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Ask and ye shall receive! This episode was made possible because several listeners reached out to this week's guest letting him know that Jennie and Dianne were eagerly hoping to speak with him. Get ready for a journey through history as Jennie and Dianne welcome Ed Breen, a descendant of the incorrigible Maurice Breen, whose story is a tribute to the American dream. You may remember Maurice's incredible story from episode 173 - from humble beginnings as an Irish immigrant to a successful businessman and Underground Railroad conductor, Maurice's legacy has spawned generations of trailblazers!
 In this latest episode, Ed shares the Ordinary Extraordinary tales of other Breen family members and their remarkable achievements; from politics (including a thrilling tale that involves a president and the secret service) to hotel moguls to aeronautics and even espionage! Ed has passionately shared these stories when giving tours of Dayton Ohio's Calvary cemetery and we are fortunate to have him share them on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast!

For more family photos and other memorabilia, check out the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/11StWyR6ryY?si=qxsWbbnfY0arm6xj

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Join Jennie and Dianne on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast as they welcome Mel Bennett, founder of Life Forest cemetery, for a heartwarming and insightful conversation. Mel shares the personal story of how Life Forest was born out of her desire to give her mother a better burial after a long and painful battle with dementia, and how this vision has grown into a revolutionary approach to death care. Life Forest's two locations offer a profound connection with nature, believing that this connection is not just an experience, but a source of healing. As leaders in eco-friendly practices, Life Forest sets a new standard for conservation burials, providing GPS-mapped deeded rights and legal protection under cemetery law. Tune in to learn more about this Ordinary Extraordinary sanctuary for celebrating life and eternal rest, and how Mel's vision is changing the way we think about death and burial.

Be sure to check out the end of this episode on YouTube where you can view the video of Mel's mother and experience the wonderful woman, she was before dementia and death took her from this Earth. https://youtu.be/_400CcKdAfQ?si=F_GiBMGFNv13BNlU

To learn more about Life Forest Cemetery and it's two locations, visit their website: https://www.thelifeforest.com

Mel shared this NPR article regarding our conversation about young children losing parents: https://apple.news/AjHZNSBEpQiK6I3PfqVQmrw

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

Just in time for Memorial Day, Jennie and Dianne are honored to be joined in this episode by Major General Mari K. Eder (U.S. Army, Retired) to discuss her amazing book, 'The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line'. These Ordinary Extraordinary women are "heroes of the Greatest Generation whom you have most likely never heard about. These extraordinary women didn't expect thanks and shied away from medals and recognition. Despite their amazing accomplishments, they've gone mostly unheralded and unrewarded. These are the women of World War II who served, fought, struggled, and made things happen-in and out of uniform." In this episode Mari shares how she came to write the book and shares additional stories that she learned of after publication. Join us for the stories of these truly notable women who changed the course of history as we honor them and so many others this Memorial Day.

Now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/C0fyQ3mWQNc?si=R8ocA4E37360tEZh

Purchase your copy of 'The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line' by Major General Mari K. Eder here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/172824272X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

In this episode of the ordinary extraordinary cemetery podcast, Jennie and Dianne are joined by returning guest Hugh Yemen as he shares a tale that in many ways is truly stranger than fiction! The story begins with a tornado that left tragedy and death in its wake in Fort Smith, Arkansas in January 1898. However, it is events that take place shortly after this tragedy that becomes a different sort of "twister" that takes us from scandal in a cemetery, to a sensationalized newspaper exposé, and eventually culminates in "explosive" courtroom drama! With no prior knowledge from Hugh of this Ordinary Extraordinary story Jennie and Dianne reveal their completely unscripted reactions alongside their listeners!

Now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fYxKpPppFZQ?si=d2-HAwT9NklZhAgk

For more fabulous stories from Hugh Yeaman check out his podcast "Historic Headlines": https://historicheadlines.podbean.com/

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Join Jennie and Dianne as they continue their conversation with Lynette Webber, Cousin Jennies: Cornish Women of Mining Country Cemeteries, probing deeper into the surprising connections she unearthed between the graves of Colorado and Michigan during her exploration of Gilpin County's picturesque mountain cemeteries. Lynette sheds light on the hardy Cornish families who made the journey from Michigan to Colorado, highlighting the remarkable stories of the Ordinary Extraordinary women who played pivotal roles in nurturing these families through challenges and triumphs.

For a truly in-depth experience, make sure to watch this episode on YouTube where Lynette showcases photos, documents, and additional details while narrating these stories. https://youtu.be/t7fyc52c_vA?si=rje3WfsLgpz_uumU

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

This week, buckle up for part one of a riveting tale as Jennie and Dianne team up with Lynette Webber, an expert who has dedicated years to researching the cemeteries and their residents in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula. Picture this: a time machine back to the 1800s when tin miners and their kin from Cornwall, Great Britain, made the Peninsula and its copper mines their stomping ground. As the copper mines declined in productivity, families sought opportunities elsewhere, leading to their migration. 

Fast forward to summer 2023, Lynette, Jennie, and Dianne, all members of the Association for Gravestone Studies, attended the annual AGS conference which was held in Colorado. As Lynette explored Gilpin County's picturesque mountain cemeteries, she unearthed surprising links between several graves of Colorado and Michigan. Lynette spins tales of resilient Cornish families who journeyed from Michigan to Colorado, with a spotlight on the Ordinary Extraordinary women who nurtured these families, enduring  challenges, heartache, and finding both success and happiness along the way.

For a truly in-depth experience, make sure to watch this episode on YouTube where Lynette showcases photos, documents, and additional details while narrating these stories.
https://youtu.be/OTLagJL2thY?si=LqVu7C8D-EzsIi6Y

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

"I hope the adventures in this book inspire you to explore a cemetery. It’s good
for the cemetery—and I promise it will be good for you." This is how Loren Rhoads welcomes readers to indulge in her latest cemetery book, 'Death's Garden Revisited: Personal Relationships with Cemeteries'. Loren, who is the editor, says the book is a "collection of over two dozen essays and more than two hundred photographs
involving twenty-seven contributors, ranging from spoken word diva Lydia Lunch
and artist/poet Jane Handel to ceramics artist Mary Jo Bole. The contributors
included writers for the LA Weekly, zinesters, underground musicians, and high
school girls." Loren, who is also the author of '199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die' and 'Wish You Were Here: Adventures in Cemetery Travel', joins Jennie and Dianne in a delightful discussion about the book and her relationship with those who contributed to it, and how her own relationship with cemeteries began and her Ordinary Extraordinary career as a writer of not only books about cemeteries, but also fiction in the realms of horror, fantasy and sci-fi.

Now available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/DyJXVKcB6I0?si=7CylT2EYY6iyT8Yb

To purchase an autographed copy of 'Death's Garden Revisited' click here: https://lorenrhoads.com/product/deaths-garden-revisited/

To subscribe to Loren Rhoads's newsletter, follow her blogs or learn more about any of her publications, visit her website: https://lorenrhoads.com/

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Get ready for an unforgettable journey into the heart of mystery and romance with Jennie and Dianne in the latest episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast featuring author Roy Widing and his captivating book "Whispers From The Tomb: A True Love Story Discovered In A Century Old Mausoleum." Join them as they unravel the secrets behind the magnificent Rae Room tomb in Portland, Oregon—an Ordinary Extraordinary resting place shrouded in history, romance, and intrigue. Delve into the little-known story of George and Elizabeth Rae, a tale of love, lumber, lucre, and lawsuits that spans generations. Roy tells how a chance discovery of this opulent mausoleum, open to the public only once a year, leads to a fascinating exploration of a bygone era, filled with courtroom dramas, buried secrets, and timeless love.

Now available on YouTube:https://youtu.be/nIxbERDYwkk?si=ktxLvL_cH5t6nSSA

To purchase Whispers From The Tomb as either a paperback book , Kindle Book, or audio book, follow this link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0615630561?dplnkId=a72da32c-479e-4cfd-bf39-4305759a8439

To learn more about the book and Roy's journey, click here: https://whispersfromthetomb.com/

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

Dianne and Jennie are thrilled to continue their conversation with Rachel Meyer from Epoch Preservation. Join them for part 2 of an insightful two-part series delving into the fascinating world of cemetery conservation and preservation. In this episode, they discuss crucial topics like advocating for saving cemeteries, securing funding, leveraging social media for promotion, and the imperative mission of preserving indigenous, black, and emigrant cemeteries. Tune in for an enriching conversation that sheds light on the importance of preserving our collective history and honoring all the Ordinary Extraordinary resting places of our ancestors.

Now available on YouTube:https://youtu.be/tGoB1_rM3Gc

To learn more about Epoch Preservation or to contact them for help visit their website: https://epochpreservation.com/

Follow Epoch Preservation on Social Media:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/epochpreservation?igsh=MWd2aWwzYnl3OGloYw==

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/share/LVt5J9vLe7S6ZZkb/?mibextid=qi2Omg

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Dianne and Jennie are thrilled to welcome Rachel Meyer from Epoch Preservation as this week's special guest. Join them for part 1 of an insightful two-part series delving into the fascinating world of cemetery conservation and preservation.

Discover the remarkable journey of Epoch Preservation, a leading gravestone conservation business based in Massachusetts. From humble beginnings to becoming pioneers in the field, Rachel shares their inspiring story rooted in a passion for preserving historic burying grounds and their invaluable artifacts.  Hear how their Ordinary Extraordinary origin tale unfolds, starting with a single cemetery in desperate need of preservation, ultimately blossoming into a thriving preservation venture across New England and beyond.

Now available on YouTube:https://youtu.be/8QWw_iO2YpQ?si=WeYE26GgXgKOqQT8

To learn more about Epoch Preservation or to contact them for help visit their website: https://epochpreservation.com/

Follow Epoch Preservation on Social Media:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/epochpreservation?igsh=MWd2aWwzYnl3OGloYw==

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/share/LVt5J9vLe7S6ZZkb/?mibextid=qi2Omg