Hi, my name is Helen and I'm a native New Orleanian who lived out of state for 23 years and moved home for good in 2011. With all its problems, there's no place like home!

I accidentally got involved with Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com when I did an Ancestry DNA test in 2016 and was shocked and delighted to learn that I wasn't 75% French and 25% German as I'd been told my entire life. Nobody had ever bothered to look back into either of my grandmothers' maternal lineage where there's lots of Irish, English and even Italian, starting with my great grandmothers! I also had no idea about how long my family has been in Louisiana, but we were here before the Louisiana purchase and I am proud of my heritage on both sides of my family.

During the 2-week trial period you get with the DNA test, I got hooked on Ancestry.com. FindAGrave came next, and now I find myself spending my free time looking for my own relatives' final resting places and helping others find their loved ones. It's fascinating! I'm eager to take photos for people who don't live in the area, especially for requests that note the cemetery plot number and location. Some cemeteries will not release this info to non-family members and it's very time consuming to have them research it even when they WILL release info to anyone. Cemeteries that are easiest for me to get to regularly are Metairie, Lakelawn and Greenwood in New Orleans since I work full-time.

Since I'm also a practicing Catholic, I pray for everyone whose graves I visit or pass by, and ask their prayers for myself, my family and of course for their living family members. May they all rest in peace!

Hi, my name is Helen and I'm a native New Orleanian who lived out of state for 23 years and moved home for good in 2011. With all its problems, there's no place like home!

I accidentally got involved with Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com when I did an Ancestry DNA test in 2016 and was shocked and delighted to learn that I wasn't 75% French and 25% German as I'd been told my entire life. Nobody had ever bothered to look back into either of my grandmothers' maternal lineage where there's lots of Irish, English and even Italian, starting with my great grandmothers! I also had no idea about how long my family has been in Louisiana, but we were here before the Louisiana purchase and I am proud of my heritage on both sides of my family.

During the 2-week trial period you get with the DNA test, I got hooked on Ancestry.com. FindAGrave came next, and now I find myself spending my free time looking for my own relatives' final resting places and helping others find their loved ones. It's fascinating! I'm eager to take photos for people who don't live in the area, especially for requests that note the cemetery plot number and location. Some cemeteries will not release this info to non-family members and it's very time consuming to have them research it even when they WILL release info to anyone. Cemeteries that are easiest for me to get to regularly are Metairie, Lakelawn and Greenwood in New Orleans since I work full-time.

Since I'm also a practicing Catholic, I pray for everyone whose graves I visit or pass by, and ask their prayers for myself, my family and of course for their living family members. May they all rest in peace!