There is always something fascinating to discover among the variety of interesting memorials at Waikumete cemetery. These range from burial plots with simple grave markers, and large family mausoleums, to columbarium niches walls containing cremation urns.
In the more recent burial areas, graves are laid out on a concrete berm and are marked with either simple styled upright markers or flat plaques. Graves in the service persons areas are styled simply in a uniform manner and are also laid out in berms. It is common to find graves in the heritage areas of the cemetery surrounded by an edging wall known as a coping and marked in a variety of ways, most often with a headstone inscribed with the deceased’s name.
Graves were traditionally marked by a range of different materials including wood, sandstone, marble which was common and granite which was the most expensive. Most memorials today are constructed of granite due to its durability. Differences in memorial materials and design are evident between internement areas.
Memorial design was at its peak in New Zealand for 20 years prior to the turn of the century and just prior to the First World War. Some beautifully designed memorials can been seen in the cemetery from this time in our history.
Types of Memorials.
Living Memorials: There are trees planted within the cemetery in memory of loved ones. The most significant being a grove of 500 native trees located in the gully between Watsonia Way and Crocus Road planted by Charles Craig in memory of his wife in the 1930s. An eco-burial area has recently been established within the cemetery in which a native tree is used to mark a grave.
Headstones: These are flat slabs of shaped stone often placed upright or slanted. When placed lying flat they are known as a bevelled stone. Headstones come in different designs and are usually inscribed with the deceased’s name and date of death.
Ledger: A ledger is a flat slab of stone or concrete that covers the full length of a burial plot, sometimes these are tiled with ceramic tiles. They are usually accompanied by a headstone or cross.
Altar Tombs: These are raised flat slabs or chests with walls of stone or of brick rendered with concrete most often with an inscription placed directly on them.
Armchairs and bedheads: A late 1920s style of grave which has a raised edging or a wall with a low headstone which is often slanted called a pillow stone, and has armrests. They are constructed of brick and rendered with cement.
Vaults: The cemetery has a small number of underground and above ground vaults. They are not at all common in this cemetery.
Columbarium Walls: Walls that contain niches which accommodate cremation urns. The columbarium walls at Waikumete surround a courtyard.
Mausoleums: These are small freestanding buildings in a range of sizes which contain a various number of vaults for the caskets or the ashes of loved ones. This type of interment is uncommon in New Zealand and the mausoleums lining Narcissus Drive and Magnolia Way built by the local Croatian and Lebanese communities are unique to Waikumete Cemetery.
Cemetery Statuary: There are some beautiful examples of pillars and statues in the older areas of the cemetery, with crosses appearing to be one of the more common forms represented. Figurines and animal statues within the cemetery are less usual. Each monument has symbolic meaning and may have personal significance to the deceased and their loved ones.
View a selection of some of the statuary found within the cemetery here: Statuary
Statuary Symbolism:
A column or obelisk represents a noble life.
An archway is the way to heaven.
An urn is a Greek symbol of mourning often draped with a cloth also representing mourning or the veil between this world and the next. The urn is representative of the body as a vessel of the soul.
The Cross is a symbol in most Christianity based religions as a remembrance of the crucifixion of Christ, conveying messages of victory over death and salvation of the soul. There are variants of the Christian or Latin cross within the cemetery, including embellished crosses and those with arms that have 3 separations at the very ends representing the holy trinity. The Calvary Cross is also often seen, this is a Latin style cross with a tall upright and shorter cross arms, which sits on a pedestal of three steps representing the hill of Calvary outside Jerusalem’s gate. It is symbolic of faith, hope and charity. The Celtic Cross has a circle intersecting short cross arms and the upright, which is believed by some to be a sun symbol or the halo of Christ, and to symbolise eternity.
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| The Corban Mausoleum. Photo credit Cathy Currie |
Sources:
http://irishfireside.com/2015/02/03/history-symbolism-celtic-cross/
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/parksfacilities/cemeteries/pages/waikumetecemetery.aspx
http://www.crosscrucifix.com/glossaryhome.htm
http://www.frammonument.com/flat-memorials/coping-ledgers/
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cross
http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/calvary.html
http://www.thecemeteryclub.com/symbols.html
http://www.graveaddiction.com/symbol.html
www.waitakere.govt.nz/cnlser/pbr/plans/pdf/waikumete/parttwo.pdf
