May 27, 2024, A Day Full of Memories 481 words

Today we remember those of our family and friends that have gone and left this world for another. While we may fondly recall incidents and interactions with the beloved, How many of us remember where their final resting place is? I started to find out.
My parents, Rita and Bruce Turnbull are both buried in Rural Hill Cemetery in Northville, Michigan. Mom’s sister, Marian and her husband Don Sonderman are buried nearby.
John’s Dad Albert Eugene Farnsworth, is buried at Downington cemetery outside Deckerville MI at the base of the thumb. John’s Mom didn’t want a funeral and was cremated. Her ashes were split, some were placed in Deckerville and the rest were distributed on the back hill. Mom would comment, I can’t walk up the steps to see the woods. Well, she has a ring side seat for the season changes. Several months later, John was cleaning the area of leaves. Clouds of Moms ashes were blown, distributed. Now she is all over the neighborhood.
My Mother’s parents, Alfred and Anna Heatley have two separate grave plots. Grandma Anna died in 1928from breast cancer. She is buried in the Kaiser family plot in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in N.W. Detroit. Alfred is buried in Chelsie MI next to his second wife, Cathrine.
My paternal grandparents are buried in Plymouth Mi. Along with several other relatives including Aunt Pearl and her first husband Gus.
On John’s side of the family, there is a discrepancy of the exact parentage of Grand father Farnsworth. The name on the birth certificate is smeared and the father’s name is unreadable or it is not mentioned. Grandma Peters had 4 different men fathering a total of nine children. She married the fourth man. He was Delbert J. Peters. From the information that John’s brother Gene reported. Most of the Farnsworth’s family are buried in Deckerville. Along side of Farnsworth’s there are a large group of Turnbull’s. Perhaps distance cousins.
Grandma Farnsworth’s parents Teophil and Helen Smolinski as well as other members of the family are buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Detroit on Six Mile and VanDike. The same cemetery where the Kaisers and the Smolinski, John’s mother’s families are buried.
My Great Grandfather Walter and his wife Elizabeth, are buried near Delhi Ontario, Canada .There is a Turnbull family plot there.
Clifford and Jenny Turnbull are buried in Plymouth, MI. Dad’s sister Marion and her husband George Russel, were cremated and ashes were buried in Tampa Bay.
My Brother Mike was cremated an his ashes are in an urn
Finding out information leads me to more questions. Strolling in my hometown of Northville, one notices the banners picturing the 250 veterans who have died. It reminds me to remember all those in our families who’s shoulders we are standing on . It is good to learn personal histories to better understand our thoughts, feelings and attitudes.
carolaspot@aol.com March 27 2024