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When I knew I was coming to Philadelphia I began to search for where my maternal grandparents were buried. I knew it was in a Catholic cemetery in Philadelphia. I have many great memories of my grandfather because he lived with us. My grandmother died too soon for me to have any memories of her but I knew they were buried together. I remembered my mom saying they had a family plot and that my granddad had given some lots to neighbors who did not have the funds to purchase their own. I found the death certificate for an uncle who died as a baby and guessed that they bought the plot when they buried their four-month old baby and they would all be there. I wanted to pay my respects. I imagined bringing flowers or leaving a stone for them - I even carried two stones across the country for that purpose - I truly felt compelled to find them.
I contacted the cemetery and they confirmed my family was there. I was surprised to learn that their plot held ten graves. My grandmother, grandfather, their baby boy, an aunt and uncle, I think three relatives of my grandmother and two neighbors one was a seven-year-old girl and the other a 35-year-old woman. It broke my heart to see that there is no marker for their graves, no place to leave a stone, not really a clear place to lay flowers. Nothing to mark the life of my grandparents, who did not have a much, but were so kind that they took care of extended family and neighbors. I think this is why I felt so compelled to find them. I am here to pay my respects and do for my family what could not be done before. I may never get back to see them properly honored but I am grateful they will be. Love you Granddad - sorry it took me so long.
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Tammy Very nice tribute.