"Meet Me In Heaven" / A Collection of Epitaphs / A book by Tina Pabst

Epitaph literally means an inscription on a monument in honor of or in memory of the dead, according to the 1884 edition of Webster's dictionary. Earliest epitaphs came from the Greeks and Romans. Inscriptions, the literature of the masses, were always heartfelt, often blunt, sometimes sad and tragic, or hopeful and expectant. The purpose of this collection is to showcase the rich variety of epitaphs, perhaps awakening a readers interest in cemeteries and in the process preserving what is carved in stone. The book gives a look back in time, not only at epitaphs on tombstones, but pictures from a bygone era. It is filled with antique photographs many from my family but some that I borrowed or purchased. A few are unknown.

          A fascination with cemeteries has always been a passion of mine, even as a young child. I can remember traveling the back roads with my mother, stopping at a cemetery, reading the inscriptions, and trying to visualize the lives these people had led. My interest lies in the strength of the human spirit to overcome difficulties and go on. More recently, I realized that the stones are deteriorating at an alarming rate due to the effects of acid rain, vandalism, development and apathy. I thought it would be a worthwhile project to record what was written before it was too late. There are several publications with the same subject but they tend to focus on the humorous aspect while ignoring the beautiful prose and poetry.
          These "Open Air Museums" deserve both our respect and attention. While visiting over 300 cemeteries, I was pleased to collect 1000 plus varied inscriptions, primarily ranging over the last 200 years, which were condensed to these ten chapters. The cemeteries mainly were from Chenango, Otsego and Delaware counties of New York State. However, wherever I traveled, whether it be to a sheepdog trial in Connecticut or a genealogy search on Long Island, I stopped at a cemetery. Although the majority of epitaphs are old, I was pleasantly surprised to find a small resurgence in the popularity of the inscription on modern stones. I met Jim Vance, a Coventry farmer, on a Guilford historical remains hike in the spring of 2000. I told him of my cemetery interest and he asked what was my favorite epitaph. I replied that I could not pinpoint one yet, as they all were special. He then told me a story of himself as a young service man in Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was crawling through the underbrush on maneuvers when he literally came face to face with a gravestone. The inscription, which Jim says he'll never forget, was a simple Meet Me In Heaven. I myself had seen this on local stones, hence the title.

Epitaphs

Chapter titles include: Little Angels Afflictions and Accidents Tributes and Farewells Blest Be The Tie Rest for the Weary War and Strife Faith, Hope, and Charity Admonishments and Warnings Plain and Simple Favorites

About the Author~
          Tina Pabst is a member of the Guilford Historical Society as well as the Association for Gravestone Studies. She and her husband, along with eight dogs, an old horse, and a flock of Scottish Blackface sheep live on a small farm near Guilford Center called Stonecroft. When not in a cemetery, Tina works as a veterinary technician, enjoys gardening, and is a member of a local hiking group.
          It took two years to gather the epitaphs and another two years to organize and type them. A wonderful day was 12 hours of cemetery hopping and coming home with some really unique inscriptions. Wherever Tina traveled, whether it be to a sheep dog trial in Connecticut or a genealogy search on Long Island, the local cemeteries were investigated. However, the majority came from south central New York State, most of which were within a 50 mile radius of home.
           Many people suggested special places to visit and she tried to follow up on all of them, going out in all kinds of weather. Sometimes a hard to read epitaph required a second or third scrutiny. Often the burial grounds were in sad shape- neglected and overgrown. It was fascinating to find the details revealed about past lives, and refreshing to see a slight resurgence in the epitaph on modern stones.