"What if everybody forgets me because I was so young and never accomplished anything"

These are the words my 21 year niece said to me on the occassions that we would discuss the fact of her impending death. I assured her that she could never be forgotten by anyone in the family and that indeed she had accomplished many things in her lifetime.
I have always been my families photographer and historian and had researched my roots from all sides so spending time in cemetaries and photographing headstones is not an unusal pasttime. Cemetaries have always been fascinating to me because of the history and the mystery of the lifes of the people who were there I always wondered who they were and what they did or weren't able to do; what their story was and how those who loved them dealt with the loss. I have always found cemetaries peaceful and serene places but my sister use to be bothered by cemetaries when we were little and I will always remember my mothers response "You don't have to worry about the dead they have lived their lives and are at peace with God. If you have to worry it is those who are living that should concern you". My favorite cemetaries are Our Lady of Fatima, Lyons, Ohio which was the home Parish of my family for 30 years before it was closed (and where my niece and God Daughter is intered) and Queen of Peace Chapel Cemetary at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes in Sylvania, Ohio where I lived for a brief time of my early adulthood

"What if everybody forgets me because I was so young and never accomplished anything"

These are the words my 21 year niece said to me on the occassions that we would discuss the fact of her impending death. I assured her that she could never be forgotten by anyone in the family and that indeed she had accomplished many things in her lifetime.
I have always been my families photographer and historian and had researched my roots from all sides so spending time in cemetaries and photographing headstones is not an unusal pasttime. Cemetaries have always been fascinating to me because of the history and the mystery of the lifes of the people who were there I always wondered who they were and what they did or weren't able to do; what their story was and how those who loved them dealt with the loss. I have always found cemetaries peaceful and serene places but my sister use to be bothered by cemetaries when we were little and I will always remember my mothers response "You don't have to worry about the dead they have lived their lives and are at peace with God. If you have to worry it is those who are living that should concern you". My favorite cemetaries are Our Lady of Fatima, Lyons, Ohio which was the home Parish of my family for 30 years before it was closed (and where my niece and God Daughter is intered) and Queen of Peace Chapel Cemetary at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes in Sylvania, Ohio where I lived for a brief time of my early adulthood