I am Catholic so this cemetery has special meaning to me. The amount of elaborate religious stone sculptures that decorate the graves here is amazing. I could have easily done a second tour just based upon them.
With that being said, I did try to vary the tour some and not include every single one. Take some time to explore the ones not included on the tour. While you are here, pay your respects to those who have left us and as always absolutely no night caching.
There are 16 waypoints you will be visiting. The coordinates for the waypoints are listed in the waypoint section. At each stop, you will collect information which will be used to calculate the coordinates to the final cache-an ammo box.
Enjoy the tour!
Letter A: Gather The Children Unto Me
A statue of Jesus with children. On the headstone, there is an image of a cross and a Bible with a three word inscription.
A=Number of letters in last word of inscription
Letter B: Pray For The Deceased
Jesus is praying for the members of this family who have passed on. Find Regina M.
B=Second digit in her year of death
Letter C: A Single Tear
A unique headstone that caught my eye. Look at Pauline J.
C=Third digit in her year of death
Letter D: Angels Among Us
A headstone with an angel statue. Find Rosa.
D=Last digit in her year of birth
Letter E: A Mother's Sorrow
A depiction of Mary and Jesus. Find Glenn D.
E=Third digit in his year of birth
Letter F: His Cross To Bear
The scene of the Crucifixion. In front of the statues are headstones. Find Roman F. Lux
F=Second digit in his year of death
Letter G: Resting Spot
A good spot to stop and take a rest. There is an inscription giving some advice.
G=The number of letters in the last word of the inscription
Letter H: Mausoleum Central
This is like Grand Central Station for mausoleums! There is a total of 5 smaller mausoleums that surround the large memorial. The coordinates will take you to the front of one of them. At the top, you will see a name beginning with the letter H.
From there, walk clockwise to check out the other 4. You will see that there are different names at the top of each one.
H=How many of these mausoleums have only the last name showing? H will be that number.
Letter I: Bornemann Memorial
I will say that this is the most impressive thing in the cemetery. It looks like it should belong in Washington DC. After doing some research, I found that it was built in memory of Monsignor George Bornemann.
He was Berks County’s most famous Catholic theologian and the founder of this cemetery. Here is a link to a lot more information about him: Monsignor George Bornemann
There is an inscription above the door on the memorial.
I=Number of letters in the first word of the inscription
Letter J: Jesus And His Family
Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph, watch over the cemetery. Joseph has a flower in his right hand and a different object in his left hand. What object is in his left hand?
Cross (J=0)
Hammer (J=1)
Square (J=2)
Saw (J=3)
Letter K: Pavilion With A View
A pavilion at the top of a hillside with a great view of the surroundings. Next to the pavilion is an interesting looking nun statue sitting atop some tombs. Find Joseph I. Cerniglia
K=Last digit in the year of death for Joseph
Letter L: Jesus Says
Here is a family plot and headstone with many people. Jesus is here as well and he has a quote on the headstone.
L=Number of letters in the fourth word of the quote
Letter M: My God And My All
A statue of Saint Francis in the memorial garden. It is dedicated to a certain order of sisters.
M=The number associated with the order of sisters
Letter N: More Angels Among Us
In the back of the cemetery, there is another impressive angel statue. There are smaller headstones on the ground in front. Find Florin, the Father.
N=Last digit in his year of death
Letter O: Family Tombs
I always like finding these style of graves. They remind me of what you would find in the ancient European crypts. Find George J. Gross. There is an inscription on his tomb.
O=The number of letters in the first word.
Letter P: Cemetery Office Complex
The coordinates will take you to the middle of the cemetery office complex. This will be a two part question.
Standing at the coordinates with your back to the office building, you will see a statue to your right and straight ahead. They are of a man and a bench.
Bench: The bench has a prayer on it. How many letters in Line 6, Word 1 of the prayer?
Man: The man is holding a plant. How many flowers are in full bloom on the plant?
P= [Bench+Man]+4 (do not forget to add the 4)
Final Coordinates: N 40 2(M-F).(I-P)(K+D)(J+B) W 075 5(E+N).(L-A)(G+H)(O-C)
Checksums:
North: M+F+I+P+K+D+J+B=34
West: E+N+L+A+G+H+O+C=37