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Holt Cemetery

3.9 (13 reviews)
Closed • 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

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Andi F.

This is not one of the beautiful, famous cemeteries. When I cam, there was a crew cutting the grass, which I can see taking over this Potters Field. No above ground tombs here, this is for those who can not afford to be buried in a nice cemetery. You will see hand made grave markers, a large memorial to those lives lost during wars, and many soldiers are actually buried here. Unique gifts are left as tribute to those who have passed. The entrance is accessed from City Park Avenue, between two parking lots for Delgado Community College. You will not see any great graves here. I think it is really sad, it pulls at my heart strings to consider that this is still used. I saw one marker that the person passed away in February 2017, just a few months ago. As this is off the beaten path, it may not be on the list of places to see, but I would suggest those coming to see cemeteries include this one, as it will greatly contrast to the larger ones and the more beautiful ones. Here are some links for the history. http://gonola.com/2016/05/20/interesting-new-orleans-cemeteries.html http://www.saveourcemeteries.org/holt-cemetery/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holt_Cemetery http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/holt-cemetery http://www.hauntedneworleanstours.com/cemeteries/holtcemetery/ http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/08/holt_cemetery_seven_others_in.html Come and take a look around.

Marielle S.

Far away from the majesty that is some of the "nicer" places of rest in New Orleans, lies Holt Cemetery. A bit of history: Holt is where the poor of the city were (and in some cases still are) buried. There aren't many (if any) above ground tombs and Holt remains one of the exclusively "in ground" burial sites in the city. Walking through the grounds, you are immediately overwhelmed with sadness, mainly because the graves themselves are mostly handmade, falling apart and old. You get a personal and intimate feeling when you are looking at them. Dates are handwritten and headstones are made out of various household materials such as plywood and even plastic. It's a real testament to all the types of people that live within our city. The fact that you can walk a few blocks and see some of the most gorgeous places of rest you will ever see and then come here and see the opposite, really speaks to you.

Randy M.

As a kid, and even now, I really dug the cartoons made in the 1920's/1930's, especially the ones made by Max and David Fleischer, which could be easily considered master works of surrealism. One of the easiest environments to put an anything-can-happen setting into, is a haunted house or cemetery, which was quite often done. Generally speaking for the portrayals of cemeteries in cartoons back then, and even today, they were drawn to look "spooky": unkempt grounds, open or collapsed graves, tombstones knocked askew, you get the idea. Now, we all know that such portrayals are exaggerations, right? No such places could possibly exist. Actually, such a place does exist in real-life, and that place is known as Holt Cemetery. Established in 1879, Holt is one of the very few in-ground necropolises in New Orleans. It's served as both a potter's field and a place for those (or the families) who cannot afford an above-ground tomb to inter the departed. As one walks around the grounds (driving in is definitely not advisable. more on that, later), it's easy to think that perhaps it's been abandoned, or even a mass desecration has taken place. Neither is the case. While some of the older plots have fallen into disrepair or even become unmarked or forgotten (more on that later), the majority are still looked after and tended by the families or loved ones. With this in mind, please refrain from removing any souvenirs. Everything from the tombstones to the borders, flowers and toys was done or left by someone who cares. Initially finding and visiting Holt is not an easy task. It's not clearly marked or visible from City Park Avenue. Chances are you'll drive by it at least twice. So, when visiting, look for Delgado Community College, and turn into the parking lot. Holt is connected to, and directly behind it. So, aside from the eerie factor, why would anyone want to visit? American musical history. For within these hollowed grounds is the final resting place of Charles "Buddy" Bolden, who is regarded as being the originator of Jazz. Unfortunately, when he died in 1938, he was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave, and the exact location is unknown. A marker honoring Bolden has been erected in the approximate area of where he has been laid to rest. If one looks closely at the roadway path that winds through the grounds, one can see where some of these forgotten graves are, or were, which is why it's not advisable to drive in (park at the main gate along the wall). Other individuals of note include Bluesman Babe Stovall, Jesse Hill, and the unknown bodies of people who died in the Upstairs Lounge fire of 1973. It is said that whenever a person dies, an entire library is lost. And while the stories and experiences of those whom can be found here may no longer be available, the history is of them, New Orleans, and the United States. Make no mistake, such history has directly or indirectly has had an impact on your own life. And that in itself is more than enough reason to stop and pay your respects and gratitude.

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2 years ago

Great night time adventure! We loved it and our guide. Highly recommended. Started on time and the beignet stop was delicious!

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Greenwood Funeral Home - Monument

Greenwood Funeral Home

(15 reviews)

Navarre

This cemetery has almost 200 yrs of history. From mausoleums to historic tombs to monuments and new…read moremodern ones as well. As you walk through you will see dates going back to 1800's and as recent as March 2026 One thing I did noticed is some still has the water line from Katrina Hurricane I believe I read somewhere this cemetery is the largest in the city. It shows RIP to all buried there

I am writing this review for two reasons, first in the hopes of helping someone who is caught off…read moreguard and in a position to make a difficult decision after a loved one dies and to compliment the Greenwood Funeral Home's staff, especially, Krys. Early one Sunday morning, my phone rang, I saw it was from my brother and knew this was the call. "Ray, Mom is gone." We need to know what funeral home to call for the coroner to release her. We decided on Greenwood Funeral Home because my mother's family plot is in Greenwood Cemetery, adjacent to the funeral home. About an hour later two very nice ladies arrived and transported my mother to the Greenwood facility. On Monday morning, we went to our appointment at Greenwood and met Krys. She was kind, compassionate, and also very prepared. She had a set process and questions that helped guide our decisions...from obituary, urn, Mass readings, and many other things you are unable to think about yourself. She walked us next door to the Firemen's Charitable and Benevolent Association (FBCA) where we made the last of my Mom's arrangements. On a desk there was a sticker that said, "My job is empathy." I read it aloud and Krys said, "I have one of those too." We finished at the FBCA and told Krys goodbye. The following Monday, we arrived at Greenwood for my Mom's funeral. Greeting us with a warm, kind smile was Krys. We made it through the day because of her. I will emphatically state, Krys performs her job with empathetic grace and professionalism. I am relieved and glad that she was the funeral director for my Mom's funeral. For my family, Greenwood was definitely the right choice, with Krys as our guide, making this difficult time easier for us to manage.

St. Patrick Cemetery No. 2

St. Patrick Cemetery No. 2

(4 reviews)

Mid-City

Located at Canal and Canal, the three St. Patrick Cemeteries were established in 1841 by Catholic…read moreIrish immigrants who formed the parish in 1833. Initially, traditional in-ground burials were the preferred type due to cultural preferences and cost. However, the Yellow Fever Epidemics of 1847 and 1853 and water table in New Orleans changed the landscape of the cemetery. In August of 1853, 1,300 people died of yellow fever each week. The Irish and German immigrants were especially hard hit by the epidemic. In the month of just August 1853, over a thousand yellow fever victims were laid to rest in St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1. The massive numbers of interments within such a short period of time led to St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1 being less organized in distinct rows than St. Patrick Cemetery No. 2 and 3. St. Patrick Cemetery No. 2 and 3 follow a more formal layout in organized rows. The tombs reflect the changing demographics of the St. Patrick congregation over time as many English, French, and Italian surnames are represented. The beautiful Pietà in St. Patrick Cemetery No. 2 was erected by Father Raymond Carra pastor of St. Patrick's Church, during the 1910s or early 1920s. It is a peaceful cemetery to visit on a visit to New Orleans.

This cemetery is on the North East corner of City Park Avenue and Canal Street. Canal Street…read moredivides it from number 1 and City Park Avenue divides it from number 3. This seems to be the larger of the 3 cemeteries. By no means are these any where close to the size of the larger ones nearby. Well maintained, there are only a few graves in that are dilapidated, but that is primarily because of the age. This was not started yesterday. But, the Catholic church maintains this site very well. It is amazing how well taken care of this place is. There are so many others in the city that have been vandalized or left to rot, it is nice to see one so peaceful and nice. For a little of the history, please look at the following links. You can really learn a lot. https://nolacatholiccemeteries.org/our-history http://gonola.com/2014/11/03/nola-history-the-irish-cemeteries.html Cemetery number 1 is listed here. https://www.yelp.com/writeareview/biz/dR1KrzRelzoUrSjqPa75rA?return_url=%2Fuser_details Cemetery number 3 is listed here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/st-patricks-cemetery-no-3-new-orleans The listing for all of them combined is listed here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/st-patrick-cemeteries-and-mausoleum-new-orleans?osq=st+patricks+cemetery This is truly one of my favorite cemeteries as it is well maintained and cared for.

Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home

Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home

(10 reviews)

Mid-City

I cannot say enough about the compassion and professionalism shown by Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral…read moreHome during one of the hardest moments our family has ever faced. When my brother reached the end of his life, Kevin was there for us every step of the way. His kindness, patience, and genuine care made an incredibly painful time a little easier to bear. He treated my brother with dignity and handled every detail with such respect, while also supporting our family with warmth and understanding. Kevin went far beyond what we expected, making sure we felt guided and comforted during a time when we needed it most. Our family will always be grateful for the compassion and professionalism he showed us. I visited four other funeral homes during my stay in town, and I made my decision pretty much as soon as we met. I felt the kindness of Kevin, and I knew my brother would be taken care of. Thank you Kevin, thank you for your kind words to my mother, and thank you for guiding my brother during his last moments on earth. If anyone has any worries about end of life care in New Orleans rest easy, Kevin will take care of you with grace and a kind smile. From my family, thank you, thank you, thank you.

The funeral itself was nice, i wont lie. But the experience i went through after was completely…read morehorrible. My son passed away and I did not communicate with the mother after the funeral (personal reasons) but i did arranged my own plans for his ashes (he was cremated). Out of the blue the mother contacts me letting me know she had her half of my son's ashes and i purchased a necklace to put my some of my half in.. I was shocked i was not aware of this by the funeral home but yet content i was finally able to have my son's remains with me. I call the funeral home to let them know i wanted to go and get the rest of his ashes to fill the necklace, just to find out they were not there and the mother took it all. I asked why they did not communicated with me, they said because the mother said "she was going to take care of it" and instead of reassuring and calling me, they decided to believe her, came to find out the mother had my son's ashes for 2 weeks since the time she picked them up to the time she told me she had them doing who knows what with them. I was furious and wanted to talk to the owner or a manager, they were not there so they would give me a call back and never did. The irresponsibility from this funeral home its incredible. 2 weeks and i had no idea if the mother actually gave me half of my son's remains or whatever she liked since this funeral home did not do their job correctly and i will have to live with that question in my mind for the rest of my days. Shame on this people.

St Patrick Cemeteries & Mausoleum

St Patrick Cemeteries & Mausoleum

(4 reviews)

Navarre

I imagine that people who have never lived or visited New Orleans may find it odd that we celebrate…read moreour cemeteries down here. It's not odd at all to discover that most of the people who visit the cities of the dead are not necessarily visiting a loved one, they are there admiring the tombs. St. Patrick's is an archdiocesan cemetery meaning it is maintained by the Catholic Church. It is one of the better maintained properties especially when you consider many of these tombs were built back in the mid 1800's. That was a particularly bad time for the Irish who had settled in the city as many succumbed to a Yellow Fever epidemic. Many of those pour souls are forever entombed here and when you visit you will notice many Irish names adorning these graves. I suggest visiting this cemetery before you head to Metairie cemetery as this far less fancy. If you go to MC first you may be a bit disappointed, but there is still plenty to see. My favorite spot can be found at the rear of the cemetery near the old K&B. There is an incredible statue with swords and a crown that I stood and stared at for a long time. You'll know the one I am talking about when you see it.

I happened to have an appointment in the 4 story building adjacent to this cemetery and the windows…read moreallowed for great views down into it. While non of the tombs are super fancy, many are very nice and date back to the mid 19th century. The space is well maintained as this is a diocesan cemetery rather than city owned. I appreciate that they have taken care of the older head stones and that they aren't lying broken in the aisles. As you can imagine from the name, this was originally a graveyard for those of Irish descent in New Orleans.

St Louis Cemetery No 3 - Opened in 1856...

St Louis Cemetery No 3

(46 reviews)

Fairgrounds

St. Louis Cemetery is located at 3421 Esplanade Ave. and runs parallel to Bayou St. John. It was…read moreestablished in 1854. Burials began in 1855 but the actual construction did not begin until 1856. As most of New Orleans' tombs are above ground, it is a very popular tourists' attraction, as there are often tour busses parked outside the gate. Before buying a plot here, I'd consider the hours of operation as the gates are "only" open from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM Monday through Saturday, and 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM on Sundays and holidays. These hours can be a little constraining if you work past 4:30 PM. Prior to my dad's passing in Spring 2025, he told us that he wanted to be buried in St. Louis Cemetery 3, as he wanted to close to Bayou St. John, as it brought back fond childhood memories going fishing there. He chose to be cremated, as will my mom one day. They chose a side by side niche for their ashes in the St. Michael the Archangel Cremation Garden, which is a fairly "new" addition to the cemetery. Mrs. Mel Byrd helped us with all the details regarding his final resting place and plaque. There are 2 or 3 mausoleums here as well as countless vaults and above ground gravesites. Even though it's a tourist attraction, most tourists are very respectful when I have been there. Often times, there are no tourists there and it can be very serene. If you are not from New Orleans, this is a good/informative tour outside of the French Quarter.

While still daylight we decided to do some exploring. Years ago hubs and I took a vampire as well…read moreas voodoo tour here. Later Doc and I spent a day while on a road trip. I have watched Double Jeopardy many times and wanted Doc to see the graveyards. This afternoon we visited 3 cemeteries before dinner. We could not enter, just observed from outside the gates. Remarkable how costly their immortal houses must have been. Very unique, many angels. Befitting of what we saw, Doc put Coco on the tv.

Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries

Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries

(22 reviews)

Lakewood

Had a beautiful service for my mother here…read more Wish I could remember everyone's names. Chastity and another nice lady helped my family solidify my mother's wishes. A nice and sharp gentleman named Taurin I believe, for the burial side, was kind patient and courteous. Reggie transporting us was so personable and friendly, he was a ray of sunshine on an otherwise somber day. Through the chaos it gave me so much peace of mind knowing they did everything correct. Had family and friends from out of town compliment the place and the service. It went so well planning my service here has been on my mind. I think planning ahead really makes the difference. Would recommend doing so if possible to anyone considering. It just made it better to have a plan way ahead of time. Thanks for everything.

Sadly, I attended a funeral service for a dear friend's father mid-March at Lake Lawn; such a…read morebeautiful edifice. Well kept grounds, quite pristine in appearance, expansive in size, very orderly and serene. Very much so a place of peace. And that's just the outside. Inside, I noticed 2 chapels, idk if that what you call them, but for this review, that's what they will be. These "chapels", are the areas where the actual "church-like" service is held for family and friends to say their last goodbyes to loved ones. When you enter there's a huge oval information desk... to the left or right you go. I don't recall music playing overhead, but I felt like there should've been some. After signing the funeral register book, I entered the chapel, and I had a seat. 2 sets of plush fabric benches with a center aisle for the family processional. I saw lots of familiar faces, as is customary for funerals and weddings. Programs were distributed and it was time for the service to begin. The host of the service, who is an employee of Lake Lawn, made the necessary announcements and the service began. The officiating Pastor approached the lectern and we were off to a beautiful Home-going Service. The organist and psalmist arrived to minister in song and as much as I enjoyed it, I KNOW it could've been 20xs better. The overhead sound speakers and the mics were horrible. I'm not sure what happened, but there was lots of static, the mics were going in and out, the speakers were not clear at all and the organ... omg, sounded like a circus air calliope; I was so very disappointed. The sound system was not in-line with the facility and all that I had witnessed thus far. I truly expected a state of the art sound system, but this wasn't the case. This was a notable blip on the radar of this beautiful facility. As I exited, I noticed a fence with weird painted on it that said Heavenly Pets; I thought this to be a pet cemetery of sorts. Quite a beautiful way to bury you fur-babies. I hope not to return here anytime soon, but if I must, I pray the overhead sound system, mics and organ have been revamped or even replaced to match the aesthetics and elegance of this establishment. RIP Mr. Wallace

Holt Cemetery - funeralservices - Updated May 2026

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