Calvary Cemetery, St Louis, MO – 17 SEP 2011

This Catholic cemetery was established in 1854 and currently consists of 477 acres. I always find it interesting how many websites echo the wrong ‘facts’ because they reference Wikipedia…such as the start date of this cemetery being 1857.
According to the Archdiocese of St Louis (and they should know), it was actually establishment in 1854 when the Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick, purchased 323-acre Old Orchard Farm.  
He split the acreage between creating his own farm and the development of a new cemetery.
Part of this property had once been used as an ancient burial ground by Native Americans and soldiers from the nearby Fort Bellefontaine
The remains were collected and re-buried in a mass grave under a large crucifix on the high ground of the new cemetery.
Outside filled with Egyptian symbolism…
Scarab symbol of spontaneous creation and the Ankh symbol of eternal life…
Lotus flower symbol of the sun, creation and rebirth…
Inside Jesus offering resurrection and life...
The weeping angle says: Hyland-Carney:
These stones were around it:
Looks like Margaret and Ann were twins who died within six months of each other.
Compare the details on this weeping angel with the Trorlight weeping angel (below)...this one feels more modern, a copy of the older ones I've recorded over the years.
This is the first time I've found two weeping angels in the same cemetery.
Great detail:
I turned the corner and it was 'Land of the Giants'...some were 3-5 times life-size:
The sea shell caught my eye, so I had to see the other side:
If three sheets to the wind means drunk…how many sheets is this?
This cemetery does something I haven't seen before...
...they load the grave dirt and move it away from the funeral:
I talked to the workers to find out how they put the casket into the ground:
There's a small amount of dirt piled near the corners, to allow the cables to slide out.
Cemeteries also allow me to get some flowers shots.
The large statue on the left says "Sisters of St. Joseph" and all the small stones are labeled like the one below:
St Vincent DePaul:
I've shopped at his store.
See more of my cemetery and flower art: EnfocusGallery.com