My father shared a story about Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland with me a few weeks ago. I was moved by this story and was compelled to write about it.

He was having a conversation with his coworker, Germaine. He shared that I recently started working at the Catholic Cemeteries Association, and she immediately asked if I was located at Calvary in Cleveland.

She was familiar with the cemetery because her parents are buried there. She visits them often and finds Calvary to be a beautiful and serene place.  

One day, while visiting, she noticed that the tree next to their graves was dying. The tree often provided her shade while she visited, so she was disappointed. Germaine contacted the staff and asked if there was anything they could do to save the tree, and they weren’t sure they could.

She returned the following weekend with Holy Water in hopes that it would bring the tree back to life. She poured it into the soil and left.

When she came back, she was shocked. The tree miraculously recovered and was restored to its original beauty.

This story has strengthened my belief that it is important to visit cemeteries. While it can be an uncomfortable experience for some, you will likely find that cemeteries are not places to fear or avoid but places to cherish and enjoy.

As spring approaches, we hope you will take the time to visit your loved ones and witness the peace and beauty of our cemeteries.

Written by: Paige Muttillo | Marketing Manager | Catholic Cemeteries Association