Tragedy

Tragedy

While visiting Maple Lawn Cemetery in Elba, New York, I noticed three small headstones. This cemetery published a booklet of obituaries for people buried there. I learned the story of these small headstones.

A family had three small children. An epidemic occurred and one of the children died. The parents went to the cemetery to bury their child and when they returned home a second child had died. Then only a short time later a third child died.

I can’t even imagine surviving that loss and remain sane. This was probably not a really rare occurrence one hundred years ago and fortunately today this would be a rare occurrence. The loss of even one child is tragic but to lose more in such a short time had to be unbearable.

This cemetery was so beautifully maintained and to make a booklet with the obituaries is such caring project.

#Loss of child, #52 Ancestors, #52 Ancestors - Tragedy, #Maple Lawn Cemetery, Elba, NY