Beautiful, well-kept, peaceful, old, and interesting. Gorgeous grounds. Highly recommend.read more

This beautiful old cemetery is peaceful, quiet and filled with elegant grave markers.read more

Graceland Cemetery is remarkably quiet and peaceful, especially considering that it rests within…read morethe great, bustling city of Chicago. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and during our visit, workers were actively planting new greenery. It was wonderful to see so much care being given to the landscape. This is far more than a cemetery. It is also an arboretum filled with mature trees, winding paths, impressive monuments, and extraordinary architecture. Pick up a map and give yourself plenty of time to explore. There is a great deal of Chicago history resting here, and nearly every turn reveals another beautiful memorial or quiet place for reflection. As always, remember that this is an active cemetery and treat the grounds and their residents with respect. I arrived carrying my finest crystal ball, intending to conduct a discreet communion with the departed. Unfortunately, before I could summon even the faintest apparition, a large crow descended from an oak tree, seized the crystal ball, and vanished into the canopy. I waited beneath the tree for nearly an hour, demanding the immediate return of my enchanted property. The crow eventually came back--not with the crystal ball, but with a Chicago-style hot dog. It contained sport peppers and not a drop of ketchup, confirming that the bird was unquestionably a local. Although the offering was delicious, it was not a fair exchange. My crystal ball remains somewhere among the branches, presumably being used by a council of crows to predict where tourists will drop their lunches. Graceland Cemetery is serene, historic, beautifully maintained, and absolutely worth visiting. I will return to continue my paranormal investigation--this time carrying a bird-proof crystal ball and perhaps a small bag of french fries for negotiation. Five stars for the cemetery. One star for the thieving crow.

This cemetery is unique because it is also an arboretum. That makes it the perfect place to take a…read morewalk and pick up maps at the welcome center. The two maps available are of of the different species of trees, and the other of the historical figures buried in the cemetery. I spent about an hour walking and taking pictures. During my time, I saw four other people walking or running, so it is a utilize space, but not overly crowded on a weekend.

It was a nice day to stroll around Mount Carmel Cemetery today. I decided to hang out in Section A…read moreand take a few photos. Although I wasn't looking for her, I came across the "Italian Bride" monument. She's got quite the story. So, if you're interested look her up. Her real name is Filomena Buccola. Muscato and Lamanna is a nice looking monument. There are a bunch of rosaries around the neck of the lower statue. And it happens to be next to the "Italian Bride". The Greco monument has what looks like a couple child angels and a cross on top. I think it's cool that this monument has "Mother Theresa" on it. The McDermott monument is very near the corner of section A (nearest to the North entrance.) I LOVE Celtic crosses and really like the way this one looks. It had Celtic designs on the cross as well as symbols on all four ends. I'd like to figure out what the symbol on the top represents. There's not a ton of Celtic crosses in this area, so I appreate when I see them. The Marie Serritello monument grabbed my attention. It's quite different from many other monuments. It always feels much sadder when I see that someone has died so young. There were a few small statues and lanterns nestled inside the nooks. Angelina Serritello's headstone was in front of it. The A. Conforti monument appears to be named after Alessandro Conforti (1861-1933) who is the father of the two young children listed on the front. The mother is Margherita Marzano Conforti (1872-1936) Their two young children died at around 4 years old, but were not alive at the same time. Josephine G. (7/31/1908 - 6/4/1912) Joseph (Feb 1903 - 8/2/1907) They also had an older sibling, Benjamin (3/8/1897 - Jan 1960) Benjamin's spouse was Minni Ronnie (1897-1941) This was a sad one to see. The O'Shea monument also has a beautiful Celtic cross carved into the stone. I like that they added an epithet along the sides. The Rousseau mausoleum is beautiful...especially the front and the ornamental top. I took a photo of the front and also the stain glass window on the side. I'd like to go back and get the names and dates of those who have been interred here. Graziella Tito mausoleum had a bunch of black and white photos on the doorway. Stompanato and Dasto mausoleum had a boarded up entry. I bet the original doorway was beautiful. Enjoy all the related photos.

All cemeteries are repositories of history, of course. Mt. Carmel is one that has some more…read morewell-known cultural history because it is the final resting place of several people from Chicago's criminal underworld as well as the Cardinals of the Diocese. The most famous of these people would be Alphonse Capone. Born on the east coast, he rose to prominence as probably the most well-known leader of the Chicago Outfit. He served his sentence for tax evasion in Alcatraz, died of syphilis in Florida, and then upon his death was laid to rest here in the area where he was most prominent. One of Capone's major rivals, Dion O'Banion, is also at rest in this cemetery but don't worry, they're interred a fair distance apart. Deanie's grave is not nearly as ostentatious as Capones, but does have a significant monument. Dion had a passion for flowers, and owned a flower shop on the north side. But he met his end after he and his North Side Gang cheated Johnny Torrio (Capone's mentor and predecessor), and shortly thereafter Torrio was gunned down in his flower shop when three men came to pick up an arrangement for another mobster's funeral. Amongst the other underworld figures at rest here are Hymie Weiss, Roger Touhy, Frank Nitti, and Sam Giancana. On the other end of the spectrum (or not, depending upon your view of the Catholic Church) are the many high-profile priests laid here. Bishops Mausoleum is where Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, perhaps Chicago's most beloved cardinal, spends eternity. Several bishops and archbishops are also interred in this towering mausoleum. The cemetery is sprawling. There's also a very large number of mausoleums here--over 400, more than any other cemetery in the state; there's also a war memorial here. If you're seeking some of the "famous" gravestones, it can be a bit confusing since the layout is not terribly sensical (there are sections by number, but they're not necessarily in order). Capone is near one of the entrances, and O'Banion is relatively close to the Bishop's Mausoleum.

History: The Saint Lucas Cemetery Association was…read moreestablished in 1900 as the second Lutheran cemetery in the city limits of Chicago. A number of North Side Lutheran congregations formed the original association. However, currently, only the Lutheran Church of Saint Luke, 1500 W. Belmont Chicago IL 60657, is the sole member of the Association. The Cemetery Saint Luke Cemetery spans over 40 acres of land near the intersection of Pulaski and Foster within the city limits of Chicago. Ten sections have been set aside for burial. Older sections have traditional markers and monuments. The newer sections have central monuments and are dedicated to the placement of ground level individual memorial markers only. Special Sections A special area has been set aside for the burial of infants and stillborn babies. A chapel located within the administration building may be used for any burial service if a family so chooses. A columbarium with 132 niches for the burial of cremains is located in the chapel. Pet Cemetery An area of unconsecrated ground, the Garden of Saint Francis, has been designated for the burial of companion animals.

This cemetery was quite interesting to visit. It was called St. Lucas Cemetery for most of its…read morehistory, but at the tail end of the 20th century was renamed St. Luke Cemetery. Originally the church was established by an association of Lutheran churches; one by one they left the association, and the final church was St. Lukes. Although it is next door to Montrose Cemetery and across the street from Bohemian National Cemetery--and is bordered by a large condo building, near the Jewel-Osco, and close to the major intersection of Foster & Pulaski. But almost from the moment I entered the cemetery it felt like it was rural, quiet, and spooky. I expect that is largely because the cemetery is very unkempt. There are areas of the cemetery where the trees, grass, or brush is overgrown. There are several cracked or crumbling gravestones, some that are hard to see because of the lack of landscaping. The concrete driveway/walkway is also cracked and in quite a bit of disrepair in much of the cemetery. Portions of the cemetery have been sold to build the condos, and also sold off a section of it to the Jewel. It's unfortunate that the church organization has been unable to maintain the property.

Montrose Cemetery on the north side has a particularly interesting history. I've seen it many…read moretimes, as I live fewer than two miles away; however, I've never know much about it. I took a self-tour of it recently to change that. Montrose is one of the trio of cemeteries on Pulaski between Foster and Peterson, with the other two being Saint Luke and Bohemian National cemeteries. Montrose is the youngest of the three, established in 1902. The cemetery was owned by Andrew Kirchner, who owned a funeral home, and is still an independent cemetery owned by his descendants. They did not have a One of the early burials was a victim of the Iroquois Theatre Fire, which was one of the deadliest fires in US history (if you're unfamiliar, I highly suggest reading about it). Of the over 600 victims, nearly all were claimed in the months following the tragedy--all but one, a woman who was never identified even though hundreds of people visited her over the course of six months. She was interred here in Montrose in a casket engraved The Unknown. Kirschner donated his services and the plot to this unfortunate victim. Today, there is a diamond-shaped Iroquois Memorial on the site, erected five years after the fire. Another unique monument here is a mausoleum placed by the Japanese Mutual Aid Society. That organization began purchasing several lots for use by people of Japanese descent in Chicago, so that they would have a place to be buried; the group also covered burial fees for those who were unable to afford burial. In the years surrounding World War II, there was growing anti-Japanese sentiment even as hundreds of thousands of Japanese Americans came to the city, and these somewhat prescient actions on behalf of the JMAS to help their community were indeed an important measure to take. The Society acquired more plots and there are two sections of the cemetery that are dedicated to people of Japanese heritage, as well as a sitting area for quiet reflection. In addition to the large number of Japanese Americans buried here, there are a lot of people of Eastern European descent here too. There is an incredibly large memorial to the victims of the Armenian genocide. It's a relatively new addition, installed around 2000. There are elaborate memorials to some of the religious leaders of one or more Eastern European Christian denominations as well.

Office staff not friendly. You have to call for appointment and you can see people sitting in the…read moreoffice and they won't answer the door. We asked a groundskeeper for a map and they said we had to call the office just for a map but you can literally see people just chatting in the building. You would think given the situation staff would be overly nice to help a person grieving.

This is a massive cemetery with so many stories to tell. I was here for over an hour, visiting the…read moreHaymarket Martyrs' Monument, the grave of Emma Goldman, the Druid Monument and the final resting place of radio story teller Paul Harvey. It is in excellent condition though a few of the lanes could use some repaving and yes, it's super annoying that the bridge is closed for repair because it's a heck of a drive to get to the other side of the river to see the rest of the cemetery. While I was here, I spotted a herd of 7 or 8 deer including a six-point buck. They're just chilling and I hope they stay here a while as it's safe for them. (Deer love the flowers people leave on graves. It's like candy to them.) If you're here to visit family or friends, I am sorry for your loss. If you're here being a tourist as I was, please be respectful of the folks who are visiting. This is an active cemetery that still has current interments. Yield to funeral processions. [Review 20625 overall - 172 in Illinois - 1606 of 2023.]

Relatives are buried at this cemetery...But I tell ya, driving through the grounds can be extremely…read moretreacherous on your vehicle give the massive potholes and lack of cemented roadway. Not to mention when the ground is damp/wet, your car leaves the cemetery literally covered with mud at the bottom, tires, etc. It is hard to get out of your vehicle due to HUGE puddles of water.

The team and Family with Caribe Funeral Home has helped our family celebrate the lives of our loved…read moreones con mucho carino y ​​buena voluntad over the decades. This family owned business offers families in Chicago wonderful customer service at a very heart-wrenching time. Caribe also offers quality services at good, affordable rates. Caribe Funeral Home is highly recommended by our family and loved ones.

For many years, Caribe Funeral Home has offered a vital service to the community, at an uninflated…read morecost. Working through COVID has not been easy; the death of a loved one is a sensitive situation and the cost of a funeral is never expected. The staff at Caribe have worked around the clock to satisfy bereaved families requests. They have over 50 years experience in funeral planning and arrangements, you can be assured that your family members funeral will be as you request it to be, large scale, flowers, services, or simple and understated. The owners are knowlegeable in all aspects of handling legal death related matters in Cook County, and handling issues involving transport of your loved ones for burial in other countries.

They could improve there customer service! The employees are usually very rude-and not very helpful…read moreespecially when people are dealing with tragedies. My family made a mistake getting plots at this cemetery!

I was surprised to see the negative reviews for Holy Sepulchre. My family and extended family have…read moreburied their loved ones there for years. Since the 1980s I have buried over 10 people, and have made my arrangements as well. I visit the cemetery often and have always found it to be well kept and beautiful. I have dealt with the office staff on a number of occasions and found them to be most helpful. I sometimes lose a grave or two and the office is always helpful in sending out staff to help me find them. If a grave is neglected for any time, the marker may not be visible. Time and earth movement can make the markers sink, so it is up to family to inform the office so that it can be retrieved. I have never had any problems with these services, including flower decorations and placement. I get frequent correspondence informing me of the clean-up times so that if I desire, I can retrieve any flowers or decorations on my graves. Over the past 50 years of dealing with the cemetery I have not encountered any problems, except finding a grave at time. Keep up the good work!