Cemetery of the Holy Rood
Encyclopedia
The Cemetery of the Holy Rood is a Roman Catholic cemetery
located in Westbury, New York
. The 65 acre (0.2630459 km²) cemetery, established in 1930, is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre
.
established a 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) cemetery named for the Holy Rood. The grounds of the cemetery are considered part of the greater Hempstead Plains
. In 1956, with the creation of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Holy Rood Cemetery's jurisdiction was transferred to the newly formed diocese. The cemetery also contains the burial grounds of Saint Brigid's Cemetery (formerly a part of Saint Brigid's Roman Catholic Church), a cemetery founded in 1856 that was eventually absorbed into the assets-management of Cemetery of the Holy Rood or Catholic Cemeteries.
In 1998, the Diocese of Rockville Centre caused a certain amount of controversy when it announced that mementos and toys could no longer be left on children's graves. Even though leaving such items on graves was always in violation of cemetery rules, officials had previously turned a blind eye to the practice in the children's section.
. It is owned by the Children of Hope Foundation, founded by Tim Jaccard, an ambulance medical technician with the Nassau County
Police, to pay for funerals and marked graves for abandoned babies and children. As of 2007, 88 children were buried there.
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
located in Westbury, New York
Westbury, New York
Westbury incorporated in 1932 as a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 15,146 at the 2010 census.The Village of Westbury is in the Town of North Hempstead....
. The 65 acre (0.2630459 km²) cemetery, established in 1930, is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre comprises the territory of Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York state, USA. Founded in 1957, this diocese was created from territory that once belonged to the Diocese of Brooklyn...
.
History
In the 1930s, the then-Diocese of BrooklynRoman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes territory that was previously part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, was established as a separate diocese in 1853 when the City of Brooklyn was separate from New York City....
established a 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) cemetery named for the Holy Rood. The grounds of the cemetery are considered part of the greater Hempstead Plains
Hempstead Plains
The Hempstead Plains is a region of central Long Island in New York state in what is now Nassau County. It was once an open expanse of native grassland estimated to once extend to about . It was separated from the North Shore of Long Island by the Harbor Hill Moraine, later approximately the route...
. In 1956, with the creation of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Holy Rood Cemetery's jurisdiction was transferred to the newly formed diocese. The cemetery also contains the burial grounds of Saint Brigid's Cemetery (formerly a part of Saint Brigid's Roman Catholic Church), a cemetery founded in 1856 that was eventually absorbed into the assets-management of Cemetery of the Holy Rood or Catholic Cemeteries.
In 1998, the Diocese of Rockville Centre caused a certain amount of controversy when it announced that mementos and toys could no longer be left on children's graves. Even though leaving such items on graves was always in violation of cemetery rules, officials had previously turned a blind eye to the practice in the children's section.
The Island of Hope
The cemetery contains a triangular grassy area called "The Island of Hope" for the burials of abandoned babies, nearly all of whom are the victims of neonaticideNeonaticide
Neonaticide is the killing of a newborn infant less than 24 hours old. It can be divided into criminal neonaticide, which is usually by a mother under severe psychological stress, and customary neonaticide, a practice used in certain cultures at certain times to limit the population.Neonaticide is...
. It is owned by the Children of Hope Foundation, founded by Tim Jaccard, an ambulance medical technician with the Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
Police, to pay for funerals and marked graves for abandoned babies and children. As of 2007, 88 children were buried there.
Notable burials
- James Joseph BrownJames Joseph BrownJames Joseph "J.J." Brown , mining engineer, inventor, and self-made member of fashionable "society", was born in Waymart, Pennsylvania. His wife was RMS Titanic survivor Molly Brown....
, mining engineer - "Unsinkable Molly" BrownMargaret BrownMargaret Brown was an American socialite, philanthropist, and activist who became famous due to her involvement with the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic, after exhorting the crew of lifeboat 6 to return to look for survivors. It is unclear whether any survivors were found after life boat 6...
, survivor of the RMS Titanic sinking and estranged wife of James Joseph Brown - William J. CaseyWilliam J. CaseyWilliam Joseph Casey was the Director of Central Intelligence from 1981 to 1987. In this capacity he oversaw the entire United States Intelligence Community and personally directed the Central Intelligence Agency ....
, former Director of Central IntelligenceDirector of Central IntelligenceThe Office of United States Director of Central Intelligence was the head of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, the principal intelligence advisor to the President and the National Security Council, and the coordinator of intelligence activities among and between the various United... - Oleg CassiniOleg CassiniOleg Cassini was a French-born American fashion designer noted for being chosen by Jacqueline Kennedy to design her state wardrobe in the 1960s....
, fashion designer - Bob ChipmanBob ChipmanRobert Howard Chipman , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1941-1952. He would play for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Braves, and Chicago Cubs.-External links:...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player - Don DunphyDon DunphyDon Dunphy was a United States television and radio sports announcer specializing in boxing broadcasts. Dunphy was noted for his fast paced delivery and enthusiasm for the sport. It is estimated that he did "blow-by-blow" action for over 2,000 fights. The Friday Night Fights were broadcast every...
, boxing announcer - Peter J. Ganci, Jr.Peter J. Ganci, Jr.Peter J. Ganci, Jr. was a career firefighter in the New York City Fire Department. At the time of the September 11 terrorist attacks he held the rank of Chief of Department, the highest ranking uniformed fire officer in the department.Ganci was appointed to replace his boss Donald Burns as Chief...
, FDNY Chief of Department fallen September 11, 2001 - George C. LangGeorge C. LangGeorge C. Lang was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.-Biography:...
, Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient - Joseph LanninJoseph LanninJoseph John Lannin was a Canadian-born American baseball entrepreneur.-Biography:He was born in Lac-Beauport, Quebec, Canada, the son of Irish immigrants....
, former owner of the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"... - Frank McCormickFrank McCormickFrank Andrew McCormick was a first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds , Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Braves . McCormick batted and threw right-handed...
, Major League Baseball player - Cliff MontgomeryCliff MontgomeryCliff Montgomery was the captain of the Columbia University Lions college football team that won the 1934 Rose Bowl Game. Montgomery threw the pass, a trick play known as KF-79, that led to Columbia's 7-0 upset over Stanford University...
, American football player - Billy MurrayBilly Murray (singer)William Thomas "Billy" Murray was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century...
, Irish-American singer - George M. SkurlaGeorge M. SkurlaGeorge Martin Skurla graduated from University of Michigan in 1944 and was an aeronautical engineer with Grumman Corporation. He began his career as an apprentice engineer, rising through the ranks and in 1965 becoming Director of Operations at the Kennedy Space Center...
, aeronautical engineer - John W. WydlerJohn W. WydlerJohn Waldemar Wydler was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.Wydler was born in Brooklyn. He served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 until 1945. He graduated from Brown University in 1947 and Harvard University Law School in 1950...
, former member of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... - Sam ZoldakSam ZoldakSamuel Walter Zoldak was a Major League Baseball pitcher for nine seasons. He was nicknamed "Sad Sam". He played for the St. Louis Browns from 1944 to 1948, the Cleveland Indians from 1948 to 1950, and the Philadelphia Athletics from 1951 to 1952.-Early life:He was born in Brooklyn, New York...
, Major League Baseball player
External links
- Holy Rood Cemetery official site