Eternally Yours: The Journey to Woodlawn Cemetery. How Bronx Italians Found Their Way to Woodlawn Cemetery: A Qualitative Study of an Italian Population’s End of Life Cycle Choice and Its Implications.
Abstract
Cities contain neighborhoods; surprisingly, so do some cemeteries. The urban Woodlawn Cemetery attracted a population reflecting the waves of late 19th and early to mid-20th century European immigrants moving through the Bronx at that time. Though having a choice, many Italians residing in Bronx neighborhoods selected non-sectarian Woodlawn Cemetery for their eternal resting place, counter to expectations of burial in a Roman Catholic cemetery. “Eternal neighborhoods” were created there, introducing the question of how that final decision was reached. A brief qualitative analysis of Italians who chose to be buried at St. Raymond’s Cemetery (Catholic) in the Bronx is done to help explore relative devoutness, a possible influence in those choosing to be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery. When compared, these selected groups of Italians differed on a number of aspects. What the differences unearthed might mean in terms of adaptation to their chosen neighborhood, and more generally, are explored. As a result, some implications for cities and the impact differing immigrant groups might have on transforming their urban neighborhood are examined.
Subject Area
Urban planning|American history|Individual & family studies|Ethnic studies|Geography|Communication|Religion
Recommended Citation
Stoler, Adam, "Eternally Yours: The Journey to Woodlawn Cemetery. How Bronx Italians Found Their Way to Woodlawn Cemetery: A Qualitative Study of an Italian Population’s End of Life Cycle Choice and Its Implications." (2021). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI28495692.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI28495692
