I began contributing in the northern lower Michigan area after submitting photo requests of my own on Find a Grave, in search of distant relatives heavily concentrated in Butler County Pennsylvania. I was taken aback by the generosity of time and effort of complete strangers to honor those requests.
My daughter and I recently began volunteering using our local library to gather information of rural cemeteries provided by genealogical societies in our area.
We then physically map , chart and catalog by hand, each gravestone and plot location where possible. Using Ancestory.com, Find a Grave and resources online we compare each source, and upload any photos or information that may be beneficial to a relative in their own search.
We also work to correct any errors in burial locations or lineage, and information that may assist those that have been searching for a distant relative's final resting place.
We do understand the delicate nature of our contribution, and we spend many hours not only walking and gaining information at our local cemeteries, but also cleaning headstones and memorials, refreshing vases and respecting trinkets and mementos at each grave.

We are finding several unmarked graves in our area, however if we are absolutely certain of a final resting place, we do our best to provide sufficient photos of plot location and setting.
We do upload a photo of death certificates if we are able to, particularly unmarked graves which we feel is important for ancestors searching who may not have the resources to locate that vital document. We feel it establishes a connection and validation that an ancestor has a record of burial in a particular cemetary. Nothing is more disturbing to me than searching the Find A Grave website and there are deceased with no information whatsoever listed. This was someone's family member. Rest assured that if we only added a death certificate photo, we did not start there. We worked very hard to locate your loved on our written map, we walked each cemetary numerous times, and we gave great honor and effort before closing our chapter on finding their grave.

I began contributing in the northern lower Michigan area after submitting photo requests of my own on Find a Grave, in search of distant relatives heavily concentrated in Butler County Pennsylvania. I was taken aback by the generosity of time and effort of complete strangers to honor those requests.
My daughter and I recently began volunteering using our local library to gather information of rural cemeteries provided by genealogical societies in our area.
We then physically map , chart and catalog by hand, each gravestone and plot location where possible. Using Ancestory.com, Find a Grave and resources online we compare each source, and upload any photos or information that may be beneficial to a relative in their own search.
We also work to correct any errors in burial locations or lineage, and information that may assist those that have been searching for a distant relative's final resting place.
We do understand the delicate nature of our contribution, and we spend many hours not only walking and gaining information at our local cemeteries, but also cleaning headstones and memorials, refreshing vases and respecting trinkets and mementos at each grave.

We are finding several unmarked graves in our area, however if we are absolutely certain of a final resting place, we do our best to provide sufficient photos of plot location and setting.
We do upload a photo of death certificates if we are able to, particularly unmarked graves which we feel is important for ancestors searching who may not have the resources to locate that vital document. We feel it establishes a connection and validation that an ancestor has a record of burial in a particular cemetary. Nothing is more disturbing to me than searching the Find A Grave website and there are deceased with no information whatsoever listed. This was someone's family member. Rest assured that if we only added a death certificate photo, we did not start there. We worked very hard to locate your loved on our written map, we walked each cemetary numerous times, and we gave great honor and effort before closing our chapter on finding their grave.