Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (Alsip, Illinois)

Holy Sepulchre Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery of the Archdiocese of Chicago, located in the village of Alsip, Illinois, in Worth Township, southwest of Chicago.

Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Details
Established1923
Location
6001 West 111th Street
Alsip, IL
CountryUnited States
Coordinates41°41′13″N 87°46′16″W
TypeCatholic Cemetery
WebsiteOfficial website
Find a GraveHoly Sepulchre Cemetery

Cemetery grounds

Holy Sepulchre Cemetery is the westernmost of ten cemeteries in a two mile radius in and near the Mount Greenwood neighborhood of Chicago. The large number of cemeteries was the basis for the fictitious "Seven Holy Tombs" area in several books by author John R. Powers.[1] As is typical of the area, the cemetery is bordered on all sides by major roads and is surrounded by commercial and residential zones.

View from the main gate
Mausoleum of the Archangels

Its most prominent feature is the Mausoleum of the Archangels. Dedicated by Cardinal Bernardin in 1993, the Mausoleum features life-size statues of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Each statue sits in the midst of a small park-like setting, with private seating areas and marble lined halls. This type of mausoleum is also known as a "garden crypt". Unlike the more traditional mausoleum layout, the burial vaults are in the exterior walls, thus eliminating interior corridors.[2]

Burial practices

Section of family plots

The headstones in the newer areas lie flat (known as "lawn level markers") to facilitate mowing and groundskeeping. It is possible to have upright markers for family plots, but this requires purchasing multiple gravesites and using a single, larger marker. The older areas have upright headstones that run the gamut from typical markers to fanciful and artistic. There are also some mausoleums for above-ground interments.

History

Holy Sepulchre Cemetery was consecrated on July 4, 1923, on the site of the Worth racetrack, which was demolished in 1911. Between 1911 and 1923 the site was used for state militia training and stockades. The first burial was on July 5, 1923.[3][4]

Notable interments

References

  1. Schmidt, John R. "Mount Greenwood, past and present". WBEZ Chicago. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  2. "Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery". graveyards.com. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  3. "Racetrack, circa 1900". Illinois Digital Archives. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  4. "Outline History of Chicago Ridge". Retrieved 5 June 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.