THE PARK

VING

Above: Workman's

Circle Cemetery

"I JUST DECIDED THAT

workers plant

geraniums.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE
ALONE ANYMORE:'

Left: Holtzman-Wax

near crumbling brick

in the cemetery

fence

gAaking new friends is one of life's greatest pleasures.
Residents of The Park at Trowbridge often become re-
energized with a whole new zest for life as they make new
friends with people their own age, people they can relate to.

But for Holtzman-Wax, who visits
her ancestors regularly, Workmen's
Circle "is like the cemetery that's for-
gotten. The thought of having to go
out there ..."
In contrast to financially troubled
counterparts, Beth Abraham Cemetery
has benefited from stability. The ceme-
tery, on Woodward Avenue in Ferndale,
is affiliated with Congregation Beth
Ahm in West Bloomfield.
"Beth Abraham Cemetery has been
well managed over its history and is in
sound fiscal condition',' said its presi-
dent, Risha Ring of Commerce. But
operating a cemetery, she added, "is
not just sending someone out with a
lawnmower." Water bills ($20,000 last
year), grass cutting, unstable head-
stones, sinking footings, crumbling
concrete, roads, trees, flowers, weeds
and critter control are all cemetery
concerns which carry hefty price tags.
"It's not cheap:' she said.
Jim Deutchman of Franklin sits on
the board of Beth El Memorial Park on
Six Mile in Livonia. "I personally have
great concerns about the future." Beth
El, along with several other local cem-
eteries, though unregulated, exceed
the state's trust fund levels.
"Do we think we have enough?
Sure, we think we have enough:' said
Deutchman. "Do we have enough?" He
laughed.

Working Together
Ralph Zuckman, executive direc-
tor of Shaarey Zedek's Clover Hill

Park Cemetery in Birmingham, is
president of the North American
Jewish Cemetery Association. He has
worked with local cemeteries includ-
ing Beth Abraham, Beth El, Hebrew
Memorial, Adat Shalom in Livonia and
Machpelah in Ferndale to create the
Detroit Jewish Cemetery Association.
Members hope to attain savings
through group purchasing of fertilizer,
flowers and road salt.
"We purchase the same types
of equipment and materials:' said
Zuckman, who oversees 60 acres,
13,000 burials and 25,000 stones and
monuments at Clover Hill.
Zuckman is optimistic. Other areas
of the country have greater problems.
"So far," he said, "the [Detroit] Jewish
community has been very fortunate.
Most of the cemeteries have been
pretty well funded."
What happens if no one
wants to take over a failing cem-
etery? According to State Cemetery
Commissioner Steve Gobbo, he can
sometimes make arrangements with
the municipality to take responsibility
for maintenance.
"There is no guarantee, in terms of
funding, that anyone would do some-
thing about it," said Gobbo on the
disposition of older cemeteries. "I've
got to commend the people who are
trying to do what they have to do."
"It's 20,000 graves:' said Levin about
Hebrew Memorial, "but each one is
someone's mother, someone's father,
someone's child." II

See for yourself why seniors living at The Park at Trowbridge
experience an invigorating sense of independence, freedom
and optimism.

I Your story continues here...

For more information or

pTite Ya/yh

to visit, call today!

at Trowbridge

(248) 352-0208

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Southfield, MI 4 80 33

24111

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June 9 • 2011

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