As the year winds down, I always like to slow down and think about where this past year of cemetery wandering has taken me.
This year felt especially full, not just because of how far I travelled, but because of the stories I uncovered, the connections I made, and the ideas still rattling around in my head. From long road trips with friends to shorter day trips with mom, 2025 was another reminder of why I keep visiting cemeteries.
So before we head into a new year, I wanted to take a moment to look back at a few highlights, along with some things I want to carry forward.
One thing that really stood out when I look back on this past year was just how many cemeteries I managed to visit. Even though it was a slightly quieter year overall, I still explored 84 cemeteries I’d never been to before, plus three return visits. This brings my total to 87 cemetery visits in 2025.
That number is a little lower than usual, but I’m honestly okay with that. Each visit added something new to my understanding of local history, memorial traditions, and the quiet beauty found in these spaces. It’s a good reminder that it’s not just about how many cemeteries you visit, but what you take away from them.
Screen grab of my Cemetery Map for Ontario. (Grey pips have been visited) ©2025
One trip that really stayed with me was a visit to Walkerton with my mom, where we spent time learning about the Walkerton Water Tragedy. It was heavy, emotional, and important. It reinforced for me why cemeteries and memorial spaces matter. They give us a place to remember, reflect, and sit with difficult truths.
Another memorable trip took my mom and I to Orillia to visit the OPP Headquarters. Tucked inside their museum is the final resting place of Cloud II, the first Ontario Provincial Police dog killed in the line of duty. That story has stayed with me. I haven’t quite shaped it into a full blog post yet, but it’s one I’m hoping to share in the new year.
This year also saw my friends and I take our longest road trip yet. We dared to make the six-hour drive to London, Ontario, to visit Woodland Cemetery. Known for its deer, famous graves, and beautiful tombstones, it was definitely worth the trip. We made good time getting there, stopped in for lunch at The Early Bird, and then spent a couple of hours exploring the cemetery before heading back home. Yes, another six hours in the car. We were all glad we did it, but we also vowed never do that again!
Woodland Cemetery, London ON ©2025
Not all of this year’s highlights happened inside cemetery gates. One of the most unexpected moments was being interviewed for a Smithsonian Magazine article about gravestone recipes, which still feels a bit surreal to write. I was also mentioned in a Better Homes & Gardens article on the same topic. Seeing such a niche corner of cemetery history reach a wider audience was incredibly validating and reminded me that these stories really do resonate.
I was also invited, once again, to write a guest post for The Haunted Walk. Working with them is always a highlight, and I love having the chance to share my love of cemeteries with their audience.
That said, the year didn’t unfold exactly the way I thought it would. I’d hoped to focus more on experience-based content, and while some of that started to take shape, there’s still a lot I want to try. Instead of seeing that as a failure, I’m choosing to see it as a road map for what comes next.
Looking ahead to 2026, I’m setting a few graving-style New Year’s resolutions!
I want to lean more into hands-on experiences like nighttime cemetery photography, tagging along on a cemetery ghost hunt, or maybe even shadowing someone who cleans gravestones to better understand preservation work. Those story-rich moments feel like a natural next step for me.
For now, though, as the snow settles in and cemetery visits pause, my focus shifts indoors. Winter is my season for research, sharing more stone stories, and finally giving my website portfolio the attention it deserves. I’ll also be spending more time contributing to Find a Grave by doing the quiet, behind-the-scenes work that helps keep those records useful and accessible.
Like most winters, I’ll also be taking a few online courses, with a focus on historic preservation (including cemeteries), as well as grief coaching and end-of-life care. It feels like the right time to explore death and remembrance from a slightly different angle.
Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Wilno ON ©2025
As I look forward to the new year, I feel genuinely excited about what’s ahead. There are new ideas I want to explore, new experiences I want to say yes to, and plenty of learning to do while the cemeteries rest under the snow.
I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who reads along, shares posts, sends book recommendations, and reaches out to chat about gravestones, stories, and history.
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I hope the new year brings you good health, curiosity, and meaningful moments. Wishing you a very happy New Year, and I’ll see you in 2026.
Thanks for reading!
Cemetery Photography by Chantal Larochelle 