Many Phoenix residents have family or friends buried in the old Loosely Cemetery—one of the seven cemeteries included in the Pioneer Cemetery and Military Memorial Park. It’s always important to see the final resting place of the dead properly cared for and well kept, and therefore, you will enjoy the grave matter of this cemetery tale.
As a member of the Board of Directors of the Pioneers’ Cemetery Association in Phoenix, Arizona, Debe Branning and the volunteers of this mighty group dedicate their Thursday mornings and afternoons tidying up the old cemetery, doing research on burials and the “residents”, and arranging tours and open house events for guests who are curious about the interments of some of Phoenix’s early pioneers.
But, they weren’t the first caretakers of the cemetery. This cemetery has suffered from lack of care in the past. Even back in 1910 weeds, mesquite brush, and other desert growths had overrun the cemetery until it looked more like a jungle than a plot of sacred ground.
Sisto Lizarrage, the old Mexican, who for a quarter of a century served the Phoenix Community as a grave digger, finally decided to take some action in the matter. The 1910 conditions of the grounds were repulsive to this gentleman who had dug many a burial plot in the city graveyard. Knowing personally a majority of those who had on one sad day or another joined in a mournful procession to the cemetery, he resolved to do something about the overgrown weeds at his own expense.
Sisto put a force of four men to work for a week, then reduced the team by one or two men and kept at the job for another week. By that time he had put the cemetery in pretty good order. He not only cleaned off the weeds and brush, but straightened up fifty-two tombstones that had either fallen or were leaning in the soft ground, silent testimonies of the neglect of living friends.
Sisto invited the public, or at least those who had a personal interest in the care of the cemetery, to go and see it. He was rather proud of his work and had good reason to be for everything he did was all voluntary and knew he would not get paid for his hard work.
There are times when the members of the Pioneers’ Cemetery Association venture out into the cemeteries armed with rakes, hoes, and garbage bags to tidy up the old graveyard. Sometimes they notice trees have been trimmed or rocks carefully placed to mark a historic tombstone. Is the work of the City of Phoenix landscapers, or is Sisto Lizarrage still tidying up the cemetery he loved?
You too can become a volunteer member of the Pioneers’ Cemetery Association. Contact the group at:
COMING SATURDAY OCTOBER 22, 2011---11:00---THE HISTORIC CEMETERY WALK TOUR! Don’t miss some HALLOWEEN fun as 8 reenactment players portray some of Phoenix’s early pioneers who met some rather untimely deaths!
Pioneer Cemetery & Military Park
14th Avenue and Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85207
602-534-1262
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For more information: Debe Branning nazanaza@aol.com
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