Hi Hanneli, I really appreciated your reply. I hadn't ever really thought about the burial practices in other countries but your info is thought-provoking. Given my aversion to the current practices here in America concerning embalming, $15,000+ funerals, etc., I found your info somehow scratched an itch. In older cemeteries that I've visited here on genealogy searches here in the upper Midwest, I've seen little stone buildings with windows and benches inside that have the surname of the family written across the archway. I guess I just used my own imagination as to their purpose. Oh what an odd lot we are, yes? Thanks again.... Marjorie

Thanks, Marjorie. I'm glad to share whatever I know. ---------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: R & M Gallagher <[email protected]> To: guy grenny <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 10:38 AM Subject: Re: [SWITZ] Cemetery----Removal > Hi Hanneli, > > I really appreciated your reply. I hadn't ever really thought about the burial practices in other countries but your info is thought-provoking. Given my aversion to the current practices here in America concerning embalming, $15,000+ funerals, etc., I found your info somehow scratched an itch. > > In older cemeteries that I've visited here on genealogy searches here in the upper Midwest, I've seen little stone buildings with windows and benches inside that have the surname of the family written across the archway. ---------------------------- Marjorie, I think what you saw with family names written on them would probably be Mausoleums...... private burial vaults that, usually wealthier families, have built for their own family burials. What do you think? The ossuaries, however, became "anonymous". I have never heard of lists of names attached to them, as for the persons whose bones were transferred into there after a long period of time. It would make perfect sense..... but a difficult task over the centuries, don't you think? But maybe some "cemetary-ologist" knows?! Hanneli ------------------------------- I guess I just used my own imagination as to their purpose. > > Oh what an odd lot we are, yes? > > Thanks again.... > Marjorie >