Greenwood cemetery

	Funerals and cemeteries in the USA Greenwood cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. To photograph cemeteries and funerals in the States was much more difficult than I thought. I wanted to make a cultural comparison between Sweden and USA.
	Undertakers and other professionals in the trade were surprised to see my photos from Sweden which to them were very revealing. Death is a taboo in Sweden, but is much more so in the USA.
	I had to apply for permission to photograph on some cemeteries in New York and Los Angeles. Once I even had to promise that names on tombstones would not be visible on my photos. The reason to this was the fear that relatives may sue the cemetery for damages.
	A funeral in the USA takes place 1-3 days after a person has died. In Sweden 2-3 weeks is usual. 85% of the americans die in institutions. Only 17% of the dead people are cremated in the USA, however the rate is going up slowly. In Sweden the rate is 67% and is increasing as well.
Photo Gallery © Harry Peronius	Part 2

Funerals and cemeteries in the USA