A Shout Out to one of my Followers

On Saturday I was adding photos to my memorials on Find A Grave. When I notice a little flower by my Mom's name.

Flower in the red circle

So I went and checked it out and this is what I found.  

Flower and Note left on my Mom's Memorial

Words can not express the appreciation I felt to see those kind words there.  It touched me very deeply and I was a little surprised by the depth of those feelings.  It made me think of my mother in a different light.  What I remember of my Mom as a nurse was a women who came home tired from work.  Believe me I have had those days myself.  I felt that Mary who left those kind words represented to me all the people who if they could have said those words of thanks to my Mom would have.  I know how that feels to have someone come to you and thank you for the good care you gave to their family member.  I also know how it feels to take care of others and do the best you can for them especially in difficult situations.

Mom died when I was 16 and a Senior in High School so she never saw me become a nurse.  She didn't want me to be a nurse because it is such hard work.  I am glad I didn't listen to her nursing has been a good to me.

I sent Mary an email of appreciation and asked how she came to leave a comment on my Mom's memorial.   She replied she follows my blog on Google Reader and saw my Memorial Day post and I quote, "I liked that she was a nurse during WWII and the sacrifice she endured there and she was prompted to put the flowers on the memorial."

Thanks Mary for following my blog and for the flowers! 



Fun as a Find A Grave Volunteer

Today I was able to go the Mesa City Cemetery and take some pictures I had claimed on Find a Grave.  I really do enjoy the opportunity it gives me to help someone else.  This was only my second time to take pictures for someone else.  I had 6 requests, 5 from the site and one sent to me privately.  I wish I could say I found them all but I can't.  I even went back to the area it was suppose to be a second time and still didn't find it.


The graves with the flags is the one I was looking for

So bright and early this morning after my work out at the gym I went to the cemetery armed with my camera, my copy of the cemetery map of block numbers and my list of request.  Before I went I checked out the cemetery website to gain some insight on how to find graves.  It was helpful information and did made things easier.  I also highlighted the blocks I was looking for and numbered my requests in the order I had plan to search them out. 

The fun thing was how closed I parked to the area I needed.  On two of the stones I was looking for the number marked of the area and I looked down and there was the grave stone I needed.  Above is a picture of my car and one of the graves I was looking for was this close, it is the one with the two flags.  I guessed right on to the area I needed to look.  This is an older part of the cemetery so there are a lot of trees.  I was also very lucky that the area I was working at was not being watered while I was there.  I was suddenly surprised when I heard the sprinklers come on right across from where I was.  

After I was home again I was looking at the pictures I took and noticed dirt on the grave stones, today's were all flat.  So the next time I am going to take a little dust broom with me to clean the stones off before I take a picture.  Today I had to take them all looking at the stones upside down because the sun was to my back and would have casted a shadow over the stones.  Aren't computers wonderful where we can rotate pictures so they are right side up?  The other thing I have decide is during the summer I need to go right at 7 AM when the gates open because it was getting very hot when I was there between 9 & 10 AM.

I would recommend to any one who hasn't volunteered to do so, it is very satisfying and much appreciated.

A Volunteer Went the Extra Mile

When I entered my request for my Mom’s grave stone, I did not request my Dad’s I am not sure why but I did not request it. Christine the volunteer did take a picture of my Dad’s gravestone. I did not realize it until a couple of days after the original post on my Mom’s stone. I did send her a thank you note when I noticed the gravestone. Here is the link to the picture.



http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=hartmann&GSiman=1&GScid=72494&GRid=68940907



A Rosary Case like my Dad's

 My first reaction when I saw the rosaries on my Dad’s gravestone was, “How appropriate.” I am not sure if my brothers chose this or my Dad. I was not involved with the funeral arrangements. One of the memories I have of my Dad was he always had his rosaries in his pockets. He carried them in a little black case and every time he placed them in his pocket he would cross himself with the rosaries (in the case) in his right hand and them kiss the case and place them in his right pocket of his pants. There were many an evening during Lent that we would sit or kneel and say the rosaries. I can remember him saying the rosaries for Mom when she was so sick with cancer or before one of her surgeries. He was a man of faith and prayed frequently.

Only One Left

Yes there is only one more grave request to be completed.  This is for my Great Grandfather.  He immigrated from Germany to New York City.  He was a tailor by trade but he also owned a beer saloon in Astoria, Long Island City. 

This is part of a letter from my great uncle Fred telling me a little about my Great Grandpa Joseph.  I hope to see his grave stone soon if he has one.



Find A Grave Update

Oh this is too exciting, another email!

Great News!



Find A Grave contributor, Christine has fulfilled your photo request for Annette Hartmann. To see the new photo(s), visit Annette Hartmann's online memorial by clicking on the link below:


http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=68941016

This is my second Mom's grave stone.  I knew she had been an Army Nurse during WWII but now I know her rank.  I also thought she signed up in Massachusetts where she is from but maybe she signed up in New York.  It is a lead since I have never found any records of her in Massachusetts. 

I had her veteran's flag that was on her coffin and I had it hanging outside of my townhouse back in the 90's.  I went out one evening and came home and some one had stolen it.  I was not a happy camper, I still get mad about it when I think of it.  I guess if I had been smart maybe I should have place the flag in one of those triangle boxes.  Oh well too late now.  I was just proud to hang her flag.

My attempts to be a contributor have not been too successful.  I found one open request and took the picture and submitted it.  But every other time I have searched to find an open request they were claimed the day before I went in to check.  I am set up to be notified by email when a request is placed but I have not received such an email,  and yes my email is correct. 

I was showing the pictures of the grave stones to my husband, who isn't really into genealogy and he said, "This is so cool that people are willing to take these pictures.  What a great idea." 

One small step for me and my ancestors.

Find A Grave Update

Well my email inbox had another little email on Thursday that read Find A Grave Photo Request: Success!
The first few lines read,

Find A Grave contributor, JP has fulfilled your photo request for Minnie Chaplin. To see the new photo(s), visit Minnie Chaplin's online memorial by clicking on the link below:This gave me such a feeling of joy!  This is my maternal Grandmother, and we share the same middle name of Elizabeth.


http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=68941389



When I clicked on the link I was surprised to see three names on the grave stone.  William T is my grandfather and Herbert H is my great uncle.  William and Herbert were brothers. 

I am guessing but I think the other Chaplin brothers pitched in to buy the plot for my grandfather, he was a motor man and died at 41.  There were four brothers here in the States at one time, they all came from England.  One of the uncles, Vic was better off as I inherited some money he left to my mother.  He died back in England but had been in the States and he had even taken my Aunt Em out on dates.  She is my Dad's sister.  I am not sure how Herbert ended up here or what happened to his wife.

Find A Grave Update

On Tuesday I took a PTO day so I could take a sewing machine class but I used the morning to work on some genealogy.  I decided it was a good day to call back East to different Cemeteries and find the plot locations for my mother, my Dad, my Second-Mom and my grandparents. 

I had just finished placing all my requests and was checking them and one was already claimed. 

I sure was excited.  Well today I was even more excited when I checked my email and had a message that a picture was posted. 

I am not sure what the correct protocol is on re-posting these pictures to my blog, so I am going to play it save and place a link back to the Find a Grave site.  

Hartmann, Edith, Mary & George

Cristina the volunteer sent a note that Edith's name is not engraved on the stone.  I was really disappointed to hear that little fact.  I did see the grave when I was about 11 before we moved to Florida, my Dad took me.  I have no recollection of it.  I like to think that he was going to add her name later and then we moved to Florida and it never happened.  I am guessing that it is a family plot. 

The nice thing is Cristina went the extra mile and took pictures of the other names engraved on the stone, down at the bottom.  Why would you engrave names at the bottom?  Thee is plenty or room up higher.  They would be my Dad's parents. 

Now because stories always make things more interesting.  Here is a little story.  The way the story goes is my grandparents didn't like my mother, she was a divorced women and in the 40's well you know.  According to her marriage registration to my Dad, her first marriage was annulled.  My parents waited until after my grandparents died to marry.  Of course my question is why did they wait almost three years after my grandparents died to marry.  Inquiring minds want to know but Dad was never a talker about this stuff, so I won't know.  Oh Dad you had such a way of putting spin on things.

One small step for me and my ancestors!

PS I just went and looked at the plot information again and it Grave 81 to 85.  That would include my grandparents, Dad & Edith & I bet Dad's sister Emma, since she was still single.

Find A Grave

One of my goals for this year was to learn more about Find A Grave and to volunteer. So last week I became a member and on Friday afternoon I did my first volunteer experience.  It was a very good experience.  It felt good to help someone.  I am willing to look for gravestones in two of the local cemeteries here in Mesa. 

Friday I left work early and was able to stop by the office of the cemetery and asked for the map.  This is a helpful tool.  The grave I needed was in plot 103.  I walked right past the monument the first time because the names where on the side facing away from me.  I found it on the way back.  I received a nice thank from the requester.

I stll haven't requested my graves yet because I don't know the plot numbers.  I'll do that soon.