Steve’s Genealogy Blog

When I visited the grave of the Hanley Family in 2005, I obtained a copy of the cemetery record for the lot.

The Cemetery Record of the Hanley Family - Page 1

The Cemetery Record of the Hanley Family - Page 2

SOURCE: The Cemetery Record of the Hanley Family. St. John’s Cemetery, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Record printed on 09 Sep 2005.

The cemetery record shows that:

John E. Hanley was buried on 23 May 1939 in Row 3 Lot 15 Grv-PTHWY/RD
Clara E. Hanley was buried on 27 Nov 1966 in Row 3 Lot 15 Grv-PTHWY/RE
Jennie M. Hanley was buried on 30 Nov 1912 in Row 3 Lot 15 1N/RD
Bridget Hanley was buried on 19 Nov 1888 in Row 3 Lot 15 1N/RE
Sarah Hanley was buried on 03 Oct 1952 in Row 3 Lot 15 1N/R
Joseph Hanley was buried on 12 Apr 1914 in Row 3 Lot 15 2N/RD
James A. Hanley was buried on 27 Dec 1917 in Row 3 Lot 15 2N/RE
Catherine F. Hanley was buried on 13 Mar 1957 in Row 3 Lot 15 2N/R
Elenor Hanley was buried on 27 Jul 1897 in Row 3 Lot 15 3N/RD
George A. Hanley was buried on 02 Jul 1938 in Row 3 Lot 15 3N/RE
Ida M. Hanley was buried on 14 Mar 1961 in Row 3 Lot 15 3N/R
James F. Hanley was buried on 07 Apr 1947 in Row 3 Lot 15 4N/RD
George A. Hanley was buried on 28 Feb 2000 in Row 3 Lot 15 4N/OT
Ann Hanley was buried on 04 Sep 1996 in Row 3 Lot 15 4N/EX
Joseph Hanley was buried on 12 Apr 1914 in Row 3 Lot 15 5N/RD
Lot 15 5N/OT is reserved
Christine Malone was buried on 04 Mar 2002 in Row 3 Lot 15 5N/EX
Mary J. Hanley was buried on 12 Apr 1941 in Row 3 Lot 15 6N/RD
Lot 15 6N/OT is reserved
Lot 15 6N/EX is reserved

All plots are in the Justice section of St. John’s Cemetery.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Cemetery Record of the Hanley family.

The record indicates that the lots were purchased by James A. and Ida M. Hanley, residing at 54 Fairfield Steet, Worcester, MA. They purchased the property on 17 Nov 1888, apparently on the occasion of the death of Bridget, who was buried two days later. The property included 20 spaces and 7 burial spaces in a 10 x 20 area, suggesting that the burials were made as much as three deep.

The foundation for the monument was poured in 1996 by Rex.

While this record is full of information, the relationships among those interred are not provided although, according to the monument itself, many of them are probably brothers and sisters

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

When I visited the grave of John and Anna Hoey in 2005, I obtained a copy of the cemetery record for the lot.

The Cemetery Record of John and Anna Hoey - Page 1

The Cemetery Record of John and Anna Hoey - Page 2

SOURCE: The Cemetery Record of John and Anna Hoey. St. John’s Cemetery, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Record printed on 09 Sep 2005.

The cemetery record shows that:

John W. Hoey, Sr. was buried on 16 Jul 2003 in Lot 683 1N/RD
Anna M. Hoey was buried on 07 Dec 1993 in Lot 683 1S/RD

All plots are in the Shrine Holy Family section of St. John’s Cemetery.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Cemetery Record of John and Anna Hoey.

The record indicates that the lots were purchased by John W. and Anna M. Hoey, residing at 18 Christine Street, Worcester, MA. They purchased the property on 08 Jan 1962, apparently on the occasion of the death of their son James, who was buried two days later in the adjacent lot. They paid $350 on 16 Mar 1963. The property included 2 spaces and 2 burial spaces in a 6 x 8 area, suggesting that the burials were made one deep.

John and Anna Hoey also purchased the next lot, number 682, at the same time.

A flat marker was installed in May 1994 by Rex Monuments.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

When I visited the grave of James and William Hoey in 2005, I obtained a copy of the cemetery record for the lot.

The Cemetery Record of James and William Hoey - Page 1

The Cemetery Record of James and William Hoey - Page 2

SOURCE: The Cemetery Record of James and William Hoey. St. John’s Cemetery, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Record printed on 09 Sep 2005.

The cemetery record shows that:

James R. Hoey was buried on 10 Jan 1962 in Lot 682 1N/RD
Lot 682 1S/OT is reserved
William J. Hoey was buried on 14 Sep 2004 in Lot 682 1S/EX

All plots are in the Shrine Holy Family section of St. John’s Cemetery.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Cemetery Record of James and William Hoey.

The record indicates that the lots were purchased by John W. and Anna M. Hoey, residing at 18 Christine Street, Worcester, MA. They purchased the property on 08 Jan 1962, apparently on the occasion of the death of their son James, who was buried two days later. They paid $350 on 03 Feb 1962. The property included 3 spaces and 2 burial spaces in a 6 x 8 area, suggesting that the burials were made one deep in one place and two deep in the other.

John and Anna Hoey also purchased the next lot, number 683, at the same time.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

When I visited the grave of Allister Daniel Rawding and Family in 2005, I obtained a copy of the cemetery record for the lot. The employees at St. John’s Cemetery in Worcester, Massachusetts were very gracious and provided me with all the help I needed to find the gravesite.

The Cemetery Record of Allister Daniel Rawding and Family - Page 1

The Cemetery Record of Allister Daniel Rawding and Family - Page 2

SOURCE: The Cemetery Record of Allister Daniel Rawding and Family. St. John’s Cemetery, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Record printed on 09 Sep 2005.

The cemetery record shows that:

Phyllis A. Crowley was buried on 17 Jun 2005 in Lot 16 1N/OT
Allister D. Rawding was buried on 09 Dec 1964 in Lot 16 1N/EX
John W. Rawding was buried on 19 May 1975 in Lot 16 Grv-CEN/AH
Hannah C. Rawding was buried on 28 Feb 1956 in Lot 16 Grv-CEN/RD
Lot 16 1S/OT is reserved
Allister D. Rawding was buried on 18 Jan 2000 in Lot 16 1S/EX

All plots are in the St. Jude section of St. John’s Cemetery.

Phyllis A. Crowley, John W. Rawding, and Allister D. Rawding (in Lot 16 1S/EX) are three of the children of Allister D. Rawding (in Lot 16 1N/EX) and Hannah C. Rawding.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Cemetery Record of Allister Daniel Rawding and Family.

The record indicates that the lots were purchased by Allister D. Rawding Jr., residing at 8 Cardinal Road, Worcester, MA. He purchased the property on 27 Feb 1956, apparently on the occasion of the death of his mother, Hannah C. Rawding, who was buried on the next day. He paid $300 on 03 Jan 1957. The property included 6 spaces and 3 burial spaces in a 10 x 10 area, suggesting that the burials were made two deep.

When recording the source of cemetery records, it is important to record the date on which the record was printed. The record itself will not always include that information, and so the researcher may need to add that information by hand.

Burial information may change with time if additional burials take place in the same lot or if a casket is removed and reinterred elsewhere. The date the record was printed helps the researcher to know the state of the grave at a given point in time.

Realizing that the state of a grave may change with time, the researcher may find it necessary to obtain a new copy of the cemetery record at a later date.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

My uncle, Joseph J. Danko, died in 1991.  He is buried in Notre Dame Cemetery where many other Danko and Skowronski relatives are buried.  Click on the link for a PDF copy of the map of Notre Dame Cemetery.

Monument for Joseph J. Danko - Front

Monument for Joseph J. Danko - Back

Military Marker for Joseph J. Danko

SOURCE: Joseph J. Danko grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, St. Matthew Section, Lot 122, Grave 2 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

The front of the monument reads:

DANKO

HE WILL RAISE THEM UP ON EAGLE’S WINGS AND HOLD THEM IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND

The back of the monument reads:

1919 JOSEPH J. DANKO 1991

HIS WIFE
HELEN F. SKOWRONSKI

Yours Only Forever

The military marker reads:

JOSEPH J DANKO
SGT US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
SEP 2 1919     JUL 5 1991

Joseph J. Danko served as a sergeant with Company A, 366th Military Police Service Battalion, United States Army, in the European-African-Middle Eastern theater, and was a member of the 713th Military Police Association.

The Cemetery Record for this lot shows that:

Notre Dame Cemetery No. 06 - Owner: Danko, Joseph & Helen

Lot - Sec-SMATT Lot-122 Grv-1-6 ==============    12 X 16
       UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
       3                            3                                                       3                           3
       3             6             3  —————————————–   3             5            3
       3                            3                                                       3                           3
      UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3             4             3              3           3            2           3             1            3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAU
Space  Deceased/Resvd                                 Burial Date       Age    Container
——-   ———————————————       ——————    ——     ————–
1           Reserved
2           Danko, Joseph J., Husband               07/08/1991     71       PALMER
3           Danko, Helen, Wife
4           Reserved
5           Reserved
6           Reserved 

AAAAAAEnd of ListAAAAAAA

As with my Uncle Mike Danko’s grave, there is an American flag on Uncle Joe’s grave.  The medallion on the flag holder states “WW II US VETERAN”.

Another child of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts is Chester S. Skowronski.  He is buried with his wife, Mary A. Pianowski, and his son, Chester R. Skowronski.  Click on the link for a PDF copy of the map of Notre Dame Cemetery.

The Monument for Chester S. Skowronski, Mary A. Pianowski, and Chester R. Skowronski - Front

The Monument for Chester S. Skowronski, Mary A. Pianowski, and Chester R. Skowronski - Back

SOURCE: Chester S. Skowronski, Mary A. Pianowski, and Chester R. Skowronski grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, Holy Family Section, Lot 244, Graves 2,3,4 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

The front of the monument lists the family name: SKOWRONSKI.

The back of the monument reads:

1914 CHESTER S. SKOWRONSKI 2005
HIS WIFE
1920 MARY A. PIANOWSKI 1997

1938 CHESTER R. SKOWRONSKI 2005
HIS WIFE
1941 CAROLE A. FOX

The cemetery record for this lot states:

Notre Dame Cemetery No. 04 - Owner: Skowronski, Mary A., Mrs.

Lot - Sec-HF Lot-244 Grv-1- =================           12 X 11
       UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                            3                         3                           3
       3             4             3              3           3            2           3             1            3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAU
Space  Deceased/Resvd                                 Burial Date       Age    Container
——-   ———————————————       ——————    ——     ————–
1        Skowronski, Carol A., Mrs
2        Skowronski, Chester R., Son               05/28/2005     66
3        Skowronski, Mary A., Owner, wife      01/21/1997     77      MONT
4        Skowronski, Chester S., Mr.                 01/27/2005    90

AAAAAAEnd of ListAAAAAAA

SOURCE: Burial Record, Chester S. Skowronski, Mary A. Pianowski, and Chester R. Skowronski, Holy Family Section, Lot 244, Graves 2,3,4. Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts.  

Chester S. Skowronski died on 22 Jan 2005, just a day before my uncle, Frederick Niedzialkowski, who died on 23 Jan 2005.  Frederick’s wife, Janice died a few months later on 05 Apr 2005.  Chester R. Skowronski died the next month, on 22 May 2005.

An interesting point to note:  the owner of this cemetery lot was Mary A. (Pianowski) Skowronski, who was also the first to be buried in the lot.  More often, I’ve seen that the surviving spouse was the owner of the lot.  This lot is an exception.

Benjamin S. Skowronski was married twice.  He is buried with his second wife, Ruth E. Grillo, whose monument and Burial Record I reported yesterday.  Benjamin’s first wife, Mary B. Radzik, died in 1959.  She is buried in a separate grave in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts.  Click on the link for a PDF copy of the map of Notre Dame Cemetery.

Monument for Mary B. Radzik Skowronski - Front

Monument for Mary B. Radzik Skowronski - Back

SOURCE: Mary B. Radzik Skowronski grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, Section 25-C, Lot 1032, Grave 2 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

The front of the monument lists the family name: SKOWRONSKI and the Polish inscription ”PROSZE O ZDROWAS MARJA” which means “I ask for a Hail Mary”.

The back of the monument reads:

BENJAMIN S. SKOWRONSKI
1910 - 1998
HIS WIFE
MARY B. RADZIK
1918 - 1959

The cemetery record for this lot states:

Notre Dame Cemetery No. 02 - Owner: Skowronski, Alexander, Mr.

Lot - Sec-25 Lot-1032 Grv-1 =================  6 X 10
              UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
              3                                          3                                            3
              3                                          3                                            3
              3                                          3                                            3
              3                   2                     3                   1                      3
              3                                          3                                            3
              3                                          3                                            3
              3                                          3                                            3
              AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAU
Space  Deceased/Resvd                                 Burial Date       Age    Container
——-   ———————————————       ——————    ——     ————–
1    Reserved
2    Skowronski, Mary B., Daughter-in-la    02/10/1959     42       WHITE

AAAEnd of ListAAA

SOURCE: Burial Record, Mary B. Radzik, Section 25-C, Lot 1032, Grave 2. Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts. 

This situation, where one person is listed on two monuments, is not uncommon when one spouse dies and the other remarries.  In a case such as the one illustrated here, where Benjamin’s birth and death are listed on both monuments, one may not be able to determine in which grave an individual is actually buried without examining the cemetery records.

In Benjamin’s case, the cemetery records show that he is buried with his second wife, Ruth Grillo.

Benjamin S. Skowronski, Sr. and his second wife, Ruth E. Grillo, are buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts.  The grave is located in the St. Mark Section, Lot 107, Graves 1 and 2.  Click on the link for a PDF copy of the map of Notre Dame Cemetery.

Monument for Benjamin S. Skowronski, Sr. and Ruth E. Grillo - Front

Monument for Benjamin S. Skowronski, Sr. and Ruth E. Grillo - Back

SOURCE: Benjamin S. Skowronski, Sr. and Ruth E. Grillo grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, Section St. Mark, Lot 107, Graves 1, 2 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

The front of the monument lists the family name: SKOWRONSKI.

The back of the monument reads:

BENJAMIN S.
SKOWRONSKI SR.
1910-1998
HIS WIFE
RUTH E.
GRILLO
1926-2000

The cemetery record for this lot states:

Notre Dame Cemetery No. 04 - Owner: Skowronski, Ruth E., Mrs.

Lot - Sec-SMARK Lot-107 Grv =================  12 X 10 1/2
       UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                         3                            3
       3             4             3              3           3            2           3             1            3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAU
Space  Deceased/Resvd                                 Burial Date       Age    Container
——-   ———————————————       ——————    ——     ————–
1        Skowronski, Benjamin S., Sr.               11/10/1998   88     PLANTE
2        Skowronski, Ruth, Wife                        12/21/2000   74     PLANTE
3
4

AAAAAAEnd of ListAAAAAAA

SOURCE: Burial Record, Benjamin S. Skowronski, Sr. and Ruth Grillo, St. Mark Section, Lot 107, Graves 1-4. Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts.

My experience in obtaining cemetery records varies from cemetery to cemetery, but generally I’ve been able to obtain burial records and other cemetery records on file.  Occasionally, a cemetery has asked for a photocopying fee.  Once, a cemetery asked for a donation of five dollars per record.  Some cemeteries would not provide a copy of the records at all.

Notre Dame Cemetery was helpful in providing computer printouts of their records at no charge, but they would only provide a few records while I waited.  When I requested a large number of records at one time, they preferred to search and print the records at their convenience and mail the records to me at a later date.  Once, they even provided me with a photocopy of the original, hand-written records when I had a question about the accuracy of the computer record.

Yesterday, I posted the photograph of the monument on the graves of Alexander Skowronski, his wife Frances Dymek, his daughter Jean B. Sharron Danko, and Jean’s husband (my uncle) Michael J. Danko in Notre Dame Cemetery.  Click on the link for a PDF copy of the map of Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The Cemetery Record, provided by Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts, reads as follows:

Notre Dame Cemetery No. 04 - Owner: Skowronski, Alexander, Mr.

Lot - Sec-HF Lot-245 Grv-1- =================           12 X 11
       UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3           3OB         3                         3                            3
       3             4             3              3           3            2           3             1            3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAU
Space  Deceased/Resvd                                 Burial Date       Age    Container
——-   ———————————————       ——————    ——     ————–
1        Skowronski, Alexander, Owner           01/07/1970   82     ASPH
2        Skowronski, Frances, Wife                   06/25/1963   73     ASPH
3        Danko, Jean B., Mrs., Daughter            10/22/1996   79     WILB
3OB   Danko, Jean, Baby, Great Grandchild  09/21/1999  Stillb  COMBO
4        Danko, Michael J., Son-in-law              11/21/1981   68     PALMER

AAAAAAEnd of ListAAAAAAA

I mentioned yesterday that there was one additional burial in this lot that was not inscribed on the monument.  This burial was for Jean Marguerite Danko, granddaughter of Michael and Jean Danko and great granddaughter of Alexander & Frances Skowronski.

Marker for Jean Marguerite Danko

SOURCE: Jean Marguerite Danko grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, Holy Family Section, Lot 245, Grave 3OB (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

There is also another marker, commemorating Michael Danko’s service in the US Navy.

Marker for Michael J. Danko, Jr.

SOURCE: Michael J. Danko, Jr. grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, Holy Family Section, Lot 245, Grave 4 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

The marker for Michael J. Danko, Jr. reads:

MICHAEL J DANKO JR
SF1 US NAVY
WORLD WAR II
SEP 13 1913     NOV 19 1981

The SF1 indicates that Michael J. Danko, Jr. was a Shipfitter First Class.  The US Navy Classification Guide describes a Shipfitter as:

Makes repairs to hull and deck structures. Puts ship plates in place, rivets together sections of steel plates and hull framing. Scarfs and closes seams between overlapping steel plates. Cuts, chips, files, and caulks angles, seams, and rivets. Welds. Renews gaskets in watertight doors, parts, and hatches. Installs and repairs pump connections. lays out, bends and shapes sheet metal and metal sections. Threads and fits pipes. Works closely with Metalsmith and Carpenter’s Mate.

To the left of the main monument is a US Flag.  The flag holder includes a medallion that reads:  US VETERAN:

Medallion on Flag Holder

SOURCE: Michael J. Danko, Jr. Flag Holder Medallion, Notre Dame Cemetery, Holy Family Section, Lot 245, Grave 4 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

The “Rules, Regulations and Policies” of Notre Dame Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum state:

FLAGS: One (1) American flag is permitted on each grave in which a Veteran is interred. The cemetery is not responsible for placing flags on lots. However, flags may be obtained at the cemetery office.

PLEASE NOTE: Only one flat granite marker is allowed at the foot of each grave. This also includes Veteran markers.

SOURCE: Notre Dame Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum, Rules, Regulations and Policies (Worcester, Massachusetts: Notre Dame Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum).

I haven’t been able to find any records for the birthdates of the children of Clark Gibson and Maryette Olds that were recorded at or near the time of the event.  The Canadian Census for 1861 recorded the ages of the children who were living as of the enumeration date and provides a reasonable estimate of the year of birth for those children.

The only other record I’ve found that was created within a few years of the birth of one of Clark and Maryette’s children is the Burial Record of John Frank Gibson.

The Burial Record for John Frank Gibson

SOURCE:  The Methodist Church Serving Frelighsburg, Quebec, Canada. Burial Records. 1878. John Frank Gibson. FHL US/CAN Film 2027346 Item 3, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Burial Record for John Frank Gibson.  The record reads:

folio Three L.M.G. D.C.C.C.

Burial:- J. F. Gibson

John Frank, son of Clark Gibson black-smith of St. Armand West in the county of Missisquoi, and of Marriett Olds his wife, died on the seventeenth day of January Eighteenth hundred and Seventy-eight in the third year of his age, and was buried on the eighteenth day of the aforesaid Month and year by me
[Signed] J.E Richardson
M.M.

Witnesses:- [Signed] Clark Gibson [Signed] Marriett Gibson

This record shows that John Frank died on 17 Jan 1878 and buried on 18 Jan 1878.  It further shows that John Frank was in the third year of age, suggesting that he was born in 1875, but no further information was provided about his birth.

Thefirst name of Clark’s wife is spelled Marriett in this record, but is spelled Mariette, Maryette, Maryett, and Maryetta in other records.

The initials “M.M.” below J.E. Richardson’s signature stands for Methodist Minister.