LGBTQ+ Death Rights Virtual Panel
2024-10-24 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Join us for a panel discussion on the unique challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces in end-of-life planning and death care.
Our panel of experts will explore critical topics such as gender-affirming funeral care, legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, and inclusive hospice and palliative care. They will provide practical advice on preparing advance directives, advocating for one’s rights, and creating affirming end-of-life experiences.
We will also discuss the importance of culturally sensitive care, the role of community organizations, and actionable steps for both individuals and professionals to ensure that everyone can experience a dignified and respectful death.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and seek resources from our panel of professionals dedicated to ensuring equitable end-of-life care for LGBTQ+ individuals.
REGISTER HERE>>
Panelists:
Kimberly D. Acquaviva, PhD, MSW, CSE, FNAP is the Betty Norman Norris Endowed Professor at the University of Virginia School of Nursing as well as a Provost’s Office Faculty Fellow. Before she was recruited to UVA in August 2019, she spent fifteen years as a faculty member at the George Washington University School of Nursing and the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. During her time at GW, she served as both founding faculty and the inaugural Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in the School of Nursing. A year and a half after she published LGBTQ-Inclusive Hospice & Palliative Care: A Practical Guide to Transforming Professional Practice in 2017, Kim learned that her wife Kathy had ovarian cancer. Kim and Kathy spent the next six months sharing their experiences via social media and giving people a sense of what it’s like to be living while dying. Shortly after Kathy died in August 2019, a New Yorker documentary film was made about Kim, Kathy, and their son Greyson. Her new book, The Handbook of LGBTQIA-Inclusive Hospice & Palliative Care, was published by Columbia University Press in October 2023. Dr. Acquaviva has a Ph.D. in Human Sexuality Education from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, an M.S.W. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice, and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania College of Arts and Sciences. She is an AASECT-Certified Sexuality Educator.”
Isabel Knight is the Founder of The Death Designer, a company that provides end of life planning services, including funeral and vigil planning, digital account password management, advance directives, and assistance with reconciling fears of mortality. She takes a human-centered design approach, with a focus on promoting individual autonomy, sustainability, and home deathcare options. Her goal is to create a more humane and equitable end of life experience for all.
She is also the President of the National Home Funeral Alliance and a board member of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Pennsylvania. She helps doulas and end of life businesses create a more inclusive and accessible experience for their clients through human-centered design workshops and also creates online courses and offers freelance graphic design work. You can find her on Instagram at @thedeathdesigner.
Bill Gately is a licensed grief counselor and former Funeral Director and owner of the Gately McHoul Funeral Home in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
“Funeral Law Lady” Emily de la Cruz is an attorney in Seattle, WA where she focuses her practice on funeral industry law and mortuary litigation.
Moderator:
Corinne Elicona has worked at Mount Auburn for seven years in many different roles including, natural burial volunteer, administration assistant, and crematory operator. She is currently Mount Auburn’s Education & Digital Content Manager, working on creating educational content on Mount Auburn; its history, landscape, and legacy. She is passionate about fostering a positive discourse around death and promoting education around end-of-life choices and equity so that everyone can experience a good death.
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Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Awash in Color: A Fall Foliage Walking Tour
2024-10-26 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-11-03 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Experience the beauty of autumn at Mount Auburn during this fall walking tour led by Visitors Services Assistant, Jim Gorman. We will visit some of the more colorful trees in our landscape in addition to looking for plant and shrubs putting out their fall fruits and nuts.
REGISTER HERE>>
Check-in will be at Story Chapel.
Capacity: 30 people
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Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Laurel Circle Lecture Series: Horticulture and Climate Change
2024-10-29 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
For the final 2024 installment of our Laurel Circle Lecture Series, our very own Vice President of Horticulture & Landscape Ronnit Bendavid-Val will provide an in-depth look at the current effects of the changing climate on our landscape and what to anticipate in the future. Among a host of relevant topics, Ronnit’s discussion will focus on ways that horticulturalists can adapt to changes in the environment.
The event starts with a catered reception in Bigelow Chapel at 5:30 with the lecture following at 6:30. For more information, please contact Matt Tufts, Special Events and Sponsorships Manager, at 617-540-0076 or mtufts@mountauburn.org.
Space is limited, register today!
REGISTER HERE>>
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Ronnit Bendavid-Val started her role as Mount Auburn’s Vice President of Horticulture & Landscape in 2022. She came to Mount Auburn with decades of experience managing large landscapes in both the public and non-profit sectors, running horticulture operations in NYC Parks, the High Line, and most recently Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
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Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

State of the Organization
2024-11-01 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Mark your calendar for our inaugural State of the Organization Meeting on Friday, November 1st, to be held in Story Chapel from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. We look forward to welcoming you and other members of the Mount Auburn Cemetery Community, in person and online, as we share news of our achievements from the past year and our plans for the future. Members of our leadership team will be available to meet with attendees, to discuss important details of Cemetery operations, and to answer your questions.

Event Schedule

3 PM – 4 PM During this hour-long reception, visit one or several staff stations to learn more about our lot and grave care services, our private event offerings, the benefits of your Friends of Mount Auburn membership, and more.

4 PM – 5 PM Mount Auburn President & CEO Matthew Stephens will present the State of the Organization. Following the presentation, Mr. Stephens, along with other members of Mount Auburn’s Executive Leadership, will answer questions from members of the audience.

Registration

In-Person Attendance

Registration is not required for in-person attendance. If you have any questions about access or to request any reasonable accommodations that will facilitate your full participation, please contact us at clientrelations@mountauburn.org.

Virtual Attendance

For those who cannot attend this event in person, a virtual option is available starting at 4 PM. Follow the link below to register and you will be sent instructions for attending virtually prior to the event.
VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE REGISTRATION>>

Discover Mount Auburn Introductory Walking Tour
2024-11-02 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Mount Auburn, designated a National Historic Landmark, is one of the country’s most significant designed landscapes. Here the arts of horticulture, architecture and sculpture combine with the beauty of nature to create a place of comfort and inspiration. This 1.5-mile walking tour will focus on stories of history, monuments, and the lives of those buried here. Registration required.
REGISTER NOW >>
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free access to all our public programs and discounts on special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Fall Bulb Planting
2024-11-06 09:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Get your hands in the soil alongside our horticulture staff during our annual fall bulb planting. Bulbs planted in the Cemetery each fall add blooms to Mount Auburn’s early spring season. Bring your enthusiasm and your favorite planting tool and gloves if you have them. We’ll have plenty on hand to share. Dress for garden work.
REGISTER HERE>>

Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Burial Info Session (Virtual)
2024-11-09 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Curious about burial and memorialization at Mount Auburn Cemetery? Come learn about our various burial options, including cremation burial, natural burial, and conventional casket burial, and about the ways a person can be remembered at Mount Auburn whether they are buried here or not. You’ll have the opportunity to ask your own questions whether you attend in person or online, and you’ll receive information about how to sign up for a burial space tour if you decide Mount Auburn is the right choice for you and your family.
This info session will be led by Mount Auburn’s Sales Manager, Regina Harrison.
REGISTER NOW >>
VIRTUAL EVENT: You will receive a livestream link the day before the event.
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Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free access to all our public programs and discounts on special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Nature Drawing Workshop: Animals
2024-11-10 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Want to learn some very basic ways for drawing the nature you know and love here in Mount Auburn? Join illustrator Clare Walker Leslie in one or all of these Sunday afternoon sessions. Appropriate for ages 10 and up, teens and adults. No previous drawing experience needed. Bring a drawing pad, several pencils and an eraser. There will be materials provided, as well. Workshop takes place indoors. Meet in Story Chapel.
REGISTER HERE>>
Drawing Workshop Series Dates:

October 6: Birds
November 10: Animals
February 9: Trees
March 9: Landscapes

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Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop
2024-11-21 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
As the days shorten and winter quietly settles in, come gather with us at our Greenhouse for our holiday wreath decorating workshop. Greenhouse staff will briefly demonstrate different techniques before everyone creates their own unique wreath design. Wreaths, ribbons, and a fine assortment of dried garden materials and ornaments will be available for all to share. Please bring your own hand-shears.
REGISTER HERE>>
Limited enrollment; preregistration is required.
Please dress warmly as we will have doors open for air circulation.
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Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

SOLSTICE VIP Night
2024-12-06 17:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Join us as we kick off the 2024 edition of SOLSTICE: Reflections on Winter Light!

Tickets: $125 per person

This year Mount Auburn Cemetery will open its 2024 run of our signature annual event, SOLSTICE: Reflections on Winter Light, with a celebratory VIP Night.

Join Mount Auburn leadership, key figures from our event partner, MASARY, SOLSTICE sponsors, and surprise special guests as we mark the opening of this annual winter tradition.

The evening’s program will also include remarks from Mount Auburn and MASARY leadership, food and beverages, and a behind-the-scenes preview of the SOLSTICE artworks, including details on their development and execution.

Be the first to experience two new artworks in a small group setting before the event opens to the public on December 7th!

REGISTER HERE>>
Sponsorships: SOLSTICE VIP Night sponsorships are available at the $500 and $1,000 levels. Sponsorships include one and two VIP Night tickets, respectively, as well as verbal recognition during the event. Please contact Matt Tufts, Special Events & Sponsorships Manager, at mtufts@mountauburn.org or 617-540-0076 if you are interested in sponsoring.

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Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

SOLSTICE
2024-12-07 17:00 - 21:00, 2024-12-08 17:00 - 21:00, 2024-12-10 17:30 - 21:00, 2024-12-11 17:30 - 21:00, 2024-12-13 17:30 - 21:00, 2024-12-14 17:00 - 21:00, 2024-12-15 17:00 - 21:00, 2024-12-17 17:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) and 3 more dates | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
SOLSTICE: Reflections on Winter Light is an annual event at Mount Auburn Cemetery that includes an outdoor journey through large-scale light and sound artworks, created by MASARY, a Lantern Walk, and an indoor experience with candle lighting and live music. For the 2024 event, there will be two new artworks!
REGISTER HERE>>
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Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Discover Mount Auburn Walking Tour
2025-02-01 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Mount Auburn, designated a National Historic Landmark, is one of the country’s most significant designed landscapes. Here the arts of horticulture, architecture and sculpture combine with the beauty of nature to create a place of comfort and inspiration. This 1.5-mile walking tour will focus on stories of history, monuments, and the lives of those buried here. Registration required.
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and discounts on special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
REGISTER HERE>>

Nature Drawing Workshop: Trees
2025-02-02 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Want to learn some very basic ways for drawing the nature you know and love here in Mount Auburn? Join illustrator Clare Walker Leslie in one or all of these Sunday afternoon sessions. Appropriate for ages 10 and up, teens and adults. No previous drawing experience needed. Bring a drawing pad, several pencils and an eraser. There will be materials provided, as well. Workshop takes place indoors. Meet in Story Chapel.
REGISTER HERE>>
Drawing Workshop Series Dates:

October 6: Birds
November 10: Animals
February 2: Trees
March 9: Landscapes

…
Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Laurel Circle Concert Series: Rasa String Quartet
2025-02-12 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
This February, the Laurel Circle Concert Series will return with a performance by the Rasa String Quartet. Escape the cold for an evening filled with music, food, and good company inside the warmth of our historic Bigelow Chapel.

Formed in 2019, the Boston-based Rasa String Quartet consists of violinists Emma Powell and Maura Shawn Scanlin, violist Kiyoshi Hayashi, and cellist Mina Kim, who are graduates of the New England Conservatory, the Shepherd School of Music, and Yale University.

As with all Laurel Circle Lectures and Concerts, the program will begin with an hour-long reception, followed by an hour of performance. The event is free for Laurel Circle members; $50 per ticket for non-members of the Laurel Circle.

REGISTER HERE>>

If you have questions about this event or need more information, please contact Matthew Tufts at mtufts@mountauburn.org or 617-540-0076.

Eyes on Owls
2025-02-15 10:30 - 11:15, 2025-02-15 13:00 - 14:15, 2025-02-15 15:30 - 16:45 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Join us in Story Chapel for a special presentation by teacher naturalist Marcia Wilson and wildlife photographer Mark Wilson.
Marcia and Mark will introduce visitors to the owls of New England and beyond. Learn the field marks, signs, and naturalist’s skills that you can use to find owls without disturbing them, then meet some live owls up close!
Two sessions are being offered on Saturday, Feb 15 at 10:30am and 1:00pm. Space is limited, Registration required.
REGISTER HERE>>
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Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Burial Info Session (In-Person)
2025-02-22 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
Curious about burial and memorialization at Mount Auburn Cemetery? Come learn about our various burial options, including cremation burial, natural burial, and conventional casket burial, and about the ways a person can be remembered at Mount Auburn whether they are buried here or not. You’ll have the opportunity to ask your own questions and you’ll receive information about how to sign up for a burial space tour if you decide Mount Auburn is the right choice for you and your family.
This info session will be led by Mount Auburn’s Director of Sales, Regina Harrison. It will take place in Story Chapel and will not include a tour of the grounds.
Check-in at Story Chapel.
Capacity: 75 people
REGISTER NOW >>
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Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free access to all our public programs and discounts on special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

Longfellow Birthday Celebration
2025-03-01 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, 02138, United States
2025 Longfellow Birthday Celebration: A Community Reading at the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution
10:00-11:00 AM Opening remarks and poetry reading
11:00-11:30 AM Coffee and cake reception
11:30-12:00 PM Walk to the Longfellow grave site and wreath laying
REGISTER HERE>>
Commemorate the 218th anniversary of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s birth and the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution with a special community reading. We’re inviting the public to read Longfellow’s best-loved poems reflecting on the Revolutionary period and the power of historical memory. After a brief overview of Longfellow’s historical works by staff from Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters NHS, enjoy a unique reading of these powerful poems – from Paul Revere’s Ride to A Psalm of Life.
Sign up to read a poem, or just come to enjoy these classic works and reflect on the anniversary.
The reading will be followed by birthday cake and, weather permitting, a visit to the Longfellow family tomb for a brief wreath laying ceremony.
This program is presented by Mount Auburn Cemetery and Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site.
Capacity: 100 people
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Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.
