According to the book, "Images of America - Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemeteries," authors Jenny Floro-Khalaf and Cynthia Savaglio state that Clare was the first burial at Mt. Carmel, done four weeks prior to the actual Consecration ceremony.
There is a little mystery surrounding Clare's death/burial.
Clare's headstone shows the date of death as 1899, however the Department of Health; City of Chicago; Bureau of Vital Statistics; Undertakers Report of Death, shows June 3, 1900 as date of death. (See below and photo.) Furthermore, the location of burial is listed as "Calvary Cemetery" on June 5, 1900. The Calvary listing isn't terribly unusual, as many families initially had their loved ones buried at Calvary, then transferred them to Mt. Carmel at a later time when other family members passed and a large family plot was purchased. It's more likely, in Clare's case, that the record was wrong. Many death records from that time frame show Calvary Cemetery, despite headstones/records existing at Mt. Carmel. A date etched in stone is not always correct either.
So little Clare was likely the first burial, as the authors research included working with the Archdiocese of Chicago Archives. It also roughly coordinates with one of the dates given in the book of the Consecration/Dedication of Mt. Carmel taking place on August 31, 1900. (The Archdiocese obtained the land in 1895.)
Note: In reviewing the cemetery records myself, I can say that this indeed confirmed the information sent by contributor Sonia (#47848895) that this was the first burial on the books.
Unfortunately, the death rate among infants/children was startling high in that era. As the authors noted in their book, the first five burials at Mt. Carmel were for children.
The death of any child is a cause for deep sorrow, so this special note about Clare Lillis is done for historical purposes. God bless and keep little Clare in his loving care.
---------------------------------
death date: 03 Jun 1900
death place: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
gender: Female
race: White
death age: 11m
estimated birth year: 1900
birthplace: Chicago, Ills.
occupation: Infant
street address: 86 Loomis, 18 Ward
residence: Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois
cemetery: Calvary
burial date: 05 Jun 1900
funeral home: M. Hayes, undertaker
film number: 1033076
digital folder number: 4004359
image number: 944
reference number: cn 10444
Source: "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1922," index and images, FamilySearch
Buried in Mt. Carmel on August 4, 1900.
Source: "Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1989," database with images, FamilySearch.org
According to the book, "Images of America - Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemeteries," authors Jenny Floro-Khalaf and Cynthia Savaglio state that Clare was the first burial at Mt. Carmel, done four weeks prior to the actual Consecration ceremony.
There is a little mystery surrounding Clare's death/burial.
Clare's headstone shows the date of death as 1899, however the Department of Health; City of Chicago; Bureau of Vital Statistics; Undertakers Report of Death, shows June 3, 1900 as date of death. (See below and photo.) Furthermore, the location of burial is listed as "Calvary Cemetery" on June 5, 1900. The Calvary listing isn't terribly unusual, as many families initially had their loved ones buried at Calvary, then transferred them to Mt. Carmel at a later time when other family members passed and a large family plot was purchased. It's more likely, in Clare's case, that the record was wrong. Many death records from that time frame show Calvary Cemetery, despite headstones/records existing at Mt. Carmel. A date etched in stone is not always correct either.
So little Clare was likely the first burial, as the authors research included working with the Archdiocese of Chicago Archives. It also roughly coordinates with one of the dates given in the book of the Consecration/Dedication of Mt. Carmel taking place on August 31, 1900. (The Archdiocese obtained the land in 1895.)
Note: In reviewing the cemetery records myself, I can say that this indeed confirmed the information sent by contributor Sonia (#47848895) that this was the first burial on the books.
Unfortunately, the death rate among infants/children was startling high in that era. As the authors noted in their book, the first five burials at Mt. Carmel were for children.
The death of any child is a cause for deep sorrow, so this special note about Clare Lillis is done for historical purposes. God bless and keep little Clare in his loving care.
---------------------------------
death date: 03 Jun 1900
death place: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
gender: Female
race: White
death age: 11m
estimated birth year: 1900
birthplace: Chicago, Ills.
occupation: Infant
street address: 86 Loomis, 18 Ward
residence: Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois
cemetery: Calvary
burial date: 05 Jun 1900
funeral home: M. Hayes, undertaker
film number: 1033076
digital folder number: 4004359
image number: 944
reference number: cn 10444
Source: "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1922," index and images, FamilySearch
Buried in Mt. Carmel on August 4, 1900.
Source: "Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1989," database with images, FamilySearch.org
Gravesite Details
Many thanks to contributor Sonia (#47848895) for bringing Clare's burial and it's significance to my attention.
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