aprigliano cemetery

The cemetery in Aprigliano has four distinct sections - the old section where my relatives are buried, two sections of new mausoleums, and the in-ground area. The in-ground area has become the pauper's burial ground.

My grandmother is in the old section. My favorite grave in this quarter is the one with the reclining woman. I remember the first time I saw this grave, I was barely 7, and yet that image has stayed with me. The woman buried here is a school-teacher. However, in my mind's eye she has none of the water stains that 60 years of weather have wrecked on this sleeping beauty. The marvel of the old quarter is the huge mausoleums sitting back to back with ancient simple graves.
My grandmother is in one of these simple, brick graves.

There are two new sections lined with cookie-cutter mausoleums. My cousins, who live in Aprigliano, see these sections as desirable. They like the lack of distinction afforded one and all. Levittown has come to Aprigliano.

The other thing I discovered during this trip were the crosses that topped the graves. These are not mass-produced ornaments, rather they are artisan creations. (The thumbnail points to the larger image.)