Embedded Files
Source: Alysiana Perez
By Alysiana P
Oak Hill Cemetery has been around for hundreds of years, founded in 1847, to be exact. It's considered to be one of the oldest and largest cemeteries in California.
Throughout the years, things have changed and evolved such as sidewalks, carriages, stairways, etc. A large museum was added into the cemetery in 1947.
Maria Hernandez, a former employee who worked there for 15 years, says things have specifically changed from the Covid-19 virus that had struck in 2020. Things became more difficult for families within the cemetery. Nevertheless, they made it through.
Source: Maria Hernandez
Hernandez: “During the pandemic, that drastically changed because you could not go directly to the funeral homes—the doors were locked. It changed to now, we need to have virtual appointments or telephone appointments. Families were not used to that. It's very old school that they think and they still think and that's just traditional thinking of you go to the funeral home and talk to someone in person or maybe you can see your loved one at that time. That's not how it works.”
Mrs. Hernandez says that the funeral industry and cemeteries typically never change. Though as the world evolves, things are bound to change like renovations. Something that happens to change for the cemetery is the amount of space they have.
Mrs. Hernandez says the entire cemetery is about 300 acres and space has never been a problem for them.
According to “The Origins of Oak Hill Cemetery” article by Sally Ryan Costik and Molly Lindhal, the situation of space became an issue in 1881, states Bradford. There are many spaces taken up by those who have passed on.
As of today, space does not seem to be an issue for the cemetery.
There are bigger issues today, such as weather issues, viruses, and locating have become a slight issue for the cemetery.
Mrs. Hernandez says that all of these things have solutions and are not huge boulders the cemetery must go through, things such as re-lifting a grave or carefully going through things in the cemetery to ensure there are no issues.
The cemetery is a caring place and this goes as far as when speaking to those who stop by for assistance. This takes practice and time to be able to adjust to what customers need.
One may be to speak in a more meaningful way when approaching a customer who is grieving. Along with this, their first priority would be to be there for those who are grieving.
Hernandez: “Well, I learned very quickly that you need to put your own emotions aside… I somehow am able to put those emotions aside and deal with what they're going through and help them, and my emotions are on the back-end.”
To give a sense of comfort to those in a grieving state, the needs of customers would have to come first. Meanwhile, the employer can resort to their emotions last.
Mrs. Hernandez says that this can take a small toll on her perhaps a week after speaking with a customer. When she is not working, she may need to vent to someone for the sake of her emotions then.
Source: Maria Hernandez
Other than the adjustment of speaking to customers in a more sensible way, Mrs. Hernandez says the way she views life has adjusted as well.
Hernandez: “Things like that, but it's also changed how I see life in general, because I've seen so many people pass from, you know, you think—you assume that someone passed because of old age, you think that's just the norm. It's not.”
Mrs. Hernandez explains how she is now more thoughtful and cautious of everyday things that someone can overlook. “Do not take your time for granted,” she says, as that can be taken away from you faster than you know.
Small things such as not putting on your seatbelt are things we seem to take for granted believing nothing will happen to us but we truly never know until something does.
Hernandez: “Put your seatbelt on. You know, these are little things that you think 'oh, nothing will happen.' That's not true. Something can happen.”
She expresses she's been working there since 2007, a span of 15 years, and it's a lot more than we think it is.
When working in the job industry, you learn quickly how hands-on with the job you need to be. This includes handling the deceased's families, and physical contact with the deceased as well.
This job teaches you a lot, Mrs. Hernandez says. You learn to empathize those who are grieving as well as their requests for loved ones.
Along with this, you get to learn about the beautiful cemetery.
Google Sites
Report abuse