Genealogy researcher since the mid 1990's. It all began when my mother asked me to help find her father's family which came from England. He died when she was 2 years so she knew nothing of her heritage. The internet was in its infancy and most of my research was done by visiting libraries, writing letters, using books and making phone calls. Ah..... the good 'ole days!

My family tree consists of 17,000+ names. My sons are connected to Charlemagne through their French Canadian Ancestors and my granddaughters are descendants of the Mayflower pilgrim William Brewster (their 13th great grandfather).
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Borrowed from another volunteer (with permission) and slightly edited:
Note to photo requester: (Soapbox time)
I have fulfilled many photo requests over the years; however lately I have noticed a trend of some members requesting hundreds, if not thousands of photo requests. It's easy to click the button "request photo" but those specific requesters need to know that they are burning out the energy and joy of us volunteers who actually go to the cemetery and spend 15-30 minutes per request finding and taking the photo. Therefore from this point forward, I am only going to fill requests for those folks who appear to be asking for photos of family members or friends and do not have hundreds or more requests pending in their profile. (Yes I check everyone who requests a photo). Might I ask also, that instead of clicking a button to request a photo, you go out to the cemetery and join us photo volunteers.
(end of Soapbox)
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I only make memorials if I have a headstone photo which I have taken myself. First of all because I love walking around cemeteries and seeing the various types of monuments, markers and clever engravings. It's quiet and serene and this is where I get my exercise. Secondly, too many mistakes are made on FG when some one assigns cemeteries from obits or burial records. It's very frustrating to get them corrected. This is an ongoing issue and especially when the name of a cemetery is the same or similar to another one.

To me Find A Grave means just that - Find the Grave!

I am currently filling requests in the Chicago area (north suburbs) and Phoenix/Scottsdale .

Please feel free to use any photo I have taken for your own personal use if needed. That is why I do this. Hopefully I found someone important to you in one of my afternoon outings. And I will always transfer when asked. I'm not a collector.

It saddens me to see a gravestone of someone who was born in the same year as me and is no longer here. A Big Fat Reality Check.

And lastly, Thank You for all your positive feedback and Thank You's on the photos I take for your requests. Remember that a Stranger took time out of their day to help YOU. It's not difficult to click that link and send a quick note of your gratitude.

PLEASE be kind to one another on this site. Stop bullying and harassing. It's not a competition and you do not win Medals !! There is currently too much drama and ugly issues trending here. We are all just trying to work together towards a common goal - to honor those who are no longer here with us. Thank You

Family names: Klimczak, Nawiesniak, Czajkowski, Adducci, Clark, Guimont, Bistodeau, Bambrough

I BRAKE FOR CEMETERIES !

Those We Love Don't Go Away.... They Walk Beside Us Every Day.

Genealogy researcher since the mid 1990's. It all began when my mother asked me to help find her father's family which came from England. He died when she was 2 years so she knew nothing of her heritage. The internet was in its infancy and most of my research was done by visiting libraries, writing letters, using books and making phone calls. Ah..... the good 'ole days!

My family tree consists of 17,000+ names. My sons are connected to Charlemagne through their French Canadian Ancestors and my granddaughters are descendants of the Mayflower pilgrim William Brewster (their 13th great grandfather).
---------------------------------------
Borrowed from another volunteer (with permission) and slightly edited:
Note to photo requester: (Soapbox time)
I have fulfilled many photo requests over the years; however lately I have noticed a trend of some members requesting hundreds, if not thousands of photo requests. It's easy to click the button "request photo" but those specific requesters need to know that they are burning out the energy and joy of us volunteers who actually go to the cemetery and spend 15-30 minutes per request finding and taking the photo. Therefore from this point forward, I am only going to fill requests for those folks who appear to be asking for photos of family members or friends and do not have hundreds or more requests pending in their profile. (Yes I check everyone who requests a photo). Might I ask also, that instead of clicking a button to request a photo, you go out to the cemetery and join us photo volunteers.
(end of Soapbox)
----------------------------------------
I only make memorials if I have a headstone photo which I have taken myself. First of all because I love walking around cemeteries and seeing the various types of monuments, markers and clever engravings. It's quiet and serene and this is where I get my exercise. Secondly, too many mistakes are made on FG when some one assigns cemeteries from obits or burial records. It's very frustrating to get them corrected. This is an ongoing issue and especially when the name of a cemetery is the same or similar to another one.

To me Find A Grave means just that - Find the Grave!

I am currently filling requests in the Chicago area (north suburbs) and Phoenix/Scottsdale .

Please feel free to use any photo I have taken for your own personal use if needed. That is why I do this. Hopefully I found someone important to you in one of my afternoon outings. And I will always transfer when asked. I'm not a collector.

It saddens me to see a gravestone of someone who was born in the same year as me and is no longer here. A Big Fat Reality Check.

And lastly, Thank You for all your positive feedback and Thank You's on the photos I take for your requests. Remember that a Stranger took time out of their day to help YOU. It's not difficult to click that link and send a quick note of your gratitude.

PLEASE be kind to one another on this site. Stop bullying and harassing. It's not a competition and you do not win Medals !! There is currently too much drama and ugly issues trending here. We are all just trying to work together towards a common goal - to honor those who are no longer here with us. Thank You

Family names: Klimczak, Nawiesniak, Czajkowski, Adducci, Clark, Guimont, Bistodeau, Bambrough

I BRAKE FOR CEMETERIES !

Those We Love Don't Go Away.... They Walk Beside Us Every Day.