Do any of you go to the cemetery and place flowers in remembrance?

Ruth n Jersey

Ruth n Jersey

Well-known Member
Location
Northern New Jersey
Most of my family are buried in a cemetery near where I grew up. It was within walking distance from my home. When I was little my Grandma,Mom and I would plant flowers on many of the family graves. Every week during the summer we would carry sprinkle cans to the graves and water them. They had faucets along the roadway so we could fill our cans. As the years passed we eliminated some of the older graves. I guess more were added and it got to be to much. My Mom continued to put flowers on in spring and for Christmas until she died. Nothing real because we couldn't maintain them. I continue to do this. We live about 50 miles away now but twice a year I put flowers. I went today so they would be there for Memorial Day and for the summer. Right after Thanksgiving I put a Christmas wreath. The hubby drives me but shows no interest in doing this on his family grave. That is his decision and is fine with me. My Son in law says they are no longer there so why do it? It is in remembrance and makes me feel good is all I can say.
 

I make the rounds of three cemeteries and place pots on Memorial Day. I water them during the summer and collect them in the fall.

When we were kids we lived close to the local cemetery and I remember going with my grandmother to take whatever cut flowers we had growing in the yard or taking glass gallon jugs of water to water the big pots during the hottest part of the summer.

I think I will probably be the last generation in my family to honor my parents and grandparents. I look around the cemetery and it seems like two generations is about the limit for people to bring flowers or just visit for a few minutes.

Two years ago I purchased my own stone and it seems odd to see it when I go to the cemetery, oh well, we'll all have a turn!!!
 

Just traveled 1600 miles to put flowers on my wife's grave and spend some time there. After she passed, I moved here to help keep my mom out of a nursing home. Too far away to do the flowers more. Guess I don't trust florists enough to handle it.......
 
I would except now I live about 3,000 miles away. My husband is buried in a national cemetery and I know every holiday volunteers come by and decorate each grave. Last year on Memorial Day my neighbor took me to a local military cemetery and even though it wasn't quite the same, I was able to sit in the sun, listen to the bands playing, and sent my thoughts up to him.

I actually find walking through a cemetery to be very peaceful. I used to sit near my husband's grave, smoke a cigarette and talk to him.
 
I do because my mother and aunt's were very faithful about keeping the family graves tidy and keeping the artificial flowers looking fresh.

I have even sought out the grave of an uncle who was killed during the fall of Singapore in 1942, before I was born. He lies in Krangi War Cemetery and I've been to place fresh flowers a couple of times when I had the opportunity.

His brother, who also lost his life during WWII is buried in the middle of Nigeria and I will never be able to go there so when I was last in Singapore I 'talked' to my uncle and asked him to tell his brother that I have not forgotten him.
 
The cemetery where my dead family members are buried is really close by, so I go all the time to change wreaths and displays for all the holidays. I'm lucky that it's no problem for me. :eek:
 
My parents are buried in La. and I am in Houston. When I visit my sister I visit their graves and put out silk flowers. My sister lives there but only goes there when I come in. Its always been that way. We all handle it in our own way, I guess. Its one of the reasons I decided to be cremated. My daughter was upset as she said "how will we visit you?" My reply "you don't visit me now so why would you worry about that ". Scatter my ashes over the ocean as I love the beach. Wish I could afford to live closer to it.
 
The cemetery where my youngest son and husband are buried is only three miles from
my house so I go often.
As soon as the risk of frost is over I will plant geraniums on their resting places and keep
them watered during the hot months. I like to remember them and visit their graves which
are side by side.
I will be cremated and buried there when the time comes for me to depart this world.
 
When my father died two and a half years ago at the age of 89 my mother couldn't decide where to scatter his ashes. I kept them in my house on a shelf for about six months and was happy to. Finally she picked on a spot on top of a hill in some woods where he used to walk. There's a beautiful view of the North Pennines from there.

My mother, my daughter and I went there and scattered them. It was a sad but good day as we remembered all the many good things about him.

We walk there every few weeks these days and we always stop. There's a stone bench there and my mother, still active and walking a mile or two every couple of days, stops and says (out loud) 'Hiya fella'.
 
We live on the family property with our ancestors. The first marked grave in the cemetary is 1827. If a flu epidemic didn't get 'em my family routinely made it to their late eighties or so.
The sense of continuity in that yard is so soothing to me. As youngsters we grew up with the stones and maintenance of the graves. Each generation seems to commemorate the previous two.

I always make sure that flags are maintained for the veterans.


I am afraid my branch of the tree is growing away from the rest as my brother and his family are the operators of the farm, and my offspring are female.
 
There's an old joke about an American asking a Chinese friend: "Hey, Chang. When are your ancestors going to come out of their graves and eat the food you keep leaving for them?" The Chinese friend answered, "Same time your ancestors come out and smell flowers."

We were in Vancouver during the Chinese New Year once and there were shops that sold all sorts of cardboard televisions, radios, refrigerators, and all manner of household items. The traditional Chinese still burn these items during the New Year to "send" them to their ancestors. They also burn fake money to "send" to the ancestors and for good luck during the coming year.
 
Even though many families now use cremation instead of embalming, it does not mean
their loved ones ashes cannot be buried in a cemetery.
Not everyone wants a family member's ashes scattered.
It's an individual choice.
 
Yes we do. Bright and sunny flower. Do not go there often as it is a long way to travel.
 

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