cemetery travels
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A Day in my life —A Cemetery in the Snow, a Law Seminar and Stories to Tell
My day began early, as it always does. I’m a morning person, and I’ve found that the hours between 5:00 and 7:00 AM are an ideal time for writing, especially with my busy and often intense days at the funeral home. During these early hours, my mind is fresh, and there are typically no incoming…
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The Spritz Cookie Recipe
Soft and buttery, Spritz cookies originated as a Scandinavian Christmas tradition involving a unique preparation process. The dough is pressed through a special tool with patterned holes, creating intricate shapes. Once baked, these cookies are often coated in chocolate or other flavorings. Nowadays, this tradition is celebrated across various countries and cultures, with countless home…
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How I Became the “Cemetery Writer”
Today seems like the ideal day to explain how I became known as a cemetery writer. Early on in my career as a funeral director, I learned some essential lessons: the value of rituals, the deep need to say goodbye, the illusion of closure, and the importance of a lasting memorial. In my interactions with…
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Love Stories in Stone: Five Couples, Five Cemeteries
Love stories are not confined to novels or cinema; many of the most enduring are written quietly into the landscapes of our cemeteries. For the February issue of American Cemetery & Cremation magazine, I turned to five couples whose devotion did not end at death but instead reshaped the spaces where they rest. Their monuments—some…
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Westchester in Repose
Some of my favorite cemeteries are located in New York’s Westchester County. They are cemeteries I return to again and again. In the July issue of American Cemetery & Cremation magazine, I featured several of them in an article. Impresario Florenz Ziegfeld is buried in Kensico Cemetery with his second wife, actress Billie Burke, who famously played…
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My Favorite Cemetery Travel Books
Autumn. A time for pumpkin picking, hayrides, apple cider – and exploring cemeteries. There’s an energizing crispness in the air, and the cooler temperatures are perfect for long walks. In fact, taphophiles (cemetery enthusiasts) will tell you that the fall, with its cornucopia of vibrant colors, is prime time to rediscover (or discover for the first…