r/findagrave

A cemetery I walk is Very big, over 25,000 graves, over 75% photographed. It has a constant number of requests, usually for older stones.

It has one of the best online search engines I have seen. Yet some names pop up unmappable plot information on a search. Such as "Section A on Mountain Ave," when Mountain Avenue goes nowhere near section A.

This month the cemetery updated their search engine and I researched one of these names to find that the map references had changed and a big data block now included the owner as "City of Waltham." Still not on the map.

I was curious; I called the cemetery; and I got a knowledgeable person.

Section A has been used as a name many times over the years. Section A on Mountain Avenue has a single memorial stone and no grave markers and was associated with one or more city hospitals in the mid 1800's to early 1900's. Over time this was also known as section D and section L as border lines changed.

The section does not show on the cemetery map, other than as a blank. It includes ranges A through K, which likely explains why the adjacent section starts with section L.

So now there are 13 requests that can be mapped to this section, a photograph of the stone, and fulfilled. One request is 11 years old.

People with old, old requests, don't lose hope.

I'm relatively new to FG. My recent main thing to do on there is have certain profiles marked as famous. As most of you know, they have to meet a certain set of criteria to be marked as that, especially the bio. So I've been re-writing the bios so they meet FG standards, & then submitting them to support to get approved. I've done like 4-5 bios now that have met standards & been marked as famous.

I've submitted more bios or inquiries on other profiles, but I haven't ever heard back from support on those inquiries. Some of them it's been months since I sent the inquiry!

Is it normal to not ever hear back from support? Or, how long should I wait before I send another request?

I am following all FG rules on how to submit for famous consideration.

I manage a large number of memorials from mowing the rows at a couple of mid-sized cemeteries. I enjoy seeing corrections on these memorials.

It shows that people out there are actually interested in the work that's being done. And that probably adding memorials benefit others.

It helps correct my, oh so few, errors in typing or transcribing.

And it shares information about families, how these individuals are related. Which I enjoy going through as I approve the changes.

I've sent thanks to a few contributors who allow contacts, but here's to all of the contributors that I haven't taken the time to reply to.

My dad and his brother went in on a 6 person cemetery plot. Its supposed to be for my dad, mom and brother, and then my dad's brother, and his 2 kids (he's divorced).

Does anyone know how to best organize the names on the stone?

The stone will be 36" long and 28" tall (without the base). The last name for everyone is the same. But I'm wondering how to maybe show my dad, mom and brother and then my uncle & 2 kids.

I'd appreciate seeing some examples if anyone has any. My dad is the only one who is passed away so far.

Thank you.

My sister sent me this headstone for my father (still alive) and asked me if I liked it?
He is in hospice care but he’s doing fine! 93 and fighting all the way!
She also has already made the funeral arrangements..?

I'm torn as to what to tell people - often hopeful people - when their request is in a paupers field.

A cemetery with many requests has three pauper fields: a moderate sized one, a very large one, and a small one.

The smallest field has 96 plots and 16 stones. I don't even have to visit the cemetery - if there is not a photo, today, there is not a stone to take a photo of.

will provide whatever u need but having trouble locating because death occurred in 2024. any help is appreciated!

When do memorials get transferred to FindAGrave and become open for others to manage?

A local woman has several thousand memorials and I have noticed some have become maintained by FindAGrave, yet it says she's been active in the last month.

Hi! I moved across the US and changed my volunteer cemeteries but when I pull up photo requests it still tells me it's 1800 miles away from me. Is there a way to change my location? I don't see anywhere that I'm able to put in my location.

Thank you!

To never have an obituary or death announcement.
My family is estranged from the rest of our family and we want my parent passings to be private and not have them know. I’m terrified that when it happens someone else is now going to take it upon themselves to share details that are not their own. Please let me know what other steps I can take to avoid having my parents passings displayed for the world before my sister and I are ready for the family we are not involved with to know and start coming out of the woodwork at us. This is a very legitimate fear after seeing some of the posts on here.

(I am sure there have been previous posts about this, but starting a new one to help others who seem to still have difficulty.)

• Using a SOFT brush, carefully remove grass, leaves and debris from the stone, especially if they obscure engravings.
• Carefully trim back, pull, or push back weeds or grass that obscure engravings.
• Be sure not to get your reflection in the stone. On a shiny stone you can stand at a slight angle or back a little bit until your reflection is not in the shot.
• Do not get your feet in the shot.
• Try to take the photo as straight-on as possible. Zoom or stand as close as possible so that the engravings can be read in the picture. Remember that being able to READ the engravings in the photo is very important.
• Sometimes you may need to angle another shot to read the engravings if there are flowers or objects in the way.
• There are different times of day that are best for different stones or cemeteries. It is best to take photos when the stone is not in a shadow from the sun position.
• Stay steady. Blurry pictures are useless. If you are not sure that a picture was clear, take another or a few and choose the best to upload later.
• Do not get your shadow in the shot. (great add from OnTheOutside)
• Be sure to take a photo of any extra engravings on the stone, such as military notations, maiden names, etc. on the bottom ledge. You may also find additional people noted on engravings near the bottom or sides of a stone.

There are TONS of other tips. I am sure others have some tips to add.