Sunday October 28, 2012 is "Visit a Cemetery Day"

I received the following press release from mysendoff.com yesterday. It appears to be legitimate; although my first thought was that Mr. Colin Firth must be having trouble finding work in the movie industry. It's obviously a different Colin Firth... anyway, check it out for yourself. At any rate, the Cemetery Search game looks like fun, and I may drag my family out to play it (good reading practice for my kid).

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"Visit a Cemetery Day" is a day in which everyone comes together to show their support for the historical and social importance cemeteries have in their community. Not only are cemeteries the best place to learn about the rich history of a community, they are also a place where a person can trace their ancestry through the generations.

"Visit a Cemetery Day" isn't just a day to commemorate those who came before, but rather it encourages people to embrace the celebration of life and to learn about the people who've helped shape each and every community across North America.

Whether it’s to bring flowers, wreaths or other tributes to the final resting places of family members and friends, take a quiet walk along the paths, photograph headstones and mausoleums, or study the engravings etched on headstones, "Visit A Cemetery Day" is also a wonderful opportunity to spend a beautiful autumn day with family and friends and visit the gravesites of ancestors and departed friends, before the cooler temperatures of winter arrive.

On "Visit A Cemetery Day," everyone is encouraged to take the time to visit a local cemetery to show their respect to those who came before and also enjoy an interesting and memorable day with family and friends, because every life is worth celebrating and remembering.

For further information please visit www.mysendoff.com/visitacemeteryday or contact mysendoff.com founder Colin Firth at colinfirth@mysendoff.com for more information.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Bernice (Faivre) WILLIAMSON (1892-1965)

BELOVED MOM

BERNICE WILLIAMSON

1892 - 1965

Bernice (Faivre) Williamson died on 14 March 1965, and is buried in Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura, Ventura County, California. She was 73 years old.

Born on 26 January 1892 in Mount Sterling, Brown County, Illinois, she was the daughter of Andrew and Louise (Rudity) Faivre. She became a resident of Ventura County in 1927.

My daughter at the grave of her 2nd great grandaunt.

At the time of her death, Bernice was married to Alen Elmo Williamson. He is not buried at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, according to cemetery office records. At the time of her mother's death in 1942, she was married to a gentleman with the last name of Tripp. It is possible that she also had a marriage prior to Mr. Tripp. I do not know for certain if she had any children.

Bernice was my great grandaunt. I was not quite 2 years old when she died, and until recently, was unaware that a branch of this family made it out to California. I would love to connect with other members of this family; please contact me if you are a cousin!

Read more about Bernice and family on Little Bytes of Life.

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Headstone of Bernice (Faivre) Williamson photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal on  9 December 2010, Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura, Ventura County, California.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal