MOUNT CARMEL CEMETERY
Harrison
& Hillside Avenues
Hillside, Illinois
708.449.8300
Established: 1901
Acres: 214
Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 3 Tombstones
Located directly across from Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Mount Carmel is the oldest Catholic burial ground in the western part of the Chicago Archdiocese and serves as the eternal address of 226,276 souls (with 800+ joining them every year).
Reflecting the deeply religious nature of many of the area's Italian residents, the cemetery is populated with thousands of stone angels, saints, Madonnas and figures of Jesus. Gazing across the largely-flat expanse of the property, we at Bella Morte were reminded of European cemeteryscapes--though the relative abundance of grass is a dead giveaway (a living one, too!) that you haven't been magically transported across the Atlantic. The cemetery boasts an amazing 400 private family mausoleums, but the humble nature and size of most makes the number slightly less impressive.
The "permanent guest list" at Mt. Carmel reads like a cast list for "The Godfather" film saga. Within the consecrated grounds, rival mob members rest in a perpetual cease fire...something they never managed while above ground! The roll call includes: Al Capone, "Big Jim" Colosimo, "Hymie" Weiss, the "Terrible" Genna Brothers, "Bugs" Moran, "Schemer" Drucci, "Sam the Cigar" Giancana and "Deany" O'Banion--to name just a few. It's fascinating to stand on the now decidedly underpopulated (by the living, that is) turf and imagine the extravagant funerals the cemetery has been witness to. It was not uncommon for processions to mobster's graves to stretch out over a mile with 15,000-20,000 mourners in attendance. On occasion, as was the case at the O'Banion funeral, 20+ cars were employed to bear flowers to the burial site! Several of the mobsters were initially denied "Christian burial" by then-Cardinal Mundelein whose later retractions make this writer wonder if it was a sense of decency or something with a president's face printed on it that served to change his mind!
Set apart from the modest family mausoleums is a building catering to a very exclusive post-mortem clientele. This is a mausoleum with a decidedly unhumble pedigree: ironically, it is an afterlife home to men dedicated (at least in theory) to poverty. We refer to the Bishop's Mausoleum which stands, fortress-like, atop one of the cemetery's only somewhat-significant elevations. Seldom seen by the public, the building's interior is open only on the occasion of a new arrival. Once inside, visitors will discover further extravagance. Encrusted with mosaic and surrounded by painted images derived from biblical and other Christian texts, an altar awaits the next bishop or cardinal's appointment with his Maker to be used for services. The carved white figures of numerous saints stand in semi-circular formation, gazing toward the entrance while still more (painted) figures rise toward the domed ceiling.
Seven men are sealed in the silent structure awaiting the day when, they believe, the trumpet-bearing angel Gabriel perched on the building's roof will be replaced by a real being of light who will herald their bodily reanimation. This hope is further echoed in the word "RESURRECTURIS," which is spelled in golden letters between the columns on either side of the entrance's exterior. [Note: Over 50,000 people visited in the space of 2 months in 1996 following the entombment of popular Archbishop Bernardin. Once thought to be a shoe-in for the Papacy, Bernardin came to popular attention after being accused of sexual misconduct. These allegations were subsequently shown to be unfounded and the Cardinal, in a demonstration of sterling character, forgave his accuser while he (the accuser) was on his deathbed. Bernardin himself had a very public demise following a diagnosis of pancreatic and liver cancer. He met his end with grace and dignity several months later).
We at Bella Morte, while finding the Bishop's Memorial of vague interest were decidedly underwhelmed by the monolith. Perhaps if we had been able to enter its darkened, cool interior we would feel differently, though, for our taste, the mausoleum lacked the siren call of so many others. Too bad--it must have cost a fortune!
In any case, having saved what we hoped would be the best for last, we turned our attention to a grave on the opposite side of the cemetery...a grave with an eerie tale behind it...
It's not difficult to spot once you're in the general area. After all, not many stones are surmounted by the figure of a young bride clutching a floral bouquet. What casual visitors may not know is this statue was modeled after a photograph taken on the grave occupant's wedding day. A copy of that same photo is affixed to the tombstone, along with another, far more intriguing picture. But more on that in a moment.
Why is this grave so oft-visited? And who exactly is its occupant?
We shall answer those questions in reverse order. Julia Buccola (1892 - 1921) is the occupant. The answer to the second question will take a few more sentences.
Julia was a Chicago housewife who died during childbirth in 1921. There's hardly anything remarkable in that and, though tragic, her story wouldn't capture the attention of so many if it ended when her body was committed to the ground. However, Julia was one of the dead who (at least according to the story) would not lie in peace. Soon after her untimely departure, the young woman's mother, Filomena Buccola, began to be plagued by dreams in which her daughter, claiming to still be alive, begged to be exhumed.
It took a long time for Filomena to honour the request. Though initially reticent herself, the frequency of the dream inspired her to make every effort to do her daughter's bidding. Understandably, the authorities were less easily convinced and it was fully six years until a priest granted permission for the unwholesome unearthing.
Obviously, Julia didn't sit up and gasp for air when the water-stained, partially decomposed casket was, at last, opened...but she surprised onlookers all the same. You see, Julia retained the appearance of life. A faint smile appeared to tug at the corners of her mouth, flesh still covered her exposed arm and her hand still clasped the prayer book which had been placed there at the time of her wake and funeral. Her countenance was the same her mother had known in life. Clearly, Julia had not been alive when she made her nightly appearances in the dreams of her mother...but many began to speculate the pleading derived from Julia's desire to have her mother witness "the miracle."
Filomena took a photograph of Julia's remarkably intact corpse and had it, along with the previously-mentioned wedding photo, affixed to the front of Julia's gravestone. Below the post-mortem picture are these words:
Filumena Julia Buccola aged 29
Questa fotographia presa dopo 6 anni morti.
The translation is as follows: "This photograph was taken 6 years after death."
Speculation as to the cause of Julia's remarkable preservation ranges from evidence of her sainthood to the formation of adipocere. [Note: Also known as "grave wax," adipocere is a waxy substance formed by a chemical reaction occurring when fats react with hydrogen and water while exposed to bacterial enzymes. The resulting product is, basically, soap. In human corpses, adipocere is most-often discovered where the deceased has been in contact with a wet environment]. The presence of mud and water stains on Buccola's coffin support the theory. In addition, adipocere formation greatly impedes the process of decomposition which, coupled with embalming, may account for her remarkable appearance].
Nevertheless, nothing has been definitely shown to be true in Buccola's case, and we rather enjoy a mystery, so that's just as well.
Speaking of mystery, Julia Buccola is the subject of much Chicago ghost lore. She has joined the ranks of "Resurrection Mary" and other Ladies in White. The most popular story tells of a child who became separated from his family while visiting the cemetery. Reportedly, the family left the grounds before realizing the little boy was missing. Upon their return, he was seen holding the hand of...you guessed it...a Lady in White. She vanished before they could thank her for her solicitude.
Truth or fiction? We couldn't say. But we would certainly be open to a midnight vigil outside the gates of Mount Carmel to see if Julia would deign to grace us with her ethereal presence.
One final note. Mount Carmel contains the most post-mortem photos we have yet discovered in a single cemetery. The image above is a typical example and one where no effort was made to disguise the fact of the death. Once inside the gallery you will see two, less obvious, examples. The young girl with the bow in her hair and the "sleeping" infant. In the case of the former, the family attempted to add to the illusion by affixing the photo in an upright manner to give the impression the young lady was standing at the time the shutter snapped. In the case of the babe, setting her arm away from the body lends an air of relaxation. Coupled with her positioning on the soft pillow, one might assume she was merely napping. For a more detailed discussion of postmortem photography, please refer to our Italian Cemetery listing.
{F}
Harrison
& Hillside Avenues
Hillside, Illinois
708.449.8300
Established: 1901
Acres: 214
Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 3 Tombstones
Located directly across from Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Mount Carmel is the oldest Catholic burial ground in the western part of the Chicago Archdiocese and serves as the eternal address of 226,276 souls (with 800+ joining them every year).
Reflecting the deeply religious nature of many of the area's Italian residents, the cemetery is populated with thousands of stone angels, saints, Madonnas and figures of Jesus. Gazing across the largely-flat expanse of the property, we at Bella Morte were reminded of European cemeteryscapes--though the relative abundance of grass is a dead giveaway (a living one, too!) that you haven't been magically transported across the Atlantic. The cemetery boasts an amazing 400 private family mausoleums, but the humble nature and size of most makes the number slightly less impressive.
The "permanent guest list" at Mt. Carmel reads like a cast list for "The Godfather" film saga. Within the consecrated grounds, rival mob members rest in a perpetual cease fire...something they never managed while above ground! The roll call includes: Al Capone, "Big Jim" Colosimo, "Hymie" Weiss, the "Terrible" Genna Brothers, "Bugs" Moran, "Schemer" Drucci, "Sam the Cigar" Giancana and "Deany" O'Banion--to name just a few. It's fascinating to stand on the now decidedly underpopulated (by the living, that is) turf and imagine the extravagant funerals the cemetery has been witness to. It was not uncommon for processions to mobster's graves to stretch out over a mile with 15,000-20,000 mourners in attendance. On occasion, as was the case at the O'Banion funeral, 20+ cars were employed to bear flowers to the burial site! Several of the mobsters were initially denied "Christian burial" by then-Cardinal Mundelein whose later retractions make this writer wonder if it was a sense of decency or something with a president's face printed on it that served to change his mind!
Set apart from the modest family mausoleums is a building catering to a very exclusive post-mortem clientele. This is a mausoleum with a decidedly unhumble pedigree: ironically, it is an afterlife home to men dedicated (at least in theory) to poverty. We refer to the Bishop's Mausoleum which stands, fortress-like, atop one of the cemetery's only somewhat-significant elevations. Seldom seen by the public, the building's interior is open only on the occasion of a new arrival. Once inside, visitors will discover further extravagance. Encrusted with mosaic and surrounded by painted images derived from biblical and other Christian texts, an altar awaits the next bishop or cardinal's appointment with his Maker to be used for services. The carved white figures of numerous saints stand in semi-circular formation, gazing toward the entrance while still more (painted) figures rise toward the domed ceiling.
Seven men are sealed in the silent structure awaiting the day when, they believe, the trumpet-bearing angel Gabriel perched on the building's roof will be replaced by a real being of light who will herald their bodily reanimation. This hope is further echoed in the word "RESURRECTURIS," which is spelled in golden letters between the columns on either side of the entrance's exterior. [Note: Over 50,000 people visited in the space of 2 months in 1996 following the entombment of popular Archbishop Bernardin. Once thought to be a shoe-in for the Papacy, Bernardin came to popular attention after being accused of sexual misconduct. These allegations were subsequently shown to be unfounded and the Cardinal, in a demonstration of sterling character, forgave his accuser while he (the accuser) was on his deathbed. Bernardin himself had a very public demise following a diagnosis of pancreatic and liver cancer. He met his end with grace and dignity several months later).
We at Bella Morte, while finding the Bishop's Memorial of vague interest were decidedly underwhelmed by the monolith. Perhaps if we had been able to enter its darkened, cool interior we would feel differently, though, for our taste, the mausoleum lacked the siren call of so many others. Too bad--it must have cost a fortune!
In any case, having saved what we hoped would be the best for last, we turned our attention to a grave on the opposite side of the cemetery...a grave with an eerie tale behind it...
It's not difficult to spot once you're in the general area. After all, not many stones are surmounted by the figure of a young bride clutching a floral bouquet. What casual visitors may not know is this statue was modeled after a photograph taken on the grave occupant's wedding day. A copy of that same photo is affixed to the tombstone, along with another, far more intriguing picture. But more on that in a moment.
Why is this grave so oft-visited? And who exactly is its occupant?
We shall answer those questions in reverse order. Julia Buccola (1892 - 1921) is the occupant. The answer to the second question will take a few more sentences.
Julia was a Chicago housewife who died during childbirth in 1921. There's hardly anything remarkable in that and, though tragic, her story wouldn't capture the attention of so many if it ended when her body was committed to the ground. However, Julia was one of the dead who (at least according to the story) would not lie in peace. Soon after her untimely departure, the young woman's mother, Filomena Buccola, began to be plagued by dreams in which her daughter, claiming to still be alive, begged to be exhumed.
It took a long time for Filomena to honour the request. Though initially reticent herself, the frequency of the dream inspired her to make every effort to do her daughter's bidding. Understandably, the authorities were less easily convinced and it was fully six years until a priest granted permission for the unwholesome unearthing.
Obviously, Julia didn't sit up and gasp for air when the water-stained, partially decomposed casket was, at last, opened...but she surprised onlookers all the same. You see, Julia retained the appearance of life. A faint smile appeared to tug at the corners of her mouth, flesh still covered her exposed arm and her hand still clasped the prayer book which had been placed there at the time of her wake and funeral. Her countenance was the same her mother had known in life. Clearly, Julia had not been alive when she made her nightly appearances in the dreams of her mother...but many began to speculate the pleading derived from Julia's desire to have her mother witness "the miracle."
Filomena took a photograph of Julia's remarkably intact corpse and had it, along with the previously-mentioned wedding photo, affixed to the front of Julia's gravestone. Below the post-mortem picture are these words:
Filumena Julia Buccola aged 29
Questa fotographia presa dopo 6 anni morti.
The translation is as follows: "This photograph was taken 6 years after death."
Speculation as to the cause of Julia's remarkable preservation ranges from evidence of her sainthood to the formation of adipocere. [Note: Also known as "grave wax," adipocere is a waxy substance formed by a chemical reaction occurring when fats react with hydrogen and water while exposed to bacterial enzymes. The resulting product is, basically, soap. In human corpses, adipocere is most-often discovered where the deceased has been in contact with a wet environment]. The presence of mud and water stains on Buccola's coffin support the theory. In addition, adipocere formation greatly impedes the process of decomposition which, coupled with embalming, may account for her remarkable appearance].
Nevertheless, nothing has been definitely shown to be true in Buccola's case, and we rather enjoy a mystery, so that's just as well.
Speaking of mystery, Julia Buccola is the subject of much Chicago ghost lore. She has joined the ranks of "Resurrection Mary" and other Ladies in White. The most popular story tells of a child who became separated from his family while visiting the cemetery. Reportedly, the family left the grounds before realizing the little boy was missing. Upon their return, he was seen holding the hand of...you guessed it...a Lady in White. She vanished before they could thank her for her solicitude.
Truth or fiction? We couldn't say. But we would certainly be open to a midnight vigil outside the gates of Mount Carmel to see if Julia would deign to grace us with her ethereal presence.
One final note. Mount Carmel contains the most post-mortem photos we have yet discovered in a single cemetery. The image above is a typical example and one where no effort was made to disguise the fact of the death. Once inside the gallery you will see two, less obvious, examples. The young girl with the bow in her hair and the "sleeping" infant. In the case of the former, the family attempted to add to the illusion by affixing the photo in an upright manner to give the impression the young lady was standing at the time the shutter snapped. In the case of the babe, setting her arm away from the body lends an air of relaxation. Coupled with her positioning on the soft pillow, one might assume she was merely napping. For a more detailed discussion of postmortem photography, please refer to our Italian Cemetery listing.
{F}