Dedicated on July 4, 1925, the Woodlawn Heights War Memorial was erected in honor of those who valiantly served our country in the First World War.  The Stony Creek granite monument, located at East 238th Street and Oneida Avenue, depicts a pedestal topped with a ball and eagle.  The bronze plaques list the names of those …
Read More

When viewed from a cross-cultural framework, color has been used almost universally to symbolize grief, loss, and healing.  Colors make us feel-they can spark a variety of emotions ranging from comfort and warmth to frustration and anger.  Color conjures up emotions, which in turn influence our behavior. In the West, black has been traditionally associated …
Read More

Meaning “Way of the Saints” in Spanish, Santeria, an Afro-Caribbean religion merged with Roman Catholic beliefs, is based significantly on the traditions of the Yoruba nation in today’s Nigeria and Benin in West Africa.  Emerging during the 17th century, the Afro-Caribbean religion dating back to the days of slavery has been embedded in Cuban society ever …
Read More

Experiencing loss elicits all kinds of emotions.  People of every culture grieve; feelings of sorrow, loss, and despair are universal.  We don’t just do it-we show it in different ways.  While there’s no way to avoid intense feelings of grief, the range of acceptable emotions and the extent to which that grief and sorrow are …
Read More

Around the world, food is a way to honor the departed and offer comfort to the bereaved.  Through the vehicle of food, mourners come together and support one another during a difficult time.  Especially in times of loss, food provides a sense of community and connection.  Many cultures see food as important aspect in funeral …
Read More

Throughout history and across cultures, hair has functioned as a symbol with deep meaning.  The folicular signifer has different meanings in different contexts.  A widespread feature of funeral customs relates to the mourners’ hair. People of Jewish faith observe strict mourning for seven days.  During shiva (the Hebrew word for “seven”), the week-long mourning ritual in Judaism, …
Read More

Stony Creek Quarry is the last of a dozen quarries that at one time lined the Connecticut coastline.  Located in Branford, Connecticut the quarry grew out of the unusual pink granite underlying its soil.  Stony Creek Quarry is said to be the home of the granite that made New York.  Some of America’s most renowened …
Read More

The History of Mother’s Day Each year on the second Sunday of May, families in the Bronx and across the U.S. gather to celebrate Mother’s Day.  Our staff at Woodlawn Cemetery take the time to acknowledge this important day and all that it means for families throughout our community. Since the 19th century, Mother’s Day has …
Read More

During the month of May, we celebrate the cultures, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S.  The first Japanese immigrants came to the U.S. in May 1843 and it was during the same month in 1869 that the transcontinental railroad was completed, a major feat achieved primarily through the hard …
Read More

Before jazz beats filled the streets of Midtown Manhattan, the sounds of upright pianos playing catchy tunes were heard along Tin Pan Alley. It was back in the days before radio, when every home had a piano and families bought sheet music to play their favorite songs. Through the leaders of the Tin Pan Alley …
Read More