Talking Tombstones & Timeless Grief

From a Texas cemetery tour to Rome’s unforgettable Angel of Grief

May 01, 2026

Met newsletter reader Jonelle in Weatherford—what a joy! (photo © Larry Snider)

Hi friends,

Today I had the pleasure of meeting newsletter reader Jonelle Bartoli in person—that’s us in the photo! Moments like that always remind me how much I love this community.

And then… I stumbled onto something I can’t believe I didn’t already know about:

NEWS FLASH: May 2nd (tomorrow!) is the 20th Annual Talking Tombstone Tour in Weatherford, Texas… Doesn’t that sound fun?!?

Meanwhile, on May 5th my newest cemetery book (Buried America: Dallas–Fort Worth) officially drops. It’s been a real nail-biter behind the scenes… And I’m still waiting for my copy to arrive!

Here’s what I’ve got for you in this edition of Tui’s Travel & Tombstones:

📌 In This Newsletter

• News Flash: Talking Tombstone Tour
• Angel of Grief: Famous Angel by William Wetmore Story

🪦 Talking Tombstone Tour (Weatherford, TX)

The Talking Tombstone Tour happens tomorrow (May 2, 2026) in nearby Weatherford, Texas. Docents guide visitors through the cemetery, and at certain graves, costumed interpreters bring the stories of those buried there to life. It sounvds amazing!

History, storytelling, and cemeteries…

Sure wish I’d known about this sooner so I could have told you folks in advance.

I’m definitely going (probably arriving around 1pm, after a morning of Italy tour homework!)

And I’ll definitely report back in my next newsletter with photos and highlights!

For more details visit the Parker County Heritage Society and/or the Facebook Event page for the Talking Tombstone Tour.

*The original Angel of Grief in Rome, which I had the privilege of seeing while guiding my Italy cemetery tour. (photo © Tui Snider)*

Angel of Grief: When Loss Becomes Sculpture

My latest article for American Cemetery & Cremation explores one of the most powerful funerary sculptures ever created: the famous Angel of Grief.

After encountering replicas of this iconic figure in cemeteries around the world, I finally stood before the original in Rome.

Wow! It was every bit as moving as I’d imagined.

Created by American sculptor William Wetmore Story after the death of his wife, the piece gave physical form to a loss he described as “utter abandonment.”

That raw honesty is what sets the Angel of Grief apart… and why it continues to resonate, appearing in cemeteries all over the world.

Have you ever seen a replica (or the original copy) of this angel?

👉 Read the full story (and see more photos) here: Angel of Grief—This Loss Broke Us