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Not every public park is as it seems, and not every cemetery is for that matter either! This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast, Jennie and Dianne are joined by fellow taphophile Randy Crane as he shares the story of the life, death and reincarnation of side-by-side (Broadway and Mount Olive) cemeteries located in Whittier, California. Randy tells how the cemeteries began as beautiful late 19th-century garden cemeteries, only to become neglected and forlorn just a few decades later. Don't miss the biggest surprise of the story when Randy reveals the unexpected twist that befell the headstones of the nearly 1300 Ordinary Extraordinary souls laid to rest beneath the foothills of this Southern California town.

*All images provided by Randy Crane and shared with permission.

Last chance to get your tickets for the Gilpin Historical Society 36th Annual Cemetery Crawl on Saturday, August 23rd: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilpin-historical-society-36th-annual-cemetery-crawl-tickets-1435390223799?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tickets are now on sale for the 5th Annual Beyond the Grave: The Phantom of the Opera! Join us for mystery and music of the night all while supporting the preservation of Colorado Springs's historic cemeteries: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-grave-presents-the-phantom-of-the-opera-tickets-1598805282639?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie, or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

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What happens when we don't share our stories before we become inmates of the cemetery?? This week, The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast explores the importance of recording our histories with special guest Stephanie Ford. As a caregiver, Stephanie's heard countless tales of love, loss, and life from those who've lived through it all. She emphasizes the importance of learning from our elders, whose Ordinary Extraordinary life experiences hold valuable lessons. Join Jennie and Dianne as they discuss the power of storytelling, because, as Stephanie says, "Our stories matter." Be sure to tune in!

View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tyFhW9LRb7M

Visit Stephanie on her website: https://lifestorieswithsteph.com/ and be sure to follow her on Instagram @lifestorieswithsteph

Purchase tickets for the 36th annual Central City Cemetery Crawl here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilpin-historical-society-36th-annual-cemetery-crawl-tickets-1435390223799?aff=oddtdtcreator

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie, or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

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

Get ready for a chilling conversation! Join Jennie and Dianne as they chat with author Sharon Pajka, PhD, about her new book "Haunted Virginia Cemeteries". As we creep into spooky season, Sharon guides us through the Old Dominion's most haunted burial grounds, from Arlington Cemetery's eerie atmosphere to the ghostly apparitions at Monticello. But don't let the paranormal tales fool you - this book is also a deep dive into Virginia's rich history, and Sharon shares her expertise on the historical research that brings these haunted places to life. Tune in for a conversation that's equal parts spooky and scholarly!

View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/i-6NvYigZBw

Purchase Haunted Virginia Cemeteries (The History Press: Haunted America) Here: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/9781467157209/ Use Code: SHARON9 for 15% off your entire order!

Keep up with Sharon's events and tours by visiting her website: https://www.sharonpajka.com/

or visit her on social media at: https://www.facebook.com/PajkaWrites/ & https://www.facebook.com/RiverCityCemetarians/

Purchase tickets for the 36th annual Central City Cemetery Crawl here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilpin-historical-society-36th-annual-cemetery-crawl-tickets-1435390223799?aff=oddtdtcreator

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie, or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

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

On this episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast, uncover the mystery behind Dr. Samuel Bean's cryptic monument in Wellesley, Ontario, where two of his wives, Henrietta and Susanna, rest in peace. Jennie and Dianne explore the Ordinary Extraordinary life of Samuel, a Civil War veteran and puzzle enthusiast, and the intricate cryptogram headstone that kept visitors guessing for 80 years. What secrets did Samuel hide in the stone, and what message did he want the world to know?

View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xW15IiUlEUg?si=UOzm0omaHFywSlrv

Purchase tickets for the 36th annual Central City Cemetery Crawl here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilpin-historical-society-36th-annual-cemetery-crawl-tickets-1435390223799?aff=oddtdtcreator

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie, or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

Resources used to research this episode include:

, BirdDog1959. "Cryptic Headstone Puzzles Visitors ." https://ancestrybirddog.wordpress.com/. 12 July 2001. ancestrybirddog.wordpress.com/2021/07/12/cryptic-headstone-puzzles-visitors/. Accessed 20 July 2025.

, Wellesley Township Heritage & Historical Society . "https://www.wellesleyhistory.org/settlement-patterns-of-wellesley-townshiip.html." https://www.wellesleyhistory.org/. www.wellesleyhistory.org/settlement-patterns-of-wellesley-townshiip.html. Accessed 20 July 2025.

Hayden, Martha. "A Grave With A Secret Code." https://www.restless-viking.com/. 30 Jan. 2024. www.restless-viking.com/2024/01/30/a-grave-with-a-secret-code/. Accessed 20 July 2025.

Campbell , Tim. "Henrietta Furry Bean ." https://www.findagrave.com/. 15 May 2010. www.findagrave.com/memorial/52428366/henrietta-bean. Accessed 20 July 2025.

Barwick, Susan. "Rev Samuel G “Sam” Bean ." https://www.findagrave.com/. 27 Feb. 2013. www.findagrave.com/memorial/105902136/samuel_g-bean. Accessed 20 July 2025.

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

Join the dynamic trio—Jennie, Dianne, and Ryan Seidemann—for the third chapter of the “Death and Dying 101” series! This episode dives into global memorials, uncovering cultural quirks and mysteries. Are catacombs serene sanctuaries or lively public spaces? Unravel the Victorian dread of premature burial and the coffin bells that chimed in the night. Explore the collision of burial and cremation in our global village. Delve into the Ordinary Extraordinary Tibetan tradition of letting nature reclaim the body. Learn how enslavement shaped African burial customs across the Americas. All this and more on this latest episode of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast.

View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FoBaByzbkCY

To learn more about the 19 who were returned to be honored by their descendants, check out the following links:

1. https://www.dillard.edu/about/honoring-the-nineteen/

2. https://vimeo.com/event/5154230

Purchase tickets for the 36th annual Central City Cemetery Crawl here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilpin-historical-society-36th-annual-cemetery-crawl-tickets-1435390223799?aff=oddtdtcreator

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie, or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

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

"Every death had a life and every life had a story," but how is it that we uncover so many of the narratives we share on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast? Much of it comes from searching through genealogical archives and other records. On this latest episode, Jennie and Dianne chat with Jen Shaffer, a full-time professional genealogist and owner of The Formidable Genealogist. She is passionate about short-form genealogy education and has made it her mission to help make the complex world of ancestry accessible to everyone. She engages her audience with daily social media videos, where she generously shares insightful tips, techniques, and stories from the field. Tune in to discover how Jen’s expertise helps us connect the Ordinary Extraordinary dots between lives lived, stories told, and the legacies left behind.

To learn more about the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and how to support it, visit: https://fundnara.com/

Want to learn how to research like Jen Shaffer? Visit her website to purchase her guides, sign up for her classes, and more! https://www.theformidablegenealogist.com/

You can also find her as The Formidable Genealogist on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and BlueSky.

Purchase tickets for the 36th annual Central City Cemetery Crawl here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilpin-historical-society-36th-annual-cemetery-crawl-tickets-1435390223799?aff=oddtdtcreator

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie, or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

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

Get ready to stop and smell the roses...in the cemetery! This week Jennie and Dianne explore the practical, symbolic, and cultural significance of flowers in death. From ancient Egypt and Greece to Victorian-era cemeteries, flowers have played a significant role in mourning and remembrance around the globe. Sow the seeds of curiosity and tune in to this week's episode of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast as we dig up the dirt on floral death traditions.

View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/e7tFcdAnPV4

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

Resources used to research this episode include:

Staff, B. & W. (n.d.). Bloom & Wild Flower Delivery: Flowers & Gifts. https://www.bloomandwild.com/the-blog/floriography-language-of-flowers-meaning

Wessel, F. (n.d.). Flower symbols and meanings on gravestones. Stoneletters. https://stoneletters.com/blog/flower-symbols-and-meanings-on-gravestones

O'Brien, M. (2022, October 27). The Significance of Funeral Flowers. Www.Kelleyhousemuseum.org. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://www.kelleyhousemuseum.org/the-significance-of-funeral-flowers-by-marguerite-obrien/

(n.d.). Memorial Flowers: The Oldest Form of Tribute. Journalofantiques.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://journalofantiques.com/features/flowers-the-oldest-form-of-tribute/

Woodyard, C. (2024, February 21). Funeral Flowers. Thevictorianbookofthedead.Wordpress.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://thevictorianbookofthedead.wordpress.com/tag/funeral-flowers/

(n.d.). Crown of justification. En.Wikipedia.org. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_of_justification

(2023, September 11). What is the meaning of the wreath at a funeral? Funeralflorist.Wordpress.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://funeralflorist.wordpress.com/2023/09/11/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-wreath-at-a-funeral/

Staff, S. &. V. (2018, August 9). The Fascinating History of Funeral Wreaths. Www.Scentandviolet.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://www.scentandviolet.com/info/blog/fascinating-history-funeral-wreaths/?srsltid=AfmBOooLmeLyV-Tcs-gMhrZaNMd8-PkH5CdrSgIUr5ttKEZY6AfMxmBM

(n.d.). Thistle - national flower of Scotland. Www.Visitscotland.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/attractions/arts-culture/thistle

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

"Fear and grief are not just inevitable — they are sacred rites of passage. A catalyst for transformation and resilience. And they belong to all of us." On this episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Jennie and Dianne chat with the creators of a live performance that blends comedy, storytelling, and poetry; Life: A Delightful Show About Fear and Grief. Special guests Andrea Sodergren, Elaina McMillan and Katie Mason share what happens when darkness meets humor, and how that unlikely pairing can lead to profound insights and healing as they all explore the messy, beautiful intersections of humor, heartache, and human connection.

To learn more about the show or to purchase tickets, visit: https://fearandgrief.com/

*Photos by Paul Winner and Jeff Stonic and shared with permission.

View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/psd1OBKz9_E

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com