I grew up with divorced parents. After the divorce my mom moved us far away. I rarely saw my dad's side of the family. I began asking questions once I was an adult realizing that I didn't know anything about half of my family tree.
Flash forward many years, and my husband and I moved to the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. One year when my dad visited from Manitoba he asked if I wanted to visit his granny's grave. I had no idea that I lived so close to where my great grandmother was buried.
We set off with my two sons, a spray bottle of water, some rags, scissors, and flowers. Dad hadn't been to visit since he was a young teen, but still remembered the area of the cemetery she was buried in. We could have asked for directions from the office, but instead we walked row upon row until we found Elizabeth Y Thomson's marker. It was emotional for me to realize I had heard stories about this grandmother, but this was the first time I had actually visited with her. I had not known that she was close enough for me to visit.
**Elizabeth Young Slicer**
BIRTH 4 AUG 1882 • North Berwick, Haddingtonshire, Scotland
DEATH 24 JUN 1958 • Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
My dad called her Granny.
She was known as Aunt Lizzie to her nieces and nephews.
She was known as Aunt Lizzie to her nieces and nephews.
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| My sons and I bringing flowers visiting my great grandmother's grave site Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada |
This grave marker rubbing was done in crayon. My grandmother was blind. She had lost her center vision to macular degeneration. Crayon was an ideal medium to use for this rubbing because my grandmother could feel the outlined edges of the headstone. She was able to read her mother's headstone with her fingertips. Had we used any other medium she wouldn't have been able to 'see' her mother's final resting place after so many years living away from British Columbia. My grandmother loved being able to visit her mother's graveside from her home in Manitoba.
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| Grave Marker rubbing done in crayon |
The crayon has held up well. After my grandmother died 15 years ago it was returned to me. Today it appears to be in the same condition it was when I mailed it to her 18 years ago.
Visiting with family even after death!
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***
Sources:
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 3789 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G3M1
Links:
Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/
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What a wonderful way to share your grandmother's mother's grave info with her
ReplyDeleteThank you
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