B'nai Amoona Cemetery

The base of a pillar at the entrance to B'nai Amoona Cemetery

The B'nai Amoona cemetery in University City has an "old section" on one side of the road and the "new" on the other. We visited the "old section".

On the bus, our tour guide, Linda Koenig, informed us of several Jewish death rituals (some are no longer practiced, some are). In the old days, cemeteries were thought to be "unclean" so water was available to wash your hands after you visited.
There was only one mausoleum in this cemetery which unfortunately has been vandalized. One difference in Jewish and non-Jewish mausoleums is the bodies must be buried in the ground for the Jewish. So, inside this mausoleum was a ladder to take a person down to the graves.
This mausoleum had been broken in and vandalized. The vandals were probably unaware that Jewish tradition dictates a simple shroud, no jewelry. There was nothing to be had by the destruction.
Another tradition dating back for thousands of years is to place a pebble at the site when visiting (many saw this done in the film Schindler's List) Many of us placed our stones at this mausoleum. Linda thought this custom originated when people placed rocks on a grave to keep animals from digging it up. She believes that is also where the custom of the tombstone began.
We also learned that this symbol means that the person was a Cohen---the priestly class.
The symbol on the left of this stone nearest Linda is a pitcher which means that individual was a Levite---those who serve the priests (Cohens). My friend, Sharon, asked,"But Levi was the priest in the Old Testament." Linda explained that Moses and his brother Aaron were both of Levi, but Aaron's descendents became the Cohens. So, Cohens are Levites also.
We had talked earlier about the Woodsman's Society, but we saw one of the stones up close. Today it is into financial planning and all sorts of insurance, but in its early days, it provided burial insurance which included their distinctive stones that look like tree stumps.

From here we went to Jefferson Barracks.

Bellefontaine and Calvary Cemeteries: history

Buffalo head that is part of the William Clark Monument in Bethlehem Cemetery.

We also learned a lot of St. Louis history while going through these two cemeteries which are side-by-side. While Calvary is mostly a Catholic cemetery, Bellefontaine had people of all faiths. Together they make up over 700 acres of land in North St. Louis.

According to the website http://stlouis.missouri.org/neighborhoods/history/walnut/text26.htm

Adjoining the Walnut Park area on the north are the City's two largest cemeteries, Bellefontaine and Calvary. They were established to provide outlying burial grounds to replace older ones near Jefferson Avenue, which lay in the path of the expanding city. Oldest of the two is Bellefontaine, which was founded in 1849 on 138 acres of the old Hempstead farm. Soon after its founding, an epidemic of cholera struck St. Louis to such an extent that fatalities numbered about ten percent of the population. An average of about thirty persons a day were interred at the new cemetery. After the epidemic, James E. Yeatman of the cemetery board, chose a young Brooklyn landscape architect to design the grounds. Almerin Hotchkiss remained as cemetery superintendent until his death 46 years later, when he was succeeded by his son for another twenty years. Bellefontaine's fine collection of trees is said to be due to the vigilance of the senior Hotchkiss, as are the winding roads and park-like beauty of the grounds. The roster of names of prominent St. Louisans buried there reads like a Who's Who list of the St. Louis citizenry. In later years, Bellefontaine was enlarged to reach its present area of more than 300 acres.

In addition to the Wainwright and Lemp Mausoleums, the Bellefontaine Cemetery also has one for the Busch's, Griesediecks and Anheusers---all beer barons. This is part of the Busch mausoleum decorated in hops. Originally, the Busches had a mausoleum that looked like a Swiss Chalet, but they were teased about it so much, they moved everyone to the "back yard", tore it down and re-built it to look like a miniature Gothic cathedral. They did, however, keep everyone in the backyard.

Above are the group from church who went on this tour: me, Nancy H., Sharon, Jean, Nancy S.
Busch Mausoleum with "back yard"

I thought David Francis tomb (below) was the most moving. David Francis was mayor, governor and the energy behind the St. Louis World's Fair.
Although this stone is not of anyone really famous, I thought it was interesting. This is for a riverboat captain named Sellers who went by the nickname "Mark Twain". Samuel Clemons adopted that name after Sellers' death.
Looking like the showman he was in real life, this is the tomb of Chris Von der Ahe---owner of the baseball team that became the St. Louis Cardinals. He had this erected 20 years before his death with his birth and death dates inscribed! He died of natural causes exactly on the day he'd predicted 20 years earlier. For more about the man who took his gate receipts to the bank in a wheelbarrow, read here.
But the most famous (based on the number of visitors) was William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
We learned he went from lieutenant to general by-passing all of the other ranks.
In addition to family members, several family slaves are also buried here.
The Clark Family Plot had a prime location at one time over-looking the Mississippi River. Although we could see the river in the distance, it now over-looks a trucking facility.
After briefly getting lost in Bellefontaine Cemetery, we went to Calvary Cemetery. According to the source mentioned earlier:
To the west, is Calvary Cemetery, the City's largest, which covers over 400 acres. It was established in 1858, under the direction of Archbishop Peter R. Kenrick. In the early 1850's, the cemetery's western portion was the Old Orchard Farm of James B. Clay, son of the famed Kentucky statesman. The old mansion on the site was later the archbishop's summer home. It was not razed until about 1950. Among notables buried in Calvary Cemetery are Auguste Chouteau, co-founder of St. Louis; General William Tecumseh Sherman, of Civil War fame; and members of the Lucas, Mullanphy and DeMenil families. A more recent grave there is that of Doctor Thomas A. Dooley, the founder of Medico, who was interred in 1961. Calvary is one of ten Archdiocesan Catholic cemeteries in the vicinity of St. Louis.
Although we didn't get to see all of those historics graves we did see the plot of General Tecumseh Sherman and his family---including his son's to the right. "Little Willie" died on the battlefield of natural causes while visiting his dad: he has a little drum on his stone.
Tennessee Williams epitaph was actually chosen by a friend according to this article I found on the internet: At first, Lady St. Just says, she had a difficult time deciding on the words she would place on Williams's tombstone. ''And I decided,'' she says, ''that the soul of Tennessee Williams is in this line from 'Camino Real': 'The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.' '' The essence of Tennessee was gentleness. He was the most gentle and compassionate person anyone could hope to meet. I feel blessed. He brought poetry into my life.''

Bellefontaine Cemetery: customs

A "Perpetual Mourner" may be a young woman or an angel.

Several of us took a Parkway School District Tour of St. Louis cemeteries. My favorite was the first one we visited which was Bellefontaine Cemetery consisting of 350 acres and 13 miles of winding roads. One fact we were all pretty surprised to hear was that this was where there was the greatest diversity of trees--not the Botanical Garden. Along the way we heard a lot about the cemetery culture as well as St. Louis history.

Many family plots originally had wrought iron fences around them. Most of these fences were pulled up and given to the war effort during World War II. This is one of the few remaining in Bellefontaine Cemetery which the family must continue to maintain.

Some family plots have steps leading to the plot. In the Victorian era, families wanted their family plots to reflect their wealth and class. They had steps that led to their house and felt that steps should also lead to their family's final resting place.

Some families have graves which encircle an oblisk which simply marks the family plot. But, it did resemble campers around a campfire.

Tiffany window in the Lemp mausoleum

Other families, like the Lemp's (at one time our biggest Beer Brewing family) have large mausoleums. The Lemp's even have a beautiful Tiffany window in theirs.But my favorite was the Wainwright Mausoleum designed by Louis Sullivan. From the moment I saw it at a distance, I could tell this was something special. So, I wasn't surprised when the tour bus stopped in front of it (there were at least a dozen mausoleums in this area)Even the little window on the side was interesting---notice the "frame".

It has beautiful exterior gates and interior doors.

Our tour guide said there are beautiful mosaics inside, but the doors are only open a few times a year for architecture students.

Easter Eggs in May

Every year, I find Easter eggs long after the event. This week, I've found 3 eggs. Now, why can't we find them at Easter? Well, my family hunts about 300 eggs each year. So, don't even suggest a map, a grid or counting! We've tried all of that. We have already agreed to cut down on the number because it is just too much candy. So, if we hide 30 eggs, I think people will look a little harder for them.

On the other hand, it is sort of a family tradition to find the eggs the following summer. I think my family remembers several occasions when the eggs were found by smell. One that was particularly ripe was in the bumper of someone's car. (Bumpers used to be concave with lots of space to hide eggs near the places where they attach to the car)


But, really, family! Two of the eggs were PINK---didn't exactly blend in with the green and brown of their surrounding area. Granted, I did get a little lazy in my hiding and just started tossing them in my flower beds.

The animals haven't had too much trouble finding them. . .

"Old" Friends

Through Facebook, I've become re-acquainted with several high school and college friends. It's really fun catching up with someone I haven't seen in 30-40 years. We have also had several occasions this Spring to have Face-to-Face meetings with "old" friends although we've kept up with them over the years. Pictured above is Margie Boone (I'm going to use just maiden names)---I first met her in 3rd grade. We went all through school together including college and our first teaching jobs. I have many memories with her parents,too---camping trips and softball games (I didn't excell in either, but they seemed to like me anyway because I made Margie look so good, I think). Margie usually drives a convertible, but had the "company truck" on one of our visits. We had dinner with her and her husband Theron one evening and the years seemed to just melt away even as we talked about our grandchildren and our lives.

I, also, got to visit with Carol Parsons this Spring while her daughter skated at a nearby arena. Carol and I met in 6th grade, were chemistry lab partners (you have NO IDEA what a challenge it was to be my lab partner) and lived in Germany at the same time in 1966-67. I also toured parts of Europe with her and her parents during that time period. (no photo) Carol lives out of town, is still teaching, so I don't get to see her as much as I'd like to.

This is a "twofer". On the left is Jan Milosovich who is the mother of one of Rachel's friends (I've known Jan for about 20 years so she's more of a "new" friend) and on the right Carol Rittel---another friend from 4th grade on. Carol and I were in German class together for two years and played bridge throughout college with Margie and Carol Parsons, too. The four of us were also in Girl Scouts together. Carol and I continue to see each other at church---we even were present last week for Graham's baptism (he's the little guy pictured above).
Here is Carol and her son Rob who is Graham's daddy (and little Robbie's, too).

I went to a luncheon a few weeks ago with my college friend Donna Carriere (no photo) and her 3 daughters. We go to church together, too. My daughter Leah was with me---she and Donna's daughter Annie were friends in high school as were my daughter Rachel and Donna's son Ray. I've know Donna since about the first week of college. We were friends before we pledged the same sorority (along with Margie, above). She has always been one of my favorite college friends and I feel blessed to see her and Carol Rittel at church for luncheons or Bunny Breakfasts or Rummage Sales and the occasional Sunday mornings we attend.


Although Dave (above) and I went to college together, we didn't really meet until we were out of college. My Dave and I (there were 3 Daves in our group: Arleen's Dave, Jackie's Dave and Kay's Dave) were friends with Dave and Arleen when we were all singles. Dave and Arleen were the glue that kept our group of friends together with the ski trips, float trips and parties which they planned. Although they live in Florida, we enjoy their yearly visits and e-mails. It sounds like they are still planning social occasions but instead of a bunch of "swinging singles", they plan bean bag baseball and theater outings for their "retirement community."


In February, we also got to have lunch with Ed and Ruth Will (no photo) this spring. Ed has been one of my friends throughout high school and college. We were in high school drama as well as other classes. He was also a friend in our college-age church group---The Searchers. Ed and Ruth had beautiful photos to share with us of Winter in Yellowstone Park. I may not always agree with Ed on politics (OK, I may NEVER agree with him), but we have always been able to laugh at our differences of opinion and stay friends.

Finally, yesterday I went to a Stretch Class at Wellbridge and saw Drew Schumacher---also a grade school/high school friend. He looks exactly the same---red hair and all! I do enjoy living close to where I grew up with opportunities to continue seeing "old" faces.

Fair Share

Leah joined a type of co-op that specializes in locally-made and locally-grown foods: Fair Share. She knew I'd be interested because one of my new year's resolutions is to eat more locally. I told her I'd like to share, so this week I got the bag of groceries: olive oil (from Greece. . .), green-onion cheddar cheese, mustard greens, swiss chard, mixed lettuce greens, mushrooms, trout, thyme, tomato-basil bread, eggs. What I like about this and having my own garden is my cooking gets more creative. (pictured above are the lettuce greens, swiss chard with almonds (Trader Joe's) and strawberries (Aldi's)
This is a "stir fry" recipe I've used: chicken, onions, carrots, celery, spinach with wild and brown rice. I added swiss chard and mushrooms from the co-op.
The next night, we had the trout grilled with lemon butter and swiss chard as well as the tomato-basil bread with green onion cheddar cheese (baked potato, mixed veggies, fruit bowl)
Last night, in addition to bread and fruit, we had a Trader Joe's pasta dish, chicken sausage (al fresco brand), but I added more of the mushrooms, swiss chard and spinach. (This is one of the dishes I featured last year with the yellow squash)

I did give the mustard greens to a friend---we had way too many greens including lettuce and spinach from the week before. I also gave another friend some of the mushrooms and thyme (I have a back yard with thyme). We have had the eggs and they aren't too "gamey", but the olive oil hasn't been opened---I already had a jug full, but I'm eager to try Greek olive oil---I usually have Italian.

I'm excited to be creative in the kitchen!

Mother's Month

There's nothing "sacred" about Mother's Day---it's OK with me if my kids want to just celebrate my wonderfulness for an entire month. Mother's Day weekend, Leah and Eli spent a few days with us. We went to a "Daughters of God" luncheon at church (Eli was the only male) on Saturday. Then, we went to worship on Sunday together.
The following weekend, we were with our other two daughters and 4 grandchildren. We went to Rebecca's to help her keep an eye on Roman while she had a garage sale. . .
Business picked up when Rebecca made this sign---the "girls" are celebrating the success of their 2-day sale!
Then, we went in to Rachel's to watch Brett, Davis and Libby while Rachel and Kyle went to a wedding.
Davis was very proud of their compost pile and garden.
Libby loves her swing.
Brett wanted us to feel welcome by wearing his Cardinal gear! (He brought Grandpa a Royals cap to watch the Royals baseball game though)
On Sunday after church, we went to The Blue Moose for brunch.

We had great food and the kids seemed to enjoy the Al Fresco dining. Thanks Warrens, Lewises and Twenters for a great month!