I went back to the cemetery of the Holy Sepulchre. It was too windy to take photos outside, so I went inside the columbarium. This place is huge. Here is but one of the several chapels.
I was looking for some familiar names and found one, though I have no idea if he is connected to the Commisso's who used to own a chain of grocery stores in this area. There were birthday cards and fresh flowers left for him.
Particularly, this family's idea, with recipe cards for writing notes.
I like the idea of the note cards, too, though many of the grave sites here aren't protected enough from the weather for that. I wonder if that's what the little mailbox I saw the other week was for?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful...I'm being cremated.
ReplyDeletewhat a great way to keep the memory alive with the notes...ITs a great and well cared for place!!
ReplyDeleteThat's a huge columbarium. The notes are a lovely idea.
ReplyDeleteWow, such a beautiful plcae and I love the personal touches left by loved ones. Here they would get thrown away by the local authority for making the place look 'untidy'.
ReplyDeleteHerding Cats
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Yes, it is massive. Yet well cared for, and looked after. Yet, there is an issue, isn't there? Cremations were supposed to SAVE space. To smallise the footprint. Literally. We seem to be bastardising that a smidge.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with grandparents, to begin with, up the road. When one died, then we drove each Sunday to visit her. I guess for a while. I got sick every journey. In the front passenger well of the car. I hated it. Two hours with my head in a bucket. Visiting a dead grandmother whom I thought was a witch. For some reason.
But yeah ... the notes are a great idea.
I have never heard of a columbarium before but this is a neat way to be buried. The notes are a good idea.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it sounds strange, but that looks like a really nice place to visit. I would enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful peaceful space for quiet remembrance and meditation.
ReplyDeleteGoodness what a huge place. An internment indoors does lend itself to cards and photos on the memorials
ReplyDeleteive never been inside something like this!
ReplyDeletefor me its exactly the same; no grandparents and no grave visits.. i realized that the other day when we were just wandering around, looking at all the graves and talking about what we saw, when some people came to mourn and i really felt out of place with my stupid big camera, at that moment.
I find the note cards very strange. Until I happened along this site I was not familiar with a columbarium. Like Julie, cremations should save space. I always thought cremains were kept by loved ones or scattered someplace. I do know of some cremains which are actually buried in cemetery lots.
ReplyDeletevery interesting
ReplyDeleteRegards
Great photos of this special memorial space. The notes are a touching addition to the flowers.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen anything like this before. I've seen outdoor walls with a small niche for ashes but that is generally covered with a small plaque - or a large list, like a remembrance wall. I love this idea. Great photos.
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