Mount Moriah Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery, hosting 150,000 burials and sprawling over hundreds of acres across Southwest Philadelphia and Yeadon, Pennsylvania. Since it was established in 1855, the undulating hills of Mount Moriah Cemetery have been an inclusive burial place for many communities in Philadelphia. Mount Moriah Cemetery readily welcomed all races and incomes, and adapted to and respected the changing and differing interment needs of its diverse communities, accommodating US military lots, Muslim burials, and communal plots.

After Mount Moriah Cemetery was abandoned by its owners, community members came together to care for Pennsylvania’s largest cemetery. The Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery was formed in 2011 and the group has been dedicated to making the cemetery grounds accessible for loved ones to visit while fostering a serene environment for visitors to appreciate and connect with the natural world in Philadelphia’s dense urban environment.

To learn more about what being a caretaker of an abandoned cemetery is like and all it entails, we spoke to Jenn O’Donnell, Vice President of the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery.

This Q&A is a part of an ongoing TalkDeath series titled Careers in Death Care, where you can read about the ins and outs of various careers in the funeral and death care industry.

Careers in Death Care: A Day in the Life Series

A Day in the Life of a Caretaker of an Abandoned Cemetery

Tell us about yourself and how Friends of Mount Moriah was formed?

My name is Jenn O’Donnell and I’m the current vice president of the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery. I’m interested in historic preservation, genealogy, and I’m a taphophile with an active cemetery-focused Instagram and have contributed over 160,000 photographs to Findagrave.com. I recently published a photography book about Philadelphia cemeteries and have another one dedicated to Mount Moriah coming out next year.

The current Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery was formed in early 2011 after the cemetery was abandoned by its previous owners. I believe it started with a small group of people with family buried at the cemetery or who were just concerned about such a large, historic cemetery suddenly closing. The Friends of Mount Moriah is 501(c)3 non-profit and the volunteers work with the court appointed receiver to take care of most of the activities that happen on the grounds.

What inspired the Friends of Mount Moriah to become involved in the caretaking of an Abandoned Cemetery?

Image via Jenn O’Donnell

I believe there were multiple attempts to help the owners take care of the cemetery before it closed, but the current organization stepped up after management walked away. The cemetery, founded in 1855, had not been well cared for in many years and was overgrown, filled with trash and debris, and was generally unkempt. The Friends of Mount Moriah was simply a group of people willing to volunteer their time and talents to help restore this once beautiful burial ground. We started by mowing inward from the two entrances to give the cemetery a little curb appeal, and moved on to other sections from there. The grounds are close to 200 acres, so it’s a huge project, but we’ve cleared and maintained about 65% of the grounds to date.

What is the biggest misconception about caretakers of an abandoned cemetery?

In general, I’d say that people want answers about how a cemetery could be abandoned and they sometimes direct their distress or anger at volunteers thinking that we’re paid staff or that we own the cemetery. There’s also often a belief that we must all have family buried at Mount Moriah, which isn’t true for many of us (myself included).

Run us through a typical day at Mount Moriah for Friends of Mount Moriah?

Image via Jenn O’Donnell

I can’t say there’s a typical day at the cemetery. Most often volunteers are mowing or weed whacking, but we also do things like open and close the gates, pick up trash, reset headstones, do burial lookups or research, plan and host events, plant cradle graves, fundraise, answer questions for descendents, and take care of the myriad administrative duties that come with running a non-profit. Sometimes we have to deal with theft or vandalism, but most days Mount Moriah is a quiet green space. There’s quite a bit of wildlife, and the cemetery is a Level 1 ArbNet Arboretum so there’s plenty of beautiful trees to enjoy.

What was one of the hardest days you encountered at Mount Moriah?

There have been many emotionally charged days at Mount Moriah. Even though it closed over a decade ago, grief doesn’t just go away. Nearly every time I’m on the grounds I encounter someone looking for their loved ones, looking for answers, or just needing someone to talk to.

…you have to remind yourself why you got involved in the first place. For me, it’s because doing nothing was never an option.

Perhaps the hardest day for me wasn’t actually at the cemetery. In February 2019 longtime president of the Friends, Paulette Rhone, passed away unexpectedly. Her death rocked our organization and although I’ve served as president and vice president in the years since her death I can say her absence is still greatly felt. I hope I’ve exhibited an ounce of her strength in my time with the organization.

What was one of the most memorable days you’ve had at Mount Moriah?

Image via Jenn O’Donnell

Each day that I get to help a family find the final resting place of their loved one is a memorable day! There are too many stories to share in this format, but I’ve been privileged to help clear or find graves for many people and their joy is infectious. It feels good to help bring some closure to others. I’ve also developed broad knowledge about Mount Moriah and burial practices in general, and I’ve found many visitors are eager to learn more.

How can someone interested in caretaking an abandoned cemetery start the process?

The first step is always figuring out any legal requirements or issues for accessing the ground or doing any work on the property. Check with your local or state government, call your representatives, and make sure you can safely and legally access the property. Once you have access, start small and stick to it. It will take time for others interested in volunteering to find you, so remind yourself that one person can make a difference.

What type of education or training do you need to be involved in the caretaking of an abandoned cemetery?

Image via Jenn O’Donnell

While some background in historic preservation might be helpful, most of the Friends of Mount Moriah had little or no education or experience that is directly related to caretaking of an abandoned cemetery. We have varied skill sets and have used our professional expertise where needed, but the most important thing is a can-do attitude and a willingness to learn.

What advice would you give to someone looking to become a caretaker of an abandoned cemetery?

When I first joined this organization, a former board member said to me, “Remember, only give as much of yourself as you’re willing to lose” and those words have stuck with me. Caring for a previously abandoned cemetery is emotionally taxing–it’s where I’ve processed some of my own grief and supported others in theirs. I’ve spent countless hours over more than a decade volunteering at Mount Moriah, and not a day goes by that I’m not involved in some activity related to the cemetery.

There will be tears, frustration, and sleepless nights, but you have to remind yourself why you got involved in the first place. For me, it’s because doing nothing was never an option.

How do you think the Friends of Mount Moriah fits into the cultural fabric of Philadelphia?

Image via Jenn O’Donnell

Many cemeteries in the greater Philadelphia area have been abandoned or have come close. Philadelphia is filled with many underdog stories, and the Friends of Mount Moriah is no exception. The Friends face many of the same challenges that other large cemeteries in the city have, but we care for the largest property with the least amount of resources. I think long term, the Friends fit into the cultural fabric of the city in a place the cemetery itself always has – an intersection of people from all walks of life that arrive at the same place regardless of race, faith, or other factors.

About Jennifer O’Donnell

Jennifer O’Donnell is a taphophile from Southeastern Pennsylvania with a love of genealogy and historic preservation. She has volunteered at the previously abandoned Mount Moriah Cemetery in Southwest Philadelphia and Yeadon, Pennsylvania for over a decade and currently serves as the vice president of the all-volunteer Friends of Mount Moriah group. Jenn has photographed over 160,000 headstones for findagrave.com and publishes cemetery art photography on Instagram @cems_and_things. She lives with her husband just outside the city limits, has a fondness for overgrown cemeteries, and visits burial grounds everywhere she travels.

1 Comment

Marsha Thomas says:

29 May, 2025 at 11:10 pm

Jennifer is a special person and really cares about Mount Moriah, as did Paulette. It takes a special kind of person to handle something as vast as the cemetery. Jennifer and all the Board members and volunteers have done amazing and incredible work restoring, trying to upkeep the grounds, find graves for families and so very much more!!!! I have family @ MM.🥰