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This entrance is built in the same design as the Protestant Cemetery which
is adjacent , and which also borders Hosur Road. This is a granite stone edifice,
but the natural colour has been lost because of the colour wash painted over
the stones. What you are looking at is the original colour.
Cross in
the center of the Cemetery
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The Crucifix which is located in the middle of the Cemetery, after Plot
E facing from the left and Plot 5 from the right. The photograph is shot
from Plot E. The wording below the Cross reads: ... . Every year
on November 2, All Souls' Day, Mass is celebrated below the Cross in the
evening, and the cemetery plots are blessed. This is a day when you would
find many people who come from far and near to pay their respects to their
loved ones. There is also a voluntary collection (against an official receipt)
taken up during the day to help with the maintenance of the cemetery during
the year. You may however, give your donation directly to the Office of St.
Patrick's Church, Residency Road, Bangalore under whose jurisdiction the
cemetery falls. There is also a Catholic Cemetery behind this, but the entrance
is from the Banneragatta Road, and which comes under Sacred Heart's Church,
for maintenance.
Hearse
through the Entrance to the Cemetery, seen from inside
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A hearse drives in through the archway, and can move to all sections of
the cemetery as the plots have been patterned in a grid format, one side in
alphabets and the other in numerals. There are a few established sculptors
who also do the undertakers jobs, but there is a guideline on the size of
the tomb that can be built, as people have been known to stretch into another
grave area and this disrupts the uniformity. Also some have built very tall
structures that today are not allowed, but then some do slip away!
Entrance
to the Cemetery from inside
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This view from the 'inside looking out'. The photo is taken from Plot B.
About two years ago the whole roof and rooms were strengthened as over the
years there was lots of leakage and fear that the structure would collapse.
Now, this is in very good condition. The problem occurs is when the bats roost,
they make holes below the roof and this allows water seepage.
The Pereira
Family Plot
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This section of Plot E, has been granted to the Pereira Family for their
support to St. Patrick's Church during it's renovation in late 1800's. A site
map is available on
Cora Pereira's Page
.
Cora Pereira's
Grave
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Cora
Pereira's Grave. The complete details can be found on the
investigation site of Cora Pereira
.
Some graves
in Plot E
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Some
graves that can be seen Plot E. The persons buried here have in some way
or the other helped build St. Patrick's Church, in the form of 'financial'
or donating an Altar. Plaques can be found in the church which corresponds
to their names.
Children's
Plot
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There was a separate Children's Plot (Plot F), but due to lack of space,
the adult burials have been made in this Plot also.
Grave of
William Higgins
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One
the few old remaining graves that still exist in this cemetery, that of William
Higgins.
A few very
old graves can be found in this section
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Some of the few remaining graves that are over a 100 years old, and can
be found in Plot 1 and Plot 2, as you enter the right side of the cemetery.
A physical documentation was made a few years ago with the help of my children
Andrew and Joanne, and also assisted by my friend Ian Carvalho, and a data
base prepared. This was still incomplete as the 'help' could not last the
rigors of daily commuting to the cemetery instead of having fun with their
friends!!
Some more
old graves that are still existing
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Some more old graves that can be found in Plot 2. Infact there are many
interesting epitaphs on some of the graves, and I would like to transcribe
them someday, but then as they say, the spirit is willing, but the flesh
is weak, as things stand, I don't get the encouragement to do more than I
have already done, with no 'sponsor' who would cover costs.
You may like to view the situation
.
Grave of
Count Maurice Peralta (Perelta)
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This is a very interesting find during our data base gathering. We actually
have a 'Count' buried in our cemetery. Count Maurice Peralta'. Well there
is a story about him brought out by Ms. Alice Saldanha a few years back, and
details can be found on my People Page.
