I am a writer & funeral director based in NY. As a regular contributor to American Funeral Director & American Cemetery magazines, I profile famous funerals & notable cemeteries. I’m also the author of three books: Grave Undertakings, Green-Wood Cemetery & Gardens of Stone.
"However, little did I know that these connections could extend far beyond the funeral service. Funeral directors often serve as a source of comfort long after the funeral. We understand that the pain of loss continues long after the final goodbye, and we reach out to families in the weeks, months, and even years following their loss."
In 2003, I wrote my first book, Grave Undertakings, a memoir of my early career as a funeral director. At the time, there were few first-hand accounts of what it was like to work in the funeral business. Since then, a number of my colleagues have followed suit. The following are some of my favorites in no particular order.
New York City’s second largest cemetery -- at just under 400 acres -- was once the site of a Revolutionary War redoubt. Founded in 1863, Woodlawn's first burial --of 28-year-old Phoebe Underhill--took place two years later. Since that time more than 300,000 people have joined her in final repose. Everyday New Yorkers share the meticulously manicured grounds with noted authors, inventors, journalists, showmen, politicians and the occasional Robber Baron. With its mix of simple steles, intricate sculpture, and elaborate family mausoleums, Woodlawn, designated a National Historic Landmark in 2011, is an architectural smorgasbord. Here are some of the sights that will enthrall.
With a mix of business acumen and hard work, these American retailers built their own merchandising empires. These establishments range from the modest offerings of a five-and-dime store, to the splendor of a luxurious jeweler. While these well-known merchants are long gone, their legacies live on. Their graves can be found in some of New York's most famous cemeteries: Green-Wood, Woodlawn, Kensico and Salem Fields.
Although the heyday of the mafia is long past, the graves of major mobsters continue to be a big draw. The burial spots are found in major cemeteries in New York City, which has been the center point of the Mafia in American history.
Published in 1820, Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow holds a prominent place in American folklore. The tale of the headless horseman will forever be associated with Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. While tourists flock to the historic graveyard year round, the changing colors of fall herald in its prime seasonal attraction: Halloween. If you are planning a visit to the storied Westchester County, New York graveyard here's a sampling of what to see.
As a funeral director and avid taphophile (one who is interested in the history and architecture found in cemeteries), I have seen more than my fair share of burial grounds. Over the years, I have written profiles about a number of notable cemeteries for “American Cemetery Magazine.” One in particular, Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, has continuously grabbed my attention. In 2008, I wrote a book about this National Historic Landmark. The famous names read like a Who's Who of America: Currier and Ives, Steinway, Tiffany, Greeley, Sperry, Morse, Bernstein, Squibb, Pfizer, and FAO Schwarz. Yet, they comprise only a tiny fraction of the almost 600,000 people interred there. At 478 acres, Green-Wood is the largest cemetery in New York City. A visitor could spend weeks roaming its beautiful grounds and still not see it all. For a person with limited time to tour Green-Wood, here are a dozen monuments not to be missed.
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