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Death Finds a Way: A Janie Riley Mystery by Lorine McGinnis Schulze Janie Riley is an avid genealogist with a habit of stumbling on to dead bodies. She and her husband head to Salt Lake City Utah to research Janie's elusive 4th great-grandmother. But her search into the past leads her to a dark secret. Can she solve the mysteries of the past and the present before disaster strikes? Available now on Amazon.com and and Amazon.ca

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Search immigration records. Search now Try an Ancestry.com Free Trial and Ancestry.ca Free Trial Genealogy Mystery Book! Death Finds a Way: A Janie Riley Mystery by Lorine McGinnis Schulze Janie Riley is an avid genealogist with a habit of stumbling on to dead bodies. She and her husband head to Salt Lake City Utah to research Janie's elusive 4th great-grandmother. But her search into the past leads her to a dark secret. Can she solve the mysteries of the past and the present before disaster strikes? Available now on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca AncestryDNA Genealogy Newsletter JOIN the FREE Olive Tree Genealogy Newsletter. Be the first to know of genealogy events and freebies. Find out when new genealogy databases are put online. Get tips for finding your elusive brick-wall ancestor. Share With Others Share with other genealogists! Tweet this page! Tweet Search OliveTreeGenealogy Search Fold3

GRAVEN IMAGES: Gravestone Motifs & Their Meanings The following list was compiled from several different sources. I welcome additions. These are a few of many motifs found on gravestones with some of the commonly held interpretations of their symbolism. Don't forget to visit Grave Symbols - my list of various initials for lodges and organizations, often found on gravestones. Anchor/Ships -- Hope or Seafaring profession Angel, Flying- Rebirth; Resurrection. Angel, Trumpeting- Resurrection. Angel, Weeping- Grief and Mourning. Arch - Victory in death. Arrow- Mortality. Bird- Eternal life. Bird, Flying- Resurrection. Book-Representation of a holy book: i.e. the Bible. A pair of Holy Books on Mormom (LDS) headstones indicates the Bibleand Book of Mormon Three Holy Books on Mormom headstones indicates the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants -- all of which are scripture to the LDS Church. Breasts (Gourds, Pomegranates) - Nourishment of the soul; the church. Bouquets/Flowers -- Condolences, grief, sorrow Broken Column -- Loss of Head of Family Broken Ring -- Family Circle Severed Buds/Rosebud -- Morning of Life or Renewal of Life Bugles -- Resurrection and the Military Butterfly -- Short-lived - Early Death Candle being Snuffed -- Time, mortality Cherub -- Angelic Coffin, Father Time, Picks/Shovels, Darts -- Mortality Columns and Doors- Heavenly entrance. Corn -- Ripe Old Age Cross -- Emblem of Faith Crossed Swords -- High-ranking military person Crown- Glory of life after death. Cup or Chalice- The Sacraments. Dove- Purity; Devotion. Dove, Flying- Resurrection. Drapes- Mourning; Mortality. Flame or Light- Life; Resurrection. Flower- Fragility of life. Flower, Severed Stem- Shortened life. Flying Birds -- Flight of the Soul Fruits -- Eternal plenty Full-Blown Rose -- Prime of Life Garland or Wreath- Victory in death. Grim Reaper- Death personified. Hand, Pointing Up- Pathway to heaven; Heavenly reward. Hands, Clapsed- The goodbyes said at death. Hand of God Chopping -- Sudden Death Handshakes -- Farewell Harp -- Praise to the Maker Heart- Love; Love of God; Abode of the soul; Mortality. Horns -- The Resurrection Hourglass- Passing of time. Hourglass, Flying- Time flies. Imps -- Mortality Ivy -- Friendship and Immortality Lamb- Innocence. Laurel ---Fame or Victory Lily or Lily of Valley -- Emblem of Innocence and Purity Lion- Courage; The Lion of Judah. Morning Glory -- Beginning of Life Oak Leaves and Acorn -- Maturity, Ripe Old Age Open Book/ Bible -- Deceased Teacher, Minister, etc. Pall- Mortality. Palm Branch -- Signifies Victory and Rejoicing Pick- Death; Mortality. Poppy -- Sleep Portals -- Passageway to eternal journey Rod or Staff- Comfort for the bereaved. Rooster- Awakening; Resurrection. Roses -- Brevity of earthly existence Scythe- Death; The divine harvest. Seashell- Resurrection; Life everlasting; Life's pilgrimage. Sheaf of Wheat -- Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest, Time Skull- Mortality. Skull/ Crossed Bones- Death. Skeleton- Life's brevity. Snake (Tail in Mouth)- Everlasting life in heaven. Spade- Mortality; Death. Stars and Stripes Around Eagle -- Eternal Vigilance, Liberty Sun Rising- Renewed life. Sun Shining-Life everlasting. Sun Setting- Death. Thistle- Scottish descent. Thistles -- Remembrance Tombs -- Mortality Torch Inverted -- Life Extinct Tree- Life. Tree Sprouting- Life everlasting. Severed Branch- Mortality. Tree Stump- Life interrupted. Tree Stump w/Ivy -- Head of Family - Immortality Tree Trunk- Brevity of life. Tree Trunk Leaning- Short interrupted life. Trumpeters -- Heralds of the Resurrection Urn- Immortality (ancient Egyptian belief that life would be restored in the future through the vital organs placed in the urn). Urn with /Wreath or Crepe -- Mourning Urn with Blaze -- Undying Friendship Weeping Willow Tree- Mourning; Grief; Nature's lament. Willows -- Earthly Sorrow Winged Face- Effigy of the deceased soul; the soul in flight. Winged Skull- Flight of the soul from mortal man. Wreath- Victory. Wreath on Skull- Victory of death over life. Wheat Strands or Sheaves- The divine harvest.

 
 

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