Becoming a findagrave volunteer started when I was researching our family's genealogy. What began as an interesting hobby soon become a way to "pay it forward" to help others discover their ancestors and to give voice to those who no longer have families to remember them.

As a local historian, former museum curator, and retired teacher, I have always been interested in the past. Findagrave shines a light on the lives of regular folks. It connects families and honors loved ones.

My main focus is Oak Hill cemetery in my hometown of Mount Carroll, Illinois. I walked the entire cemetery from 2022-2023 to ensure that all the memorials were photographed and were included on findagrave and that veterans were designated. I mapped the cemetery and am currently writing up that data to create a more user friendly tool for those who want to see memorials in person. Another goal is to add GPS for all the memorials.

An on-going project is researching each inhabitant of "the city of the dead" with the goal of connecting their memorials to those of family members buried at Oak Hill and elsewhere.

I welcome suggested edits, photos, and news articles which are sourced. If you are a relative of someone whose memorial I manage, I will gladly transfer my management to you.

Contributions to Save the Stones are welcome. Donations can be sent to City Hall, 302 North Main Street, Mount Carroll, Illinois, 61053.

The memorials in Oak Hill are our heritage and we must be caretakers of their stones and their stories.