Tuesday tip - Check Both Sides

In anticipation of my trip to the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, I arrived a few days early to get in some research.  I had dinner with my husband’s distant cousin, Rita, and she drew me a little map of St. Brigid Cemetery in Xenia on a napkin to show me where to find some family graves, including Mark’s great-great grandparents, John Thomas Corrigan and Mary Sexton Corrigan, as well as JT’s mother, Mary Blake Corrigan Taylor. 

I stopped in there on Wednesday morning and immediately found the stone marking the graves of some of JT and Mary Corrigan’s children, Grace, Margaret and Sara.  I also saw the grave of Rita’s parents and her husband. 

But for the life of me I could not find John Thomas and Mary.  Up and down the rows I searched.  No luck.  I called back to the church office, but they didn’t have information and suggested I call the caretaker.  No answer.  I called Rita, several times, and each time my call was dropped.  As I dialed (do you “dial” a cell phone?...) I continued to wander among the markers, looking down, reading, hoping.  Just about ready to call it a day, and head back to the car, I looked up, and there they were!  And where was that?  On the back side of the maker for their daughters.  The reminder? Whether document or gravestone, always check both sides. Always.