NEW ORLEANS - ST. ROCH CEMETERY

Yes, another cemetery. We know you enjoy them and we especially enjoyed this one. Interestingly, some of Linda's family share her fondness for cemeteries. We first saw St. Roch's mentioned in our Lonely Planet guide. It's in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans. The book about cemeteries that we borrowed from the base library had a section on St. Roch's, too. It was too good to miss.

St. Roch(rock) was a fourteenth century figure whose prayers supposedly averted the Black Death. He is known as the patron saint of good health. The cemetery was named after him out of gratitude when not a single member of the parish died of Yellow Fever. 

Entrance to St. Roch's Cemetery #1. 

Sign reminding owners to maintain their spaces.

Wall vaults and copings as you enter St. Roch's  Cemetery #1.

Crypts and the chapel in #1.

This Italian marble statue was commissioned by a grateful family whose child recovered after prayers to the saint.

Throughout the two cemeteries are fourteen Stations of the Cross. The tableaus are life-size and stand out against a teal background.

Shrine to St. Roch in Cemetery #2 also known as Campo Santo.

A room in the shrine is filled with ex votos or symbols of appreciation for prayers answered.

The floor is paved with thanks.

Statue of Saint Roch, who is nearly always pictured with a dog. Legend has it that a dog saved his life. Patron Saint of Dogs.

Linda couldn't resist buying a candle.

Please look at some of these links that have more information. Here is one by USGenWeb. Look in the second red banner for a link to a photo of the flooded cemetery during Katrina.

One on NewOrleansChurches has a tribute by a family with members interred at St. Roch.

Morbid Anatomy is a unique blog and has more photos and story.

Wikipedia for more factual information about Saint Roch.

An interesting local perspective is on CNN iReport.