Friends of
Bohemian National Cemetery
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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. |
Dr. Milan Hodža (1878 – 1944)Slovak statesman, journalist, and professor. has been described as the Slovak George Washington. 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. |
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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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Sunday, September 30, 2012 Tour of the TombstonesSunday, September 30, Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery held our Fall walking tour of the cemetery led by professional tour guide, Albert Walavich. Nearly 100 guests attended the 2 hour tour which featured the three war veterans monuments, the Cermak Mausoleum, Beyond the Vines, and the Ladimir Klacel Circle. Albert Walavich also spoke about the "treestones", the Eastland Disaster burials, and several of the notable gravestones . The tour concluded in the historic gatehouse with coffee and traditional Czech refreshments |
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Friends Summer Meeting
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BNC Picnic Sunday, July 8, 2012Bohemian National Cemetery had their annual old fashioned picnic with Bohemian music, food, and live entertainment all on the beautiful grounds of Bohemian National Cemetery.Friends had bakery and book tables at the BNC picnic raising money for the restoration project. return to list |
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Spring Walking TourOur Spring Walking Tour was Saturday, Jun 2, 2012 "Tour of the Tombstones"was guided by Albert Walavich |
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Memorial DayFlag Placement for Memorial Day was Friday, May 25th Many helped decorate the cemetery for Memorial Day. Memorial Day Service was held Monday, May 28th, 9:30 am Refreshments were served in the Gatehouse. Carnations for ladies were compliments of Friends. |
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Mother’s Day CeremonySunday, May 13th Participants met at the gatehouse at 1:00 pm. Refreshments were served after the ceremony. |
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
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Left to right: Kathy Mallin, Marge Stueckemann, Erin Kennealy, Tony Katsonas |
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September 8, 2011
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Saturday, October 1, 2011
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You can hear their weekly show at this link.
FGS Radio - My Society |
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Saturday, September 24, 2011
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Sunday, August 21st
The summer meeting was held at 1:00 pm in the Ceremony Hall of the crematorium/columbarium with a program
by Rob Plummer on "Helen Sclair, Our Cemetery Lady." After the presentation some members laid fresh flowers on Helen's grave.
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Sunday, July 17, 2011
Bohemian National Cemetery had their annual old fashioned picnic with Bohemian music, food,
and live entertainment all on the beautiful
grounds of Bohemian National Cemetery.
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Saturday, June 11, 2011
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Sunday, May 1, 2011
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Sunday, January 23 2011Friends Winter Meeting was Sunday, January 23 at Klas Restaurant, Frank Magallon, author of Chicago's Little Village, presented a program on the Czech California neighborhood of Chicago return to list |
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Saturday, September 25, 2010On Saturday, September 25, 2010, Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery sponsored a morning and afternoon walking tour of the cemetery led by tour guide extraordinaire, Albert Walavich. Of particular note were the restored art glass windows and the vibrant colors of the Pilsen Butcher's window. Czech refreshments in the historic gatehouse followed each tour. return to list |
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Sunday, August 22, 2010On Sunday, August 22, 2010,
the Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery Summer Member Meeting and program |
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Sunday January 25, 2009The winter meeting of Friends was held at Klas Restaurant and featured a screening of the new movie "Accidental Army: The Amazing True Story of the Czechoslovak Legion". The Czech Legion volunteer groups fought in WW I on several fronts. The Legion in Russia had to fight their way out of Russia after the end of the war in Europe. Their story is a fascinating tale. You can find more at The Czech Legion from the makers of the film, and Czech Legion (wikipedia) a wikipedia article. |
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Sunday, September 21, 2008Friends of BNC membership meeting and elections were held on Sunday,
September 21, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. in the Columbarium/Crematorium chapel. |
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Sunday, January 28, 2007On Sunday, January 28, 2007, at 1:00 p.m., Friends of BNC hosted
a free program, open to all, about Jens Jensen and Ossian C. Simonds,
contemporary architects of naturalistic landscape design. |
Jens Jensen, 1943 |
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Sunday, November 12, 2006The vocal ensemble Con Spirito and cellist Mara Leonard, sponsored by the Bohemian National Cemetery Association, presented "Anthems of a Life's Journey ", a short program of music for All Souls Day, on Sunday, November 12, 2006, in the Columbarium. The music, devoted to sacred and secular anthems on the themes of death and hope, included works by Maurice Greene, Samuel Barber, John Bennet, J.S. Bach, and Randall Thompson, as well as a hymn from The Sacred Harp. |
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Members of Con Spirito, all current or former church musicians, were drawn together by their love of great choral music. They have sung works ranging from large symphonic pieces to chamber music, and many have performed as vocal soloists. Featured cello soloist Mara Leonard performs actively in the Chicago area. She has appeared with the Illinois Philharmonic and Civic Orchestra of Chicago and is the music director at St. James Lutheran Church in Western Springs. | ||
Con Spirito's music director Rebecca Patterson led the Chicago Bar Association Chorus in
rehearsals for its recent performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at Navy Pier.
She has served as music director for Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church in Oak Park and for the
Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Divine Word International in Northbrook.
As a concert artist, Patterson has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
and Music of the Baroque and sung a variety of opera roles. return to list |
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Saturday, October 7, 2006At 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 7, 2006, Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery sponsored a 2 hour walking tour of Bohemian National Cemetery. Tour guide and historian, Albert Walavich, who has led our tours in previous years, is an expert in mortuary art. His narratives are informative and entertaining.On this general highlights tour, Mr. Walavich discussed the founding of the cemetery and its unusual features as he walked participants through the highlights, including the Victorian gatehouse, the Columbarium and Chapel, Masaryk Mausoleum, Mayor Anton Cermak's Mausoleum, the war memorials and other special and unique turn-of-the-century monuments, focusing on their cultural, social and historical significance. Refreshments were served in the Gatehouse after the tour. return to list |
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Sunday, August 27, 2006On Sunday, August 27, 2006, at 1:00 p.m. in the Columbarium Chapel, Tony Jandacek spoke about Albin Polasek, using a slide presentation to illustrate the scupltor's works. Albin Polasek was born in Moravia and came to the United States in the early 1900's. He sculpted the Mother and Pilgrim monuments at Bohemian National Cemetery. Large public commissions brought him world attention. Retiring to Winter Park, Florida, at the age of 71, he began gathering much of his life's works and set up a foundation opening his estate to the public. Brochures for the museum and sculpture garden were available at the meeting.return to list |
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Saturday, May 6, 2006On Saturday , May 6, 2006, Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery sponsored a walking tour of Bohemian National Cemetery. Tour guide and historian, Albert Walavich, who has led our tours in previous years, is an expert in mortuary art. His narratives are informative and entertaining.
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Sunday, February 26, 2006On Sunday, February 26, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. Friends of BNC hosted a free program presented by the Eastland Disaster Historical Society about the tragic capsizing of the S.S. Eastland on July 24, 1915. Told through story, video, and slides, this multi-media presentation explained the problems that the ship encountered and the human stories of heroism and suffering that were all part of that summer day excursion turned to tragedy.This presentation took place at the Westchester Library, Westchester, IL. |
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Chicago Daily News negatives collection, DN-0064932. Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society. | Chicago Daily News negatives collection, DN-0064944. Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society. | |
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December 10, 2005The Interment of of Captain Vladimir M. Sasko. Captain Sasko's ashes were interred at Bohemian National Cemetery on December 10, 2005, 61 years after he was killed in action while serving his country in the South Pacific during World War II. The crash site of army surgeon Sasko's aircraft was found in New Guinea in 1978. You can read the newspaper article on the ceremony using this link Captain Sasko article
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Sunday, September 18, 2005On Sunday, September 18, 2005, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery sponsored a walking tour of the cemetery led by tour guide extraordinaire, Albert Walavich. Mr. Walavich led a general features tour that highlighted the monuments, some with pictures, of the Eastland victims and their histories. Those taking the tour were amazed at the variety of beautiful angel and "littering lady" monuments plus the historic buildings. Special ethnic refreshments and an Eastland Disaster exhibit of photos in the historic gatehouse followed the tour. return to list |
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Sunday, August 21, 2005On Sunday, August 21, 2005, Friends of BNC hosted a free program about John Anton Mallin, the church decorator and artist who designed and applied the decoration for the upper and lower chapels, lobby and hallways of the Crematory-Columbarium building. This presentation was given by Kathy Mallin, granddaughter of the artist, in the lower Marble Room of the Columbarium at 2:00 p.m. Ms. Mallin discussed the gold leafing techniques used by her grandfather.Our newly published "Introduction to Bohemian National Cemetery Columbarium/Crematorium" 24-page booklet with colored illustrations became available that day. |
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Saturday May 7, 2005On Saturday, May 7, 2005, Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery sponsored a walking tour of Bohemian National Cemetery. Tour guide and historian, Albert Walavich, who has led our tours in previous years, is an expert in mortuary art. His narratives are informative and entertaining.
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