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"We value virtue but do not discuss it. The honest bookkeeper, the faithful wife, the earnest scholar get little of our attention compared to the embezzler, the tramp, the cheat." - John Steinbeck On this episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast, Jennie and Dianne share the tragic story of a Ida Mae Hanson, a Nebraska woman who followed her heart to Colorado where she was brutally murdered and left in an abandoned prospector's pit as if she were nothing more than trash in the summer of 1933. Joining them later in the episode is actress Meredith Bolthouse who is currently portraying Curley's wife in a theatrical presentation of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men". While Ida Mae really lived and Curley's wife is fictitious, both are Ordinary Extraordinary women whose stories were taken for granted by the two men who should have loved and protected them above all others.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck runs April 25-27, 2025 in Castle Pines, Colorado. https://frontrangetheatre.ludus.com/index.php?sections=events&widget=1

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Special thanks to Beth Vaughn for the photos of the Hanson Family graves located in Stromsburg Cemetery in Stromsburg, Nebraska.

Resources used to research this episode include:

Various documents/records via www.ancestry.com

"Jury Selected in Neal Case." Omaha World-Herald [Omaha], 20 Mar. 1935, p. 25.

"Home from Trip." The Columbus Telegram [Columbus ], 1 Aug. 1932, p. 8.

"Death Penalty Ruled Out by Court Order." The Daily Sentinel [Grand Junction ], 23 Mar. 1935, p. 4.

"Untitled ." The Daily Sentinel [Grand Junction ], 24 Apr. 1935, p. 12.

, Associated Press. "Neal Convicted of Slaying Milliner." Greeley Daily Tribune [Greeley ], 25 Mar. 1935, p. 1.

"Murderer Trapped by Victim's Teeth." The Washington Herald [Washington D.C.], 9 June 1935, p. 63.

, Associated Press. "Murder Trial of Chas. Neal In Third Day." The Grand Island Independent [Grand Island], 20 Mar. 1935, p. 2.

"Untitled ." The Headlight [Stromsburg], 21 Mar. 1935, p. 5.

"Ex-Convict Denies Charge of Slaying Nebraska Woman." The Omaha Morning Bee-News [Omaha], 6 Feb. 1935, p. 1.

, Associated Press. "Convicted Murderer is Critically Ill." Fort Collins Coloradoan [Fort Collins], 20 May 1936, p. 1.

Sparrow, Beth. "Ida M. Hanson." https://www.findagrave.com/. 2 Nov. 2008. www.findagrave.com/memorial/31078354/ida-m-hanson. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

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This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast Jennie and Dianne are joined by Father Edward Looney, a Marian theologian, author, and speaker. Father Edward has written several books, including "A Heart Like Mary's," and has been featured on EWTN, Relevant Radio, and other platforms. Currently serving as a parish priest in the Diocese of Green Bay, Father Edward shares his passion for strolling through cemeteries and honoring the dead and tells of his work with St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Gardner, Wisconsin, a cemetery he's helped restore; including the remarkable discovery of 31 previously unknown burials and how an antique shrine was relocated to the grounds to honor those without markers.

Want to tune in to Father Edward's podcast, "Hey Everybody! It's Fr. Edward!" Listen here: https://heyeverybody.fireside.fm/

You can also follow him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. You can find is social media links in his "Guest Profile" on our website https://www.theordinaryextraordinarycemetery.com/

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

Join Jennie and Dianne on The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast as they sit down with author Jan MacKell Collins to explore the life and legacy of Phoebe Ann Mosey, famously known as Annie Oakley! Celebrated for her sharp shooting skills and starring role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, Annie Oakley defied Ordinary conventions and became a beloved and Extraordinary icon of the American West. But how much of what we know about her is fact, and how much is fiction?

View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-VZY8ldjS9w?si=en2SO2d50pCnmqiQ

To learn more about Annie Oakley and the stories of so many other women of the Wild West, visit Jan MacKell Collins on her website or via Instagram, Facebook or Bluesky: https://www.janmackellcollins.com/

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

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Join Jennie and Dianne on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast as they tackle tough questions about death and dying with returning guest Ryan Seidemann. This week, they're answering questions from Ryan's students at Arizona State University, including:

*When should the needs of the living take precedence over considerations of the dead?

*How can we make death care more inclusive and flexible?

*Why is modern Western culture so uncomfortable discussing death?

Listen in on this thought-provoking conversation and feel free to share your ideas on these important questions in our social media comments or shoot us an email at ordinaryextraordinarycemetery@gmail.com.

View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DCRDg_hAf9s?si=w6K3VUiTehqB2DWR

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

Imagine visiting a cemetery where instead of sadness, you’re greeted with joy, wit, and art. In the heart of Romania, that’s exactly what you’ll find; “The graveyard that laughs at death” otherwise known as The Merry Cemetery—where the dead are remembered with a smile. On this episode of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery, Jennie and Dianne pay tribute to this delightful burial ground that has attracted thousands of tourists from across the globe. You won’t find traditional gravestones here—what you’ll encounter instead are colorful wooden crosses that tell the stories of the deceased with humor, wit, and a playful spirit.

View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xpllZx4kSiU?si=oG1pY3PaNWxpmKCV

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

Resources used to research this episode include:

Moore, John. "The Last Laugh; In the Merry Cemetery, grave markers celebrate life with beautiful images and gentle wit." https://www.romaniatourism.com/. www.romaniatourism.com/press-the-merry-cemetery.html. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Golopentia, Sanda. "The Merry Cemetery of Sapanta ." https://peterkayafas.com/. peterkayafas.com/the-merry-cemetery-of-sapanta/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

, Rolandia. "The Merry Cemetery ." https://rolandia.eu/. rolandia.eu/en/blog/unique-places/the-merry-cemetery/?srsltid=AfmBOopyD1j6Popz6vDQJxc4TQMDUN1A5PW4VSqTkWobpBVvF0tyK_il. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

, Go Eat Give. "Have a Laugh At The Merry Cemetery in Romania ." https://goeatgive.com/. goeatgive.com/have-a-laugh-at-the-merry-cemetery-in-romania/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

"MERRY CEMETERY: A DIFFERENT WAY TO LOOK AT DEATH ." https://cimitirulveselsapanta.ro/. cimitirulveselsapanta.ro/who-we-are/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Wallace, Lorna. "The 10 Most Unique Cemeteries Around the World ." https://www.fodors.com/. 7 Apr. 2023. www.fodors.com/news/photos/weird-and-unique-cemeteries-around-the-world. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Cap-Bun, Marina . "Attitudes towards Death in Romanian Culture and Civilization ." https://www.proquest.com/. 2 Jan. 2012. www.proquest.com/docview/1446905222?sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Thuras, Dylan. "The Merry Cemetery ." https://www.atlasobscura.com/. 21 May 2013. www.atlasobscura.com/places/merry-cemetery. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast, we conclude our conversation on the fascinating story of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock. From his heroic actions at Gettysburg to his passionate pursuits and personal heartbreaks, Civil War historian MJ Henion shares the human side of this celebrated war hero. Join us as we explore Hancock's politics, death, and burial, and discover why his wife is laid to rest in another state.

View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rYsv5ROurS4

To learn more about Hancock, follow MJ Henion on social media

• on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087492832959
• on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hancockhistorian_mjhenion/
• on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mjhenion?lang=en

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

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Step into the historic Montgomery Cemetery in Norristown, Pennsylvania, with Jennie and Dianne as they're joined by returning guest and U.S. Civil War historian MJ Henion to uncover the story of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, whose life was marked by both triumph and tragedy. Often remembered as a hero at the battle of Gettysburg, MJ covers not only the facts mentioned in the history books, but shares the stories of what made him human - his passions, his heartbreaks, and his triumphs, reminding us that even the most celebrated war heroes are more than just their exploits on the battlefield.

View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XDrSM8PuDEU

To learn more about Hancock, follow MJ Henion on social media

• on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087492832959
• on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hancockhistorian_mjhenion/
• on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mjhenion?lang=en

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

Known for her books 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die and 222 Cemeteries to See Before You Die, Author Loren Rhodes has spent years visiting the dead around the globe and joins Jennie and Dianne on this episode to chat about some of her serendipitous moments among the graves. In 2017 the second edition of Loren's book Wish You Were Here: Adventures in Cemetery Travel was released. Part travel memoir, part cemetery history, the book contains 35 graveyard travel essays and visits more than 50 cemeteries, churchyards, and gravesites across the globe. Now Loren is near to releasing a second book of essays entitled Still Wish You Were Here: More Adventures in Cemetery Travels. These essays are more personal as Loren shares stories of how the little moments in life and in the cemetery come to mean so much over the years. From the poignant to the peculiar, Loren's stories will inspire you to plan your next Ordinary Extraordinary cemetery adventure!

To learn more about Loren Rhoads or purchase any of her books, visit her website: https://lorenrhoads.com/

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here:
https://oecemetery.etsy.com