, in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery. The stone, similar in appearance to the original gravestone, is engraved with a maple leaf and the following epitaph, “The Former Grave Of An / Unknown Canadian Soldier / Of The First World War. / His Remains Were Removed / On 25 May 2000 And Now / Lie Interred At The / National War Memorial / In Ottawa Canada.”4

The Changing of the Guard

This summer, while I was visiting family in Ottawa, I had the opportunity to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and witness the changing of the guard.

Since 2007, the Canadian Armed Forces have posted sentries to stand guard at the tomb, with a rotation of personnel from the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Canadian Ranger units from across the country.8 During the summer months, the changing of the guard ceremony occurs every hour, on the hour, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The ceremony is a somber occasion that reflects respect for Canada’s fallen soldiers. As the sentries execute their precise and disciplined movements, the atmosphere was heavy with reverence. The ceremony serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made in the name of freedom and those who gave their lives in service.

While visiting the tomb, I was struck by the weight of history and felt the significance of honoring those whose identities may be lost, but whose sacrifices will never be forgotten.

  • The changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Parliament Hill, Ottawa ON ©2024

We will never know the identity of the Unknown Soldier—but that’s the point.

In war, the remains of soldiers may be badly damaged, or destroyed. Even though a great effort was made to find and identify remains, many were not found at all. Almost 20,000 Canadians who died in the First World War have no identifiable graves.4 Some could only be identified as Canadians, by uniform buttons or badges, and were buried with a simple military marker, like our unknown soldier.4

So this Remembrance Day, as we pause to honor the sacrifices of those who served, remember also the unknown soldier—the many who gave their lives, whose identities are now lost to history.

Lest we forget.

References:

  1. Remembrance Day| Canadian War Museum
  2. National War Memorial | Veterans Affairs Canada
  3. Bringing the Unknown Soldier Home | Legion
  4. Questions and Answers | Veterans Affairs Canada
  5. The Unknown Soldier | Canadian War Museum
  6. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier | Government of Canada
  7. Canadian History Ehx’s Post | Facebook
  8. National Sentry Program | Government of Canada

The Beauty and Symbolism of Cemeteries in Fall

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Cemeteries in the fall are my favorite.

There is just something magical about wandering through a cemetery bathed in the warm colors of autumn. So today on the blog, I explore how the crunch of leaves underfoot and the cool breeze tousling your hair as you walk among the headstones, creates a uniquely reflective experience.

  • Old Stone Church Cemetery also known as Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Beaverton ON ©2024

The Autumn Equinox

The stunning yellows, oranges, and reds herald the changing of the seasons and mark the transition from verdant green to withered rotting leaves. The falling leaves remind us of the cycle of life and that everything dies.

Autumn begins on the fall equinox, usually on September 22 or 23. The equinox happens twice a year in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring between the summer and winter solstices.1 It marks the point where the sun crosses the equator’s path and becomes positioned exactly between the Northern and Southern hemispheres.1 On the equinox, day and night are approximately the same length, but the fall equinox marks the beginning of longer nights and shorter days.1

As we lose daylight earlier, the yellow glow during the golden hour is intensified, creating a golden light that beautifully bathes the gravestones. It’s a photographer’s dream!

Gravestone symbolism draws heavily from Greek mythology, so it seems only fitting to share the Greek story of Persephone’s return, an anecdote used to explain why the seasons work the way they do.

In the story, Persephone was abducted by Hades and forced to live in the Underworld. Demeter, Persephone’s mother, searched far and wide for her daughter. Demeter threatened to make the earth a barren place until her daughter was returned to her.2

A deal was struck: because Persephone had eaten four pomegranate seeds while in the Underworld, she would return to Hades and live with him for four months out of the year.2

So when Persephone traveled to the Underworld to fulfill her four-month stay, Demeter’s sadness at being separated from her daughter was expressed by the barrenness of autumn and the winter cold.2

  • Knox United Church Cemetery, Sutton ON ©2024

Thinning of the Veil

The month of October can be considered the peak of autumn, with the fall colors reaching their most vibrant, usually during the first couple of weeks. The beginning of October is also considered by many to be the start of the spooky season, which culminates on October 31st, Halloween.

Halloween night is said to be when the veil between the living and the dead is the thinest. This is thought to mean that it is the one night when spirits can cross over the easiest to communicate with loved ones.

The idea of a veil between life and death can sometimes be found in cemetery art.

A draped urn, for instance, is a popular Victorian-era motif, borrowed from Ancient Greece. The Ancient Greeks commonly cremated their dead, and the symbol of a ceremonial urn was adapted to represent the idea of the body being reduced to its barest elements while the soul ascends to heaven. Often draped in a cloth, this drapery is thought to symbolize the veil between the living and the dead.3

  • Draped urn. Riverside Cemetery also known as Union Cemetery, Beaverton ON ©2024

Another symbol that symbolizes this concept is the gates ajar. This grave symbol was popularized by author Elizabeth Stuart Phelps in her 1868 book The Gates Ajar. The story follows a woman coming to terms with the death of her brother, who died in the Civil War. This symbol features an open gate, symbolizing that the gates to Heaven are not closed, and that departed souls can pass back and forth.3

  • The gates ajar. Williamsport Cemetery also known as United Brethren in Christ Cemetery, Williamsport ON ©2022

Halloween Traditions

As you might expect Halloween is celebrated all over the world. It is one of the oldest holidays after all. There are many ways to celebrate, the most obvious being donning a scary costume and going door-to-door for tricks or treats. But there are other Halloween traditions, older traditions that are practiced in all parts of the world.

It’s not surprising that some of them involve cemeteries!

In France, All Saints Day and All Souls Day are celebrated by children going house to house collecting flowers that they use to decorate graveyards and churches.4

To celebrate Dia De Los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, in Mexico families will have picnics in graveyards at the graveside of their loved ones, to remember and celebrate their life.4

In Portugal, wine and chestnuts are brought to feast on, in the cemetery.4

And in Rome, they celebrate Feralia, which is similar to the Day of the Dead in many ways. Families visit loved ones in the cemetery and also bring offerings for the spirits of their loved ones who linger at their graveside.4

  • St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Lively ON ©2008

The symbolism of gravestones, like the draped urn and gates ajar, echoes the stories of Persephone and the thinning veil between the living and the dead. As Halloween approaches, traditions around the world invite us to remember and celebrate our loved ones in these revered spaces.

So, this fall, take some time to wander through a cemetery, and let the beauty and tranquility inspire some reflection on the spirit of Halloween—the connections we hold with those who have passed, the stories they leave behind, and the traditions that keep their memory alive.

Thanks for reading!

References:

  1. The Equinox and Solstice | Met Office
  2. Persephone and the Seasons | Hellenic Museum
  3. Understanding Cemetery Symbols: A Field Guide for Historic Graveyards by Tui Snider | Book
  4. Halloween Traditions: How the World Celebrates Halloween | Medium

October Stone Stories: The Father of Zombies

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“They’re coming to get you, Barbra”

This is one of my favorite movie quotes, and it comes from the 1968, black-and-white independent horror classic, Night of the Living Dead. I even have a small piece of the Evans City Chapel framed on my wall. The chapel sits in Evans City Cemetery, which is where the opening scene of the film was shot.

This horror classic was written and directed by George Romero, the father of zombie films. This summer, I had the chance to visit the final resting place of this iconic director.

Photo credit: Nicolas Genin, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ via Wikimedia Commons

George A. Romero

George Andrew Romero was born in New York City on February 4, 1940, and grew up in the Bronx. His interest in film began at an early age and he would go on to enroll at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh.1

After graduating in 1960, Romero began shooting short films and TV commercials, including an early short for the popular children’s show Mister Rogers Neighborhood.1

Romero’s break-out film Night of the Living Dead was revolutionary for the horror genre, and today is a staple of any horror film addict’s collection. This film completely reinvented the image of one of today’s most popular movie monsters.

Romero created the rules for a new kind of zombie. Now portrayed as reanimated corpses who hunger for living flesh. They are slow and shambling, with only one purpose. Silent, aside from their eerie moaning as they get closer to their prey. There is only one way to stop them—a violent strike to the head.

The film’s explicit violence and gore garnered negative reviews at its release, but today the film has amassed a cult following. In 1999, the film was deemed culturally and historically significant by the Library of Congress and has been preserved by the National Film Registry.2 In part for its social commentary during the 1960’s.

Romero would go on to write and direct other films, even directing a romantic comedy, but he always gravitated back toward the undead. He would go on to create a whole series of films set in the Dead universe; Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead, and Survival of the Dead—his last film.

After falling in love with the city, Romero moved to Toronto, Ontario in 2004. He would shoot a lot of his later films in the city. In 2009, he acquired his Canadian citizenship, becoming a dual Canadian-American citizen.

In 2017, George Romero died in his Toronto home of lung cancer. He was 77.3 Romero is laid to rest in Toronto Necropolis Cemetery and Crematorium.

  • George A. Romero, Toronto Necropolis Cemetery and Crematorium, Toronto ON ©2024

Toronto Necropolis Cemetery

The Toronto Necropolis Cemetery and Crematorium is one of the city’s oldest and most historic cemeteries, dating back to 1850.4 The fully restored cemetery entrance features high Victorian Gothic architecture which also makes it one of the most scenic cemeteries in the area.4

I was enthralled the minute we stepped out of the Uber. The grand cemetery entrance sets the tone for the beautifully forested cemetery within. It was my first time visiting this enchanting cemetery. Being unfamiliar with its layout, I used Google Maps to lead us. Of course, I was easily distracted by the elaborate and historic gravestones we passed along our route.

As we approached a densely forested section, we heard the screeching of a hawk. It sounded close and didn’t seem to like us encroaching on its territory. Luckily the grave we were searching for was a bit farther back in the cemetery. My fiancé stuck to the meandering paths that snaked around the grounds while I ventured into the rows to read the graves.

Although not quite accurate, Google Maps led me to the general area we were searching for. Surrounded by tablet stones and obelisks, sits the mirror-like black granite stone of George A. Romero.

The epitaph reads, “George A. Romero / 1940 – 2017 / He Loved, / And Was Loved.”

On the footstone is inscribed a quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “Now cracks a noble heart. / Good-night sweet prince; And / flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Although the cemetery was quiet that day, we could tell that many had come before us to pay their respects. Someone had planted two skeleton hands at the base of the grave, reaching up towards the inscription. Another skeleton hand, giving a thumbs up was also planted near the gravestone. Someone also left a little miniature zombie figure. The gravesite looked decorated for Halloween, even though we visited at the end of July!

George A. Romero, Toronto Necropolis Cemetery and Crematorium, Toronto ON ©2024

Years ago, while collaborating with a community group dedicated to screening cult classics for charity, I envisioned hosting an event that would bring Romero to my small Northern Ontario town for a screening of one of his legendary films. Unfortunately, that dream never came true.

Although I never had the chance to meet him in person, to thank him for all the scares, visiting his grave and paying my respects was a profound and memorable experience for me.

Thanks for reading!

References:

  1. George A. Romero | Find a Grave
  2. Preserving the Silver Screen | Library of Congress
  3. Fans say final goodbye to ‘Godfather of zombies’ George Romero at visitation | CBC
  4. Toronto Necropolis Cemetery and Crematorium | Find a Grave

October Cemetery Stories: A Haunted Tower and a Pioneer Cemetery

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During the summer, I wrote about a surprise road trip I took with my mother in Cambridge. This curated road trip, created by Guess Where Trips took us to exciting and spooky places. I shared a little about our Historic Haunts tour, but I wanted to keep some of the details a surprise at the time, so I could share this ghost story and pioneer cemetery visit with you now, in October.

So today on the blog, I want to share a little bit more about my visit to the haunted Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower and Doon Pioneer Cemetery and explore its rich history.

  • Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower, Kitchener ON ©2024

Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower

While looking for places to go for a walk, the day before our Historic Haunts tour, I found a hidden gem that had everything we were looking for—a walking trail, a historic site, and a cemetery. Little did we know when we visited that it was also haunted!

The Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower stands 18.9 meters tall, and peaks out above the surrounding trees. We could see its Swiss-style copper roof and the cute Conestoga wagon weather vane that sits atop it, as I parked my car in the nearby parking lot.1

The Tower built in 1926, was created to commemorate the arrival of the Pennsylvania-German pioneers who immigrated to the area between 1800 and 1803.1 Fieldstones that line the outside wall of the tower represent the tireless work they did to plow and clear the land for farms and homesteads.

Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower, Kitchener ON ©2024

At one time, it was possible to go inside the tower and climb its spiral staircase to the eight-sided observation deck. The view is amazing, as Bob Oberholtzer noted in a 2015 article for the Waterloo Region Record. Citing it as one of the most “historic views”, it’s possible to overlook the first four Mennonite farms that were settled in the area.2 Oberholtzer also talked about how they used to scare the girls who climbed the tower, not with ghost stories, but with childhood antics like shaking the stairs as the girls climbed up.2

Although the tower has barely needed any repairs to keep it standing over the years, the tower has been closed to the public since 2008.2 BUT, it is possible to tour inside, by special request.2 A sign on site has a phone number that can be called to book a visit to the top of the tower. I wish I would have known this when we visited. We made do by peering through the gated doors to glimpse the cobwebs and spiral staircase inside.

What we also didn’t know at the time of our visit, was the haunted history of the place. The story goes that a woman jumped to her death from the top of the tower. She was distraught and suffering from grief of the loss of her husband, who went off to war—but never returned.3

They say her restless spirit can sometimes be seen at the top of the tower, waiting for her lost love to return.3

Doon Pioneer Cemetery

The 98-year-old Pioneer tower sits within a small grassy field, right beside the Doon Pioneer Cemetery. This is the final resting place of the Schoerg and Betzner families and overlooks the Grand River.

Also known as the Schoerg/Betzner cemetery, this small burial ground is where the first settlers are laid to rest, who arrived in Waterloo Township in the spring of 1800. The small cemetery is filled with old gravestones and field stones, marking their final resting place.

Some of the gravestones are very worn, so I took the opportunity to try out a trick I saw in one of the cemetery groups I am a part of. By using a mirror to reflect sunlight, or by holding a flashlight at an oblique angle you can create enough contrast to make gravestones legible again.

I had a small flashlight on me, one with a small beam so it worked well on the smaller stones. I asked my mom to hold the flashlight for me, as I lined up my shot by looking through the small viewfinder on my DLSR. The deep shadows help some of the long-forgotten words to be legible again. The flashlight trick didn’t work as well on larger stones, because the beam from the flashlight is too narrow to illuminate enough of the stone. I would need a much larger beam for that. This trick of the light is a great way to reveal gravestone inscriptions while doing no harm.

Doon Pion

Doon Pioneer Cemetery also known as Schoerg/Betzner Family Cemetery, Kitchener ON ©2024

My mother and I both enjoyed visiting the memorial tower and the small burial ground beside it. We took our time taking in the beautiful craftsmanship and design of the tower and its history. At the time, we had no thoughts of ghostly apparitions in our minds. We didn’t experience anything supernatural. We just admired the Fieldstone Tower and all the toil and hard work it represented for those early pioneers.

After exploring the cemetery and paying our respects to the early settlers of the area, we made our way to the Walter Bean Grand River Trail. The flat gravel path meanders through the Pioneer Tower Natural Area taking you along the Grand River. The trail is dotted with educational panels, and the path eventually brings you to the Pioneer Tower Bridge.

On the opposite side of the bridge lies the Doon Valley Golf Course. On our walk, we didn’t cross but stopped at the bridge to take in the views. We sat for a time at a little garden roundabout, just before the bridge, admiring the flowers and wildlife. We were lucky to see a wild rabbit scurry across the trail.

The Memorial Tower was always in view during our walk, peeking out above the treeline like a sentinel keeping watch. A strong reminder of those who came before us. The whole area is beautiful, even more so now I imagine with the fall colors starting to emerge.

So if you are looking for a nice place to take in nature and enjoy some dark history, I think the Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower and adjacent Doon Pioneer cemetery would be a great place for a fall outing. Who knows, you might even see a ghost.

Thanks for reading!

References:

  1. Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower | Parks Canada
  2. Descendant of Waterloo pioneers wants memorial tower open again | Waterloo Region Record
  3. Historic Haunts Tour | Guess Where Trips

Cemetery Book Review: Haunted Cemeteries

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Spooky season is right around the corner!

I have a lot of upcoming October content planned, so I thought I would officially kick off the Halloween season on the blog by sharing a spooky cemetery book review. It’s called Haunted Cemeteries: True Tales From Beyond the Grave by Edrick Thay.

Earlier this summer, I wrote a guest post for The Haunted Walk, titled Beyond the Headstones: 5 Surprising Secrets to Discover in Cemeteries. So when I was in Ottawa this summer visiting family, I made it a point to pop into the Haunted Walk office, on Sparks Street, to say hello. While there, I browsed their spooky-cute gift shop and this book jumped out. I thought it was a pretty fitting purchase.

  • Haunted Cemeteries book, purchased from the Haunted Walk shop in Ottawa.

Haunted Cemeteries was first published in 2004 by Ghost House Books, a part of Lone Pine Publishing. Ghost House has published a large series of books all focusing on local legends, ghosts, hauntings, and other unexplained phenomenon.1 Haunted Cemeteries is a collection of stories about the world’s most notoriously haunted cemeteries and graveyards. The majority of the cemetery stories come from the United States, but the book does feature two cemeteries that are located in Ontario; Drummond Hill Cemetery in Niagara Falls and Burkholder Cemetery in Hamilton.

Here is the book synopsis from Goodreads:

“Cemeteries are places of quiet repose where the dead are left to eternal rest. But some spirits refuse to rest in peace. Join Edrick Thay as he explores some of the world’s most notoriously haunted graveyards, both past and present, and interviews ghost hunters to discover how these eerie sites become charged with paranormal energy.

Plagued by nightmares, a mother has her daughter exhumed from Mount Carmel Cemetery in Chicago, only to make a shocking discovery paranormal researchers encounter spirits of wounded soldiers in Ontario’s Drummond Hill Cemetery, once the site of bloody conflagration when an archaeologist discovers a sealed tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, he awakens a terrifying ancient curse at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, ghosts of celebrities from another era float among the decrepit tombstones Anomalous Luminous Phenomena, or mysterious lights that defy explanation, illuminate Silver Cliff Cemetery in Colorado Ohio ghosthunters descend on Camp Chase Cemetery in Columbus, hoping to come across the captivating Lady in Gray a high school girl, fascinated with the paranormal, encounters a particularly irritable ghost at Bachelor’s Grove in Chicago in Salem, Massachusetts, site of the infamous witch trails, a ghost materializes, still mourning his inhuman death”

  • Haunted Cemeteries: True Tales From Beyond the Grave by Edrick Thay.

Haunted Cemeteries features 19 stories and a handful of black-and-white cemetery photos. The short stories made this an easy book to pick up when I had a few minutes to read. I appreciate those types of books.

The book includes some more well-known cemetery hauntings, like Bachelor’s Grove in Chicago and the Egyptian curse of King Tut’s tomb, but also highlights some lesser-known hauntings and folklore. As an avid reader of cemeteries and the supernatural, discovering these new unfamiliar stories was a lot of fun.

Overall, this was a fun and easy read, and I enjoyed the ghostly tales that can sometimes surround cemeteries. Reading about ghost stories, legends and reputed curses from beyond the grave is always a great way to ease into the Halloween season—especially when it also involves exploring the rich history of cemeteries.

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.

References:

  1. Ghost House | One Pine Publishing

Cemetery Recipes: Chocolate Chip Cookies from the Cookie Book

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Over the summer I took a little break from making gravestone recipes, but I think it’s time to try another one. Fall is coming, so what better time to make chocolate chip cookies? They are always the best when they are still warm from the oven.

I came across this gravestone on reddit, posted by user ubercrabby. So, today on the blog, I want to try making Chocolate Chip Cookies from the Cookie Book gravestone of Jennifer P. Ferrante.

  • Cookie Book gravestone of Jenny P. Ferrante. Photo by Reddit user ubercrabby.

Ferrante’s red granite gravestone, found in a cemetery in upstate New York, is shaped like a book, with “Cookie Book” inscribed on the side. The recipe can be found on the back side of the stone.

Jennifer Peggy Allan Ferrante was only 54 when she passed away suddenly in August of 2019. According to her obituary, she was a consulting engineer for many years, traveled extensively, and loved spending time with her family and pets.1 She was also an avid baker and was known for her chocolate chip cookies, which she often shared with her loved ones.1

It seems fitting that they would honor her by inscribing her famous recipe on her gravestone for others to make and share.

  • Chocolate chip cookie recipe on the gravestone of Jenny P. Ferrante. Photo by Reddit user ubercrabby.

Here is the recipe as inscribed on the gravestone:

Chocolate Chip Cookies

9 to 11 min 375’F

1) 2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

2) 1 cup Crisco
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar

2) 1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups chocolate chips

Combine dry
Combine wet then add dry

Making the Recipe

Although this recipe is similar to the famous Nestlay Toulouse recipe, also known as Nestle Toll House, there are some small differences—most notably the substitution of Crisco for butter, and the omission of nuts.

It also looks like there might be a typo on the stone, as it has two step 2’s, BUT it might not be a mistake. Both step 2’s contain wet ingredients. Is it possible that it is direction on how to mix the ingredients?

That is the way I read the recipe when I tried it. I mixed the dry ingredients in one bowl, and then in a second bowl, I mixed the ingredients from step 2. Then in the same bowl from step 2, I mixed the vanilla, eggs, and chocolate chips. I was a bit worried about the amount of chocolate chips, it seemed like a lot! When that was mixed well, I then combined the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, forming a nice cookie dough.

The ingredients consist of pantry staples so it was nice not having to make a special grocery trip to make this recipe. I was curious about the use of Crisco instead of butter. Crisco or shortening, is made from 100% hydrogenated vegetable oil and contains no water.2 It has a higher melting point than butter, so it tends to produce more lift and holds its shape better.2

I try my best to stick to the recipes as written on the gravestone and only make substitutions when necessary—like when ingredients are not available. That being said, shortening has no flavor, so baked goods made with it do miss that buttery taste that only butter can produce. If I made this recipe again, I would make the switch and use butter.

Otherwise, following this recipe was incredibly easy and was a quick one to make. The trickiest part for me was spooning the cookie dough from the bowls to the parchment-lined cookie sheets. I had a bit of a hard time getting uniformed portions so after the first cookie sheet was full, I put a little oil on my hands, to prevent the dough from sticking, and rolled the rest of the dough into balls for the second cookie sheet.

In the end, both cookie sheets came out the same, with the cookies spreading out into each other. I should have given them more space and used one more cookie sheet.

My worries about the amount of chocolate chips were also unwarranted as they didn’t come out a melty chocolate mess. These cookies are incredibly decadent, and delicious!

This is a tasty cookie recipe and easy to make. I can see how this would quickly become a favorite. It’s also a simple recipe with room for modifications if desired. I would make this one again the next time I am craving a nice chocolate chip cookie.

Have you tried this recipe? Or do you have another gravestone recipe suggestion I should try? I would love to read about it, in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

References:

  1. Jennifer Peggy Allan Ferrante | Find a Grave
  2. Butter vs. Shortening in Baking | Land O’Lakes