Nordegg Memorial Cemetery

They immigrated from all over Europe to work in Canada’s coal mines, something demonstrated by taking in the cemetery in Nordegg Alberta. The varied names found here reflect the numerous countries from which long ago they came – Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Poland and more. When calls a new life one must answer even it means hardship and globe-trekking to some far away place. All those many miles just to toil underground, but once a miner, always a miner. You can’t get it out of your blood and when born into this dangerous, thankless business it becomes one’s lot in life. And later that of your sons. Till death. Period.

The location here is a peaceful enclave in a once industrial town and now with the mine long closed for all time shall it remain quiet here among the trees. In the spectacular Alberta Rockies, what a pleasant setting to spend eternity. Join us as we wander about and ponder those who lived and worked here, that on passing found a forever home in this scenic valley. We’re pretty far removed from the rest of the world, but looking down it reads like a United Nations roll call.

There’s a couple hundred folks interred here so by no means is this a full tour. The earliest burial goes back just over a century and the most recent is from a few years ago. Nordegg is not a full ghost town, so the cemetery is still used and mostly maintained. Many of those buried here at some connection to the mine, circa mid-1910s to mid-1950s. And as with many pioneer cemeteries there’s too many memorials to those who died at a young age, some only a day or two old. The heartbreak on losing a child was far too common then. Now let’s introduce you to a few of those buried here.

1) “In loving memory of Thomas James, eldest son of Jonathan and Margaret, born Pooley Bridge Westmoreland England. Died Dec. 17, 1926, aged 62 years.” Seems Thomas was an “Oddfellow”. The three interconnected links are a symbol of that long established fraternity.

2) “Cincinnati Iron Fence Co, Inc. Cincinnati Ohio, U.S.A.” Seems this company was a prolific makers of ornamental metalwork.

3) Antonio Marfesi was born in Italy on February 24th, 1890 and passed on November 8th, 1918. The carved words are in his native tongue.

4) Petro Makara, Born Oct 2 1915, died April 8 1920. A life taken too soon. This memorial looks to be written in Polish. The lamb always marks a young one passed.

5) “Little Jamie, beloved son of James & Margart Hogg. Died Dec. 14Th, 1921, aged 10 months.” Such sorrow for a child taken too soon. Research shows many families from a century ago suffered a loss like this. We’ve come a long way. The old fence stands weathered and worn.

6) “In loving memory of Wee Helen, infant daughter of Andrew & Helen Terris. Died March 11, 1925, aged 5 1/2 months.” Here’s a pattern repeated time and again in the old days, a child, or as here a little baby gone in the blink of an eye. Hopefully they had the strength. Just being born back then seemingly was a death sentence.

7) Time’s mark is rust.

8) “Our daughter Mary Agnes Vollrath, born Jan. 3, 1942, died Jan. 5, 1942. Baby” Forty eight hours alive…that’s all she got. It feels like an injustice…two days. And then comes the pain, the endless pain – it takes no imagination to know what the Vollrath’s went through…a literal hell. And it probably stayed with them till they too went to the great beyond. The loss of a child must be a permanent scar.

9) Wooden memorials rarely lasted long, and even though this one’s intact it’s too badly weathered to read. In spite of our research we’ve yet to find just who this is.

10) “In loving memory of our dear husband and father Giovetino Blasetti, born in Italy, died Oct. 20, 1941, aged 65 years. We shall meet again.” Here’s hoping they were reunited. There was a big mine explosion a couple weeks after Gioventio’s death with a good number of burials at the Nordegg cemetery memorialized with a 1941 date. It’s nice to see someone’s been leaving flowers. A thought form all of us…”eighty years after passing, who will remember me?”

11) “In loving memory of our beloved son, Chester Dyba, born Dec. 23 1933, died July 24 1945. Accidentally killed” The last part makes one really wonder. We’re seeing as many children’s graves as adults. There’s a photo of Chester on the memorial, probably captured not long before he passed, showing him dressed in what appears to be a cadet uniform. Someone’s left a little action figure on the base. Picket fences surround this grave and many others at Nordegg Memorial.

12) In loving memory of Angelo George Innocento, Dec. 2 1930 – Feb. 9 1952. Gone but not forgotten.” Seems Angelo had a passion for both music and Canada’s favourite pastime.

13) We know he’s Louie Sulprizi but nothing more. Don’t know from where he came (by name Italy is suggested), from when he came, when he life ended, nor even his location in the cemetery. This badly rotted cross was found leaning against a fence.

14) Spent a lot of time squinting at this headstone, but found it unreadable. Maybe we made out a word or two, but we’re not sure. Upper right, it looks to be a Jewish Star of David. There’s a cross upper centre too. This memorial does not appears to make inventory at Find a Grave, the resource used in researching this piece. Also, it seems to have been separated from the grave it was meant to mark. It too was up against a fence.

15) Nature takes over inside a fenced memorial.

16) Another lamb topped headstone, something all to common here. So many children taken away before their time. “Sidney Lee born Oct. 10, 1909, died Apr. 30, 1918 (Find a Grave says 1912, but there’s clearly no two on the stone). (A?) memory ever (dear?).” Sorry, some words were too difficult to read. Notice the lush undergrowth.

And so comes an end to our little visit. There’s so many folks here and we met but a few, these coal miners and family of, that called Nordegg home. Some lead full lives where as others perished before they even got started. They’re all gone now, some a long time, some more recent, but a little bit of who they were is now known to us. There’s hundreds of stories here, if only we had the time.

The next adventure is just around the corner. And a reminder, commenting on this article below will help keep new content coming.

They’re saying…

”Fantastic photos, really intriguing subjects. I’ve learned so much about Calgary and Alberta that I never knew even though I’ve lived here all my life!” Tom Junkin.

More like this…
A Moment of Time.
The Little Cemetery Moyie BC.
Badlands Cemetery.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date of Adventure: August, 2019.
Location(s): Nordegg, Alberta.
Article references and thanks: FindAGrave.com. Rob Pohl.
If you visit Nordegg Memorial Cemetery, please be respectful.

1) Thomas James.

2) This old fence.

3) Antonio Marfesi.

4) Petro Makara.

5) Little Jamie.

6) Wee Helen.

7) Little details.

8) Mary Agnes.

9) Too weathered…

10) Giovetino Blasetti.

11) Chester Dyba.

12) Angelo George Innocento.

13) Louis Sulprizi.

14) Time has almost erased.

15) A peaceful place to spend all time.

16) Sidney Lee.