Gardens of Stone --- A Cemetery Blog by Alexandra Kathryn Mosca

  Walter B. Cooke's was once a busy chain of independently owned funeral homes throughout the New York metropolitan area. At the time of Cooke's death, in 1972, there were 13 locations. Cooke's motto was: "A funeral should never cost more than a family can afford" and for many years the company advertised a complete funeral for $150. Cooke is entombed in a private family room in Ferncliff Cemetery. The Cooke name was absorbed by SCI/Dignity Memorial.

  My article: "The Power of Eternal Love: Unforgettable Love Stories That Transcend Even Death" is the cover story for this month's American Cemetery & Cremation magazine.  The cover shot is of the monument artist Marc Chagall designed for his beloved wife, Bella, when she died at the age of 49. Other love stories include Charles & Jane Griffith (Green-Wood), Jonathan & Mary Reed (Evergreen) Lawrence and Elvira Wegielski (Woodlawn) William Wetmore Story & Emelyn (Protestant Cemetery in Rome).  

Silent film director, J. Gordon Edwards, worked for Fox Films before it merged with Twentieth Century Pictures. While with Fox, he directed more than 50 films, including the original Cleopatra, starring silent screen star Theda Bara. The co-mingled cremains of Edwards and his wife, Angela, are inurned in one of the crypt spaces in their mosque-shaped mausoleum, which is decorated with movie props from some of Edwards' movies.

  The mausoleum of the Lewis family in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery evokes images of enchanted cottages in the woods.

Soft and buttery, Spritz cookies began as a Scandinavian Christmas tradition that involves squiring the dough through a press with patterned holes and dipping the cookies in chocolate or other flavorings. Today, it is a tradition shared by many countries and cultures, and many home bakers have their favorite take on the recipe. One of the most special is the one Naomi Miller-Dawson made for her family. And what makes this particular recipe so special, is that it is etched into her tombstone.    I had heard about the Spritz Cookie gravestone, for some time,  But it wasn't until early this year, that I finally saw the unique monument.  On a cold, but sunny, day in February, I met up with Marge Raymond, Green-Wood Cemetery's most popular tour guide, to tour the grounds and interview her for an upcoming article. After showing me a number of interesting sites, she led me to the pink granite monument topped by what appears to be an open cookbook. There, across two stone pa...

I came upon the grave of Dr. Auguste Renouard quite by accident when I was working on my Green-Wood Cemetery book. And, of course, I included a photo of it in the book.   Considered "the father of arterial embalming."  Renouard's monument is a tribute to him and notes: E rected by the Funeral Directors and Embalmers of the United States in Recognition of the Valuable Services of August Renouard in Advancing the Science of the Preservation of the Dead. Trained as a medical doctor, he developed a keen interest in embalming, writing often on the subject for funeral industry trade journals. In 1878, Renouard published what is said to be the first embalming textbook, 'The Undertaker's Manual.' Several years later, he opened The Renouard Training School for Embalmers in New York City. The mortuary school had a stellar reputation for turning out some of the most skilled embalmers of the time. Dr, Renouard died on March 13, 1912. Three years after Renouard's death...

  Mary Higgins Clark, known as the 'Queen of Suspense,' was a beloved and prolific writer in the mystery and suspense genre for over four decades. With more than 50 books to her name, many of which were adapted into movies, Clark had a profound impact on the literary world.  After discovering that she was laid to rest in Westchester's Gate of Heaven Cemetery, I set out one summer afternoon to find her grave. Though initially mistaken by a similar Clark monument, I eventually located her final resting place in a bucolic and shady grove. Higgins died at the age of 92 and was buried with her first husband, Warren.

  The sighting of the Headless Horseman is a Halloween tradition at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

 Legendary actress Anne Bancroft is buried  in a shaded corner grave, across the way from her parents. Bancroft, who appeared on stage and screen,  portrayed  Anne Sullivan in  the Broadway production of The Miracle Worker for which she won a Tony Award for Best Actress. She reprised her role in  the 1962 film adaptation, this time winning an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance. One of her most famous roles was as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate.  Bancroft was married to director, actor, and writer Mel Brooks. The grave of Bancroft's parents, Michael and Mildred Italiano.

  This summer I made a couple of trips to Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. My first visit was solely to do research and take photos for an article I was working on for August's  American Cemetery & Cremation  magazine.  Ferncliff is known for their magnificent community mausoleums, as well as an extensive roster of notables. Within their mausoleums are a number of private rooms which contain stunning personalized stained-glass windows. With their intricate designs and vibrant colors, they add beauty and elegance to the sacred space. Exploring the community mausoleums and admiring the artistry brought back fond memories for me, because Ferncliff was the subject of my very first cemetery profile back in 1999. Here are some of the highlights of my exploration.