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Archiver > ALSACE-LORRAINE > 2006-05 > 1146621737


From: "Carolyn \"Cari\" Thomas" <>
Subject: France-cemeteries....RE: reuse. Comments appreciated
Date: Tue, 02 May 2006 19:02:17 -0700


>From: "Sharon Leezer" <>
>Date: Mon, 1 May 2006 16:03:56 -0700
>To:
>Subject: Cemetery Research
>Dear Listers,
>I am leaving for France in several weeks. I hope to find the graves of my
ancestors. I have read that it is illegal to photograph tombstones in
France unless you have permission of the cemetery keeper. Is this true?
If it is where do you find the cemetery keeper? Do you pay him? Has anyone
encountered this problem? Thank you.
>Sharon
-------

Hi Sharon,

I thought someone with more knowledge on European cemetery usage would
respond to your posting, but perhaps my response will draw more accurate
information.

My visit to the Alsace in 2000 did include a stop at Neiderroedern's
cemetery, hoping to find my HEYD ancestors, who lived and died there from
1675 to 1859; HEYDs descendants still live there. I found instead only two
HEYD gravestones, my great-great-grand-uncle Valentin HEYD (1822-1886, who
was brother to my immigrant Jacob Heyd, b. 1824 in NR & d. 1880 in Indiana,
USA) and Valentin's wife Barbara GALLMAN. (I have photos of these two
gravestones. If anyone on the list is interested, please contact me.)

I also photographed some gravestones in a pile behind the back wall of the
cemetery.

Since then I've been informed that 1) unless family continues to reside in
the village and to care for the graves - after a period of time, the remains
are removed from the grave (and gravestone disposed of) and the plot is
reused. I'm also of the understanding that 2) in some European countries,
there is a specific number of years allowed for the remains to...well....
remain; and then the grave is re-used.

I returned to the Alsace in 2004 and spent almost a week there, as well as 3
weeks in ancestral areas in Germany. During that month I visited at least 8
more cemeteries. I only found collateral family and very few truly "old"
graves, and never saw a caretaker or office at any cemetery. However, the
cemeteries were all open, and nothing was said about any of the photographs
I took (there was no one there to say anything.)

I wish you the very best of luck in discovering YOUR family in the Alsace;
and I know that even if you find no ancestral graves, you WILL be delighted
by your visit to the family homeland. The Alsace is wonderful!

Cari Thomas <>

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