Halloween Decorations Forever: Calling Me From The Grave
Forest Green Park Cemeteries & Mausoleums Morganville, New Jersey Grave 34D: Row E, Grave 10 (Volunteer post on Find-A-Grave) |
When I reflect on my adventures of family research, I find that my ancestors who have passed over centuries, decades and recently have reached out to me from the grave. For some it may be spooky or mystical, and for others it may just be coincidence. I find it comforting to have my ancestors who may or may not have known me, wanting to tell me something I may not have known before.
There are many signs given as I travel and meet people. The clues are there, you just have to be willing to hear. Months before I went to find my cousin Christine G. Culley, who loved halloween, had been in my psyche. I searched and I searched and tried to call and was met by, “The number you have reached has been disconnected.” Little did I know she was living when I searched for her, but somehow when she passed the need to find her became even stronger.
As a genealogist, I am not only led by the paper trail, and the stories of those who may know, but by the Spirit of the individual that I am seeking. They come to me at night. They come to me while I am awake. I am open to this communication of my ancestors, as they are the ones who guide me through my journey.
She loved all holidays — but Halloween was an esp. fav of hers, and I’m sure much of that was connected with its spiritual associations. She frequently joked about still having the decorations up all over apt. — it became a running joke with us, and why I felt (unconventional Bohemian that she is) it would please her to have the headstone read “Halloween decorations forever” (although I didn’t discuss the headstone with her since the brief discussion I precipitated on the subject upset her…but I had to get some idea of her wishes).
Chris had vaguely indicated she would like a priest (the local parish ended up graciously giving her a FULL high mass, even bringing in an organist and singer who performed one of her favs and mine, Schubert’s Ave Maria— 3 of the nuns closest to her and I were her pall bearers; I also half-teased if she’d also like a wicha service and she’d brightened: “THAT would be nice, too!” but we feared her befriended nuns would be scandalized, LOL) — and that she wanted to be buried “somewhere with a lot of nature and green” (not much to go on, LOL) — but it was indeed comforting to see all the trees and wild geese strutting around the grounds out there when the day came.
Wendell Culley’s trumpet in the background |
Please Follow these other blogs participating in the Blogs Hallow Eve.-Share-Comment-Have fun… Happy All Hallow’s Eve. Katandra —> http://freedomink365ceo.wordpress.com/ Ramona—> http://lifeandloveramonajones.blogspot.com/ Taylor Fulcher—> http://stuckinthegrey.wordpress.com/ Marla Crews—> http://www.marlacrewswebdesign.com/blog/ Skye Knizley—> http://skyeknizley.wordpress.com/ Mellie Miller—> http://melliemiller.com/ Alexia Purdy—> http://alexiaepurdy.blogspot.com/
9 Comments
Anonymous
I do believe I adore this most eccentric, eclectic, enigmatic soul of an ancestor you possess. Awesome entry. I love it! ~Kat.
Mellie
Lovely blog!
Marla
It is too bad you didn't find her earlier, but I hope you can piece together her whole story.
Yvette Porter Moore
Kat,
I have one just a little more eccentric than Christine. Her Auntie My Great Auntie Katherine was a medium and I believe that she may have passed down some of her genes to her.
Yvette Porter Moore
Thank You
Dee
Even though you are sad that family could not be with Christine in her final days, you have done a wonderful job of starting to piece together the story of her life. I call such people in my own family tree my "orphan relatives" – the ones who left no descendants to tell their stories.
Family historians are storytellers after all, and you have a great start on this one.
Dee
http://dee-burris.dreamwidth.org
Yvette Porter Moore
Thank you Dee! I hope to tell more of the stories of my ancestors.
Yvette Porter Moore
It really is unfortunate that I did not have the opportunity to find Christine until recently. I believe over time, I will find more info about her. Thank you for coming by.
Kristin
She must have been amazing.