Why I Love to Visit Cemeteries: A Journey Through Time, History, and Connection

Quick answer: Why does John Fenzel visit cemeteries?

Because, as his father taught him, every headstone holds a person's story waiting to be discovered. John sees the dates on a stone as the covers of a book, and the work of remembrance as learning what happened in between.

When John travels, one of his favorite stops is the local cemetery. His kids cringe at the detours, and he admits he protested too when his father took the family to cemeteries on trips. But his dad showed him that behind every headstone was a story, if you made the effort to learn it. The connection runs deep in his family. As John tells it, his great-grandfather founded Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago after the Catholic Church refused last rites to his infant daughter, and built a place where anyone could be laid to rest with honor. When John's grandparents died, his father designed their headstone around his grandfather's Chrysler dealership and his life as a master mechanic, with a Chrysler Pentastar above his grandmother's name, "because she was a star." John notes that in the 19th century, Americans often picnicked in cemeteries. His advice is to stop next time you pass one. The dates on a headstone are the covers of a book. The story is in between.

Why it matters for leaders: The people who came before us are easy to overlook, and a little curiosity is often all it takes to learn from them.

Q: What is Bohemian National Cemetery?

A: A cemetery in Chicago founded in 1877 by members of the city's Czech community as a burial place open to all, independent of the church.

Q: Did Americans really picnic in cemeteries?

A: Yes. In the 19th century, landscaped "rural" cemeteries served as parks, and families often visited and picnicked there.

Read the full article on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-i-love-visit-cemeteries-journey-through-time-history-john-fenzel

By John Fenzel, founder and CEO of Heroes' Path Foundation