Greenwood Cemetery and Mausoleum
Submitted by:  	Eva Brechtel October 2003
Source:      	Clarion Herald Good Business Matters New Orleans August 13, 2003 p. 9

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Notes: ==Posted with Permission from the Clarion Herald==
Accompanied by a photo with the caption "Senior counselors Donald Shellhaas, and
George Lebeuf look over a mausoleum services planning guide.  (Photo by Peter
Finney Jr.)"


Greenwood Cemetery and Mausoleum

by Lena Moreau

One of the biggest challenges for professionals in the funerary services business is persuading people to 
look ahead to the day they most want to avoid - planning funeral arrangements for themselves and their 
loved ones.

By planning now and purchasing cemetery property at today's prices, the emotional and financial stress a 
family endures during the loss of a loved one can be reduced, said John Freese, secretary-treasurer of 
Greenwood Cemetery and Mausoleum.

"We endorse pre-purchasing of a burial site so that the family members are spared the trauma of dealing 
with the additional stress and grief," Freese said.  "Burial sites are priced to accommodate every family 
and their needs.  Available now are pre-planning prices with discounts.  In acquiring property now 
families are protected from high costs in the future."

The Firemen's Charitable and Benevolent Association of New Orleans, founded in 1849, operates both 
Cypress Grove Cemetery and Greenwood Cemetery on City Park Avenue and Canal Boulevard.  The 
association's most recent expansion is the development of Greenwood Mausoleum Phase IV.

Greenwood cemetery Mausoleum Phase IV is an expansion of facilities that operates within the overall 
mission of the cemetery, which is to provide the best service possible to assist family members in the 
burial of a loved one.

"The main focus is to simplify the arrangements as much as possible, always being sympathetic and 
making sure that the burial site and surrounding area are free of debris and without distractions," Freese 
said.  "Our goals are to give peace, comfort and security to the families choosing a final resting place for 
their beloved and for themselves."

Freese said the distinctive design of the new mausoleum and its manicured grounds underscore the 
cemetery's commitment to timelessness, serenity and dignity.

Greenwood has its share of stunning mid-19th century case iron tombs.  AN ion tomb enclosed by a 
Gothic-style fence holds the remains of Isaac Newton Marks, a former president of the Firemen's 
Association.  marks, a successful businessman, became a volunteer firefighter with the Perseverance Fire 
Co. No. 13 in 1843.

Another interesting landmark is the beautiful double tomb of A. T. and W. O. Thompson.  The white, 
carved marble tomb has recently been restored, having suffered damage during a hurricane.  An example 
of the freestanding classical column form, a cenotaph, was erected to the John Oliver Locke who was 
killer during the Civil War.  These monuments and memorials of Greenwood and its predecessor, Cypress 
Grove, are part of the history and the spirit of New Orleans.

"Our organization has been in existence since 1834, and has served all the people of New Orleans since 
that time," Freese said.  "Today, records are still readily available for every title issued and every lot sold 
since 1834."

Complete and caring services are the hallmark of the Association, which has been in existence for more 
than 150 years.

"We invite you to consider Greenwood Mausoleum for its beauty, its history and for its last sense of 
peace," Freese said.

The Firemen's Charitable and Benevolent Association of New Orleans owns and operates Greenwood 
Cemetery and Mausoleum.  It is located at 5200 Canal Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124.; telephone 
(504) 486-6591; email, fcba@bellsouth.net.