Bodega’s Permanent Residents | Northern California Fine Art Photography

If you know me, then you know I like to explore and photograph in cemeteries. I love looking at the dates on the headstones, putting together a possible story about the people who are there, what their lives were like, and how they spent their days before their demise is a bit of an enjoyable challenge. All of that is true for Bodega’s permanent residents of their local cemetery.

Bodega’s Permanent Residents

I remember the first time I explored this cemetery. It was with my sister. And, although I was not a photographer then, the headstones and possible stories intrigued me. She pointed out to me one very special headstone. A peace sign was at the top of the stone of a nine year old child who died in 1971. What a timely symbol of that era. His headstone is adorned with a shell necklace among other things now. I wonder if his parents or family are still in the area.

There are other stories to be told about all the other headstones there, too. The wooden branches fashioned into a cross. The names of Chester and Minnie who were born in the early 1900’s. The headstones that were cracked so badly that they were laid flat in cement for preservation. But, perhaps the most heartbreaking is the headstone of two little sisters. Kaitlyn and Hailey, born in the early 2000’s. Not quite seven and four. Passing on the same day. The little treasures left at their gravesite. I can hardly bring myself to imagine their story.

More Than Just a Cemetery

On a lighter note (and I may have mentioned this before), a good friend of my father’s told this story when he was a kid during the depression. In the farming community in which he lived, there were no sidewalks (no neighborhood!), no skating rinks, no paved driveways. So, when the kids wanted to skate, they went to the cemetery where there were paved walkways. They took their skates, a picnic lunch, invited a few friends, and enjoyed rollerskating at the cemetery! Can you imagine doing that now? I would love to see that!

I made a point to visit the Bodega Cemetery for the first time in a very long time while I was visiting the area. Here are a few of the headstones from my exploration of that foggy morning on the coast.

Take heart, Mom.

I am near. 

Just drop a tear or two.

But speak and I will hear.

Doubt not, I wait for you.

Their names seem so indicative of the times in which they were born. Chester and Minnie

The back of the headstone for Kaitlyn and Hailey.

Next time you pass a cemetery, I hope you’ll stop to visit and put together some stories of the people there.

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As a published, featured northern California fine art photographer living in the greater Sacramento area, I specialize in fine art landscape, nature, and still life photography. My style is authentic, fresh and personality-driven. I offer several educational opportunities including workshops and photography mentoring. You can learn about them by going to SERVICES and WORKSHOPS. While currently living in rural northern California with my husband and a couple thousand walnut trees, I post regularly to Instagram.

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