A New Perspective on Cemetery Services
Visitors Kiosk Will Put Mount Auburn “ At Your Fingertips ”
A New Perspective on Cemetery Services
As Mount Auburn ’ s new Vice President of Cemetery Services Sean O ’ Regan believes he brings “ a different perspective on client service .” His background includes work in the high technology industry , such as , appropriately , data capture and data conversion for cemeteries . Sean wants to “ meet the various needs ” of a diverse and changing public regarding commemoration choices :“ My hope is that Mount Auburn will have a wider mix of buyers who are of broader economic means . Birch Gardens , the Cemetery ’ s newest landscape of commemoration , offers such a range of choices .”
Sean sees monuments as giving people “ the opportunity to create a memory and then leave that behind .” This makes commemoration such a personal and sometimes seemingly daunting task ( that can be made less daunting with the help of Cemetery Services staff ). He stresses that living people can be honored here by endowing a plaque on a bench or tree , and points out that one of Mount Auburn ’ s most celebrated memorials — to Civil War hero Robert Gould Shaw — is in fact a cenotaph because his body was interred
with the dead from his regiment at the South Carolina battlefield where they fell .
All cemeteries , Sean believes , must “ come up with a better way of presenting the memorial options for cremation . The perception is :‘ I ’ m cremated , so why would I be buried ?’ But in fact , burial and commemoration of cremated remains Sean O ’ Regan and his wife , Suzanne must be considered .” ( See page 2 .)
The beautiful grounds and chapels at Mount Auburn are also available for special events , such as wedding services . If you are interested in finding out further information about these or other options , please call Sean at 617-547-7105 .
Visitors Kiosk Will Put Mount Auburn “ At Your Fingertips ”
By Bree D . Harvey , Director of Education & Visitor Services
Mount Auburn is creating a new interactive , educational kiosk that will give visitors a wealth of general and customized information about the Cemetery . To be housed in the Egyptian Revival Gatehouse at the Mount Auburn Street entrance , it will debut during the fall of 2009 . A team of consultants , all experts in the world of interactive exhibits , is working with the Cemetery to complete this exciting project . The kiosk is being made possible thanks to the generosity of the Anthony J . and Mildred D . Ruggiero Memorial Trust . Created by the Small Design firm of Cambridge , MA , the kiosk will have a touch-screen format that marries text , images and maps in a manner that is userfriendly , informative and attractive . It will enable visitors to explore information about the Cemetery ’ s history , horticulture , wildlife , art and architecture , and the notable figures interred here . Providing a brief and compelling overview of the subject of the visitor ’ s choice , the kiosk will then point the visitor towards some of our printed maps and brochures for further exploration . A burial look-up feature will allow visitors to locate the graves of family and friends within the Cemetery , and will assist visitors interested in finding out more information about attending public programs , joining the Friends , or purchasing burial space . The kiosk
Above : The Egyptian Revival Gatehouse at the Mount Auburn Street entrance , future site of the new kiosk .
Left : The new educational , interactive kiosk will be located and open to the public under the east portico above . Illustration by Filament Design Studio . will be available whenever the Cemetery is open to the public , even at times when staff and docent volunteers are not present , such as when the Visitors Center and Administration Building are closed .
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