Katie DeRaddo uncovers the stories of buried individuals while cleaning gravestones in a viral TikTok series.
Greenvale Rural Cemetery is located in Fairport, N.Y., near Rochester, next to the Erie Canal. The cemetery is a peaceful place with large oak trees providing shade over the graves. Katie DeRaddo is a grave cleaner who spends her time scrubbing, washing, and restoring old gravestones in the cemetery. She visits the cemetery once a week, equipped with water tanks, gardening gloves, and tools to clean the gravestones. Katie also records videos of her cleaning process and shares them on social media platforms like Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com.
Katie’s work is part of a growing trend of social media creators who focus on grave cleaning, catering to an audience known as “GraveTok.” These creators research the histories of the individuals buried in the graves they clean and share their stories along with the cleaning process. This trend has gained popularity on platforms like TikTok, where people are interested in learning about the lives of those buried in cemeteries.
Grave cleaning is a meticulous process that involves removing dirt, grime, and moss from the gravestones to reveal the inscriptions and details underneath. It requires patience, care, and the right tools to ensure that the gravestones are cleaned without causing any damage. Grave cleaners like Katie take pride in restoring the gravestones and honoring the memories of those who have passed away.
In addition to cleaning the gravestones, Katie also conducts research on the individuals buried in the cemetery. She uses online resources like Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com to gather information about their lives, families, and contributions to society. By sharing these stories, Katie aims to preserve the memory of those buried in the cemetery and provide a glimpse into the past for her audience.
The practice of grave cleaning has a long history, with individuals and groups volunteering to clean and maintain cemeteries around the world. Cleaning gravestones not only helps to preserve the memory of the deceased but also ensures that future generations can continue to visit and learn from these historical sites. Grave cleaning is a labor of love that requires dedication, respect, and a commitment to honoring the past.
As social media platforms continue to grow in popularity, the trend of grave cleaning and sharing stories from cemeteries is likely to increase. People are drawn to the personal stories and connections that can be made through these historical sites, and grave cleaners like Katie play a vital role in preserving and sharing these stories with a wider audience. By combining the art of cleaning with storytelling, grave cleaners are bringing new life to old gravestones and ensuring that the memories of the past are not forgotten.
Source: The NY Times
