Friends of
Bohemian National Cemetery
Sunday, October 29, 2023 - Autumn Tour of the Tombstones
Friends of BNC hosted its first post-pandemic cemetery tour on September 28. Despite a chilly and overcast day, it was a success, led by Chuck Betzold, one of our most knowledgeable volunteers about cemetery history and Chicago history. In addition to local residents, tour participants included teachers and students visiting from the Czech Republic and Friends of BNC volunteers. After visiting the World Wars I and II Memorial, family monuments and mausoleums, the Crematorium/Columbarium Building and the Eastland Disaster Memorial, everyone returned to the gatehouse for further discussions, hot drinks and delicious bakery treats. We're looking forward to doing another tour next spring and hope you'll be able to join us. Check the Friends of BNC website and Facebook page for updates. |
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Sunday, August 28, 2022 ~ Friends Summer Meet and Greet
Friends held their summer Meet and Greet program and dinner at Bohemian Crystal Restaurant in Westmont. Over forty attendees enjoyed a fine Czech meal and conversation. There was also an udate on the Columbarium Restoration Project and the introduction of our new Treasurer, Linda Burton. |
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Sunday, April 10, 2022 ~ Friends of BNC Spring Meeting,
The Friends Spring 2022 meeting was held online Sunday afternon April 10th. The presentation was titled "100 Years of a Community-Based Czech Language School". Klára Moldová, T. G. Masaryk School Vice-President and teacher, told how this century-old Bohemian-language school in Cicero, Illinois, remains committed to its educational, fraternal and social objectives. Klára spoke about the school's early development, current class operations and its ongoing relationship with the community it serves. You can still see the presentation here: https://www.facebook.com/181958125204936/videos/644008083590548
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Sunday, August 29, 2021 ~ Friends of BNC Summer Meeting,
Our Friends of BNC summer meeting was held online on Sunday, August 29, 2021. The presentation on Trees and Shrubs of Bohemian National Cemeterywas given on line by our guest presenter Bob Porter. Mr. Porter is from the North Park Village Nature Center. Bob shared his knowledge of the trees and flora of Bohemian National Cemetery and the surrounding area.The presentaion was part of the Zoom meeting. You can see the presentation through the Facebook video Here _ Zoom meeting and Presentation. The meeting was 50 minutes long. Be sure to hit the play arrow to start the video. The picture will change as the presentation starts. The presentation begins at 2:30 minutes from the start.
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Sunday, February 28, 2021 ~ Friends of BNC 2021 Winter Meeting (on-line)
Chuck Michalek, Friends of BNC Special Projects Chair and BNCA Trustee, presented a program on some of the many military representations at BNC. His illustrated talk included a look at BNC's long tradition of celebrating Memorial Day and rare film footage of the 1952 dedication of the World Wars I and II Memorial. You can see the presentation as an mp4 file at War memorials at BNC |
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Sunday, August 23, 2020 ~ Friends of BNC 2020 Summer Meeting,
Friends Summer Meeting was held August 23, 2020 Rachel Berlinski, Operations Manager at Oak Park River Forest Museum presented the program Lasting Images: History of the J.A. Dedouch Company. View the program through Google Drive https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gardTRIBGQBFZzzMx0SXLXqAVdphQxxO/view?usp=sharing View or download the mp4 file (117Mb) at www.friendsofbnc.org/events/FoBNC%208-23-2020.MP4.mp4 |
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Sunday, February 16, 2020 ~ Friends Winter Meeting
Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery Winter Meeting was held 12:30 pm Sunday, February 16, 2020 at the Czech Plaza Restaurant, 7016 Cermak Road, Berwyn, Illinois. The program featured L. J. Slavin presenting "Sing Down Memory Lane"
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Sunday, August 25, 2019 ~ Friends Summer Meeting
Friends Summer Meeting was held August 25, 2019. Chuck Michalek, long-time volunteer with Friends of BNC and Bohemian National Cemetery Association board member and delegate, will discuss the cemetery's founding and early years, its growth and development through the decades, and its challenges for the future.
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Saturday, September 22, 2018~ Fall Walking Tours Friends Fall walking tours were held Saturday, September 22nd at 10:00 am and again at 1:00 pm. The Tours of the Tombstones were guided by professional guide, Albert Walavich. |
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Sunday, August 19th, 1:30 pm ~
Friends Summer meeting
Friends summer meeting was held and featured a presentation by Walter S. Arnold, stone sculptor who is currently working on a double tree memorial, which will be the first tree monument installed at BNC in over 70 years. |
![]() You can see a short video of the scuptor carving the tree stone monument with this link. See the Video |
Sunday, July 8th, 2018~ Annual BNC picnic
The Bohemian National Cemetery annual picnic was Sunday, July 8th, noon until 4 pm. |
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Saturday, June 16, 2018 and Sunday, June 17, 2018 ~
Flashlight Tours
There were special evening Flashlight walking tours on Saturday, June 9 and June 16, 2018 and Sunday, June 10 and June 17, 2018 at 8:00 pm. |
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Monday, May 28, 2018 ~ Memorial Day Commemoration
Friends commemorated the women and men who died while in military service.There was a parade to the crematorium/columbarium building, accompanied by the Sokol Honor Guard. The program included music and featured Deputy Consul General Jan Kubišta, from the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, as the main speaker. Following the service, a brick at the Eastland Disaster Memorial honoring Friends founder and board member Evelyn Fergle was dedicated. | |
Sunday, May 13th ~ Mother's Day Celebration
Friends celebrated Mother's Day on Sunday, May 13th with a wreath-laying at Mother statue followed by refreshments at the Gatehouse. | |
Sunday, April 29th , 2018 ~ Spring Walking Tour Friends Spring walking tours was Sunday, April 29th, 2018 at 1:00 pm . The Tour of the Tombstones was guided by professional guide, Albert Walavich. |
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Sunday, February 11, 2018 ~ Friends Winter meeting
Sunday, February 11, 2018 Friends held their winter meeting at Sawa's Old Warsaw Restaurant in Broadview, Illinois. John Pritasil was the speaker and he described his humorous account of Growing Up Czech Broadview, Illinois |
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Sunday, October 29th 2017~ BNCA 100th Anniversary
The Bohemian National Cemetery Association observed its 140th anniversary with a reception on Sunday, October 29, at the cemetery gatehouse. |
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October 2017 - Flashlight Tours
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Saturday, September 16th 2017~ Fall Walking Tours
Friends Fall walking tours were held Saturday, September 16 at 10:00 am & 1:00 pm . The Tours of the Tombstones were well attended and were guided by professional guide, Albert Walavich. |
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Sunday, August 20th 2017~ Friends Summer Meeting
Sunday, August 20th Friends had their summer meeting at the cemetery. Chuck Betzold gave a program on the "Beyond the Vines" outdoor columbarium. |
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Sunday, February 26, 2017 ~ Friends Winter meeting
Friends Winter meeting was held on Sunday, February 26, 2017 with a buffet dinner The program featured Judy Vessely, Czech violinist with keyboard accompaniment playing Czech favorites, show tunes, and requests. |
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Saturday, September 24, 2016 ~ Tour of the Tombstones
Our Fall Tours of the Tombstones were offered at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. and led by professional guide Albert Walavich. Both tours were well attended and much enjoyed by the participants. |
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Sunday, August 21, 2016 ~ Friends Summer Meeting at BNC
Friends summer meeting was held August 21st at the BNC office building. The meeting featured a DVD made from some 16mm color film of the cemetery from the late 1940s and 1952. The film was well received and triggered lots of memories from several members. The meeting also took the opportunity to unveil a plaque, purchased by Friends of BNC, showing that the cemetery is on the National Register of Historic Places. |
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Sunday, May 22, 2016 ~ Tour of the Tombstones
Our Spring Tour of the Tombstones was at 1:00 pm May 22 and led by Albert Walavich. See upcoming event for our next tour. |
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Sunday, February 21, 2016 ~ Friends Winter Meeting
Our winter meeting was February 21st at the Chicagoland Czech-American Community Center at 6635 Cermak Rd. in Berwyn. | Irena Cajkova and Tom Gaulkin gave their program |
Saturday, October 10th , 2015~ Tours of the Tombstones
Fall Tours of the Tombstones were at 10:00 a.m. and at 1:00 pm |
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Saturday, September 19th, 2015~ A Glimpse of Czech Chicago Irena Cajkova and Thomas Gaulkin presented a program on |
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![]() Sunday, September 13, 2015 ~ FallFest Gala Friends FallFest Gala was held Sunday, September 13, at 12:30 pm at the elegant Ashton Place in Willowbrook, Illinois. The energetic Moravian Cultural Society dancers, dressed in their beautiful kroje, provided the entertainment. Attendees enjoyed a choice of delicious entrees, with wine and beer included, and a chance to bid on unique items in our popular silent auction.text. |
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Sunday, August 16th 2015 ~ Friends Summer Meeting
Refreshments were served after meeting and program. |
A Statue of Smetana in Vyšehrad Cemetery ![]() |
Sunday, July 12, 2015 ~ BNC Annual Picnic
The BNC Annual Picnic was held. Guests enjoyed a beautiful day with live music, potato pancakes, sausages, bakery items, and items from our Friends book table. The new Eastland Memorial was dedicated at 1 pm. Visit www.friendsofbnc.org/eastland for more information on the memorial. |
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Sunday May 31 2015 ~ Spring Cemetery Tour
Friends Spring Tour of the Tombstones, led by Albert Walavich, was held Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 1:00 pm. |
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Monday, May 25th 2015 ~ Memorial Day The parade was led by the Sokol Spirit color guard to the crematorium/columbarium building for the ceremony. The ceremony included music and honored the veterans in the audience. Alderman Margaret Laurino and Kristyna Driehaus, chair of the Chicago Czech Center were the speakers. | ![]() ![]() |
Friday, May 22nd 2015 at 10:00 am
Volunteers helped Friends place flags along the roads leading to the crematorium/columbarium building to decorate for Memorial Day. |
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Saturday, May 16th 2015 ~ CSA Join Hands Day | Help with clean-up projects at the cemetery |
Sunday, May 10th 2015 ~ Mother's Day Ceremony
Ceremony to place a wreath at the Mother monument at 11:00 am. Refreshments in the gatehouse from about 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. | |
Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 ~ Friends Winter Meeting On Sunday, January 25th. Friends held its winter meeting at Klas Restaurant, in Cicero. Tony Kartsonas presented information on the recent restoration work done on the Columbarium entryway. Chuck Michalek gave a program on the newly planned memorial of the Eastland Centennial Commemorative Project which will be located in section 16 where most burials from the Eastland are located.
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![]() ![]() Dinner and presentations at Klas. Attendance was very good in spite of the weather and the Czech food was excellent, as usual. |
Judy Baar Topinka
In December, Friends lost a great friend in Judy Baar Topinka ...more |
See a 2004 interview.
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Sunday,
August 3, 2014 ~ Friends 10th Anniversary Celebration
Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery held a celebration of our 10th anniversary on August 3, 2014. Festivities were highlighted by music from the Marianske Lazne Dixieland band from the Czech Republic. Chlebicky and other Czech foods and drink were enjoyed with a talk from Illinois State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. |
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Sunday, June 1, 2014 ~ Friends Spring Walking TourFriends Spring "Tour of the Tombstones" guided by Albert Walavich was held Sunday, June 1, 2014 at 1:00 pm. |
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Monday, May 26, 2014 ~ Memorial DayMemorial Day services at Bohemian National Cemetery were held Monday, May 26th. Aftter refreshments in the gate house, the attendees proceeded to the Crematorium/Columbarium for the service with music, an address, and Taps. |
Art Lorenz and Jerry Gaydusek admire the new poster created by Chuck Betzold.![]() |
Friday May 23~ Flag DayFriday May 23, volunteers placed flags for the annual Memorial Day ceremony. Many thanks to all those who helped ready the cemetery for our honored visitors. |
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Sunday, January 26, 2014 ~ Friends Winter MeetingOn Sunday, January 26th. Friends held its winter meeting at Klas Restaurant, in Cicero. After a Czech dinner, Dr.. Susan Mikula, Professor of Slovak Studies, Benedictine University, Lisle, Illinois presented a program on Milan Hodža, Slovak statesman, journalist, and professor. |
Hodža served as the Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia from 1935 to 1938. He also was acting President of Czechoslovakia in 1935 succeeding Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. In 1938 he fled Czechoslovakia just ahead of the Nazi invasion. Dr. Hodža came to the United States where he died in 1944. Dr. Hodža's remains were buried at Bohemian National Cemetery. In a ceremony in 2002 Dr. Hodža was disintered and on 27 June 2002 the remains of Milan Hodža were reburied in the National Cemetery in Martin, in his native Slovakia. |
Sunday, October 6, 2013 ~ Tour of the TombstonesSunday,October 6, Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery held our Fall walking tour of the cemetery led by professional tour guide, Albert Walavich. The weather was beautiful for afternoon tour. About 50 people came for the tour. Guide Albert Walavich again fascinated the visitors with information about the many different examples of funeary art. Refreshments were enjoyed in the gatehouse after the tour | ![]() |
Sunday August 18th, 2013 ~ Friends Summer MeetingFriends Summer Meeting was held Sunday, August 18th at 1:30 pm in the Ceremony Hall of the crematorium/columbarium building. Larry Paarlberg (left), president of the International Antique Phonograph
Society, and Tim McCormick (right), director of the General Lew Wallace
Study & Museum, delivered a fascinating program on the life Bohumir Kryl (1875–1961) was an amazing Czech-American. He was in turn an acrobat aerialist, a sculptor, a world-famous cornetist, a bandleader, a financial wizard, a pioneering recording artist, and an art collector. He was also one of the most engaging and flamboyant characters to be inurned at Bohemian National Cemetery. |
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One of our Friends members, Wayne Wolf, played some of Kryl's recordings on his antique phonographs.
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After the meeting, several of us participated in a wreath-laying at Bohumir Kryl's crypt in the Masaryk Memorial Mausoleum. Pictured left to right are Tim McCormick, Marge Sladek Stueckemann, William Serp, Marilou Minarik, Larry Paarlberg, Diane Minarik. William is a descendant of Louise Minarik and John Kryl, Bohumir Kryl's brother. Louise Minarik Kryl was Marilou and Diane's great-aunt. (Photo courtesy of Connie Wolf) |
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Sunday, July 7th, 2013 ~ BNC picnicBohemian National Cemetery held its annual picnic Saturday July 7. More people attended this year than last. Frankie from Klas ran the grill producing Czech meats and potato pancakes. Czech music was played by a small group. Friends of BNC books and gifts were available as well. Floral arrangements from several lodges were voted on and the winning arrangement was from CSA Lodge Sokol Plzen 434. |
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Saturday, June 8, 2013 ~ Tour of the TombstonesSaturday, June 8, Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery held our Spring walking tour of the cemetery led by professional tour guide, Albert Walavich. The weather was beautiful for the morning and afternoon tours. Guide Albert Walavich again fascinated the visitors with information about the many different examples of funeary art. Refreshments were enjoyed in the gatehouse after each tour |
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May, 2013 ~ Memorial DayFlag Placement for Memorial Day was Friday, May 24th. Many helped decorate the cemetery for Memorial Day. Memorial Day Service was held Monday, May 27th, 9:30 am Refreshments were served in the Gatehouse. Carnations for ladies were compliments of Friends. |
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Sunday, May 12th, 2013
People met at the Mother Monument in front of the crematorium/columbarium at 1:00
pm. Refreshments were served in the gatehouse after the program .
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Saturday, May 11th, 2013 | ![]() |
Sunday May 5, 2013
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Sunday January 27, 2013
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