Gate of Heaven Cemetery’s Escort Ministry

“Tend the flock of God in your midst, [overseeing] not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock.”  ~ 1 Peter 5:2-3

The Catholic Church’s rich tradition of burial rites dates back to its early days in the Roman catacombs. The ritual of burying the faithful in sacred ground began then and continues in the present day. The Catholic church teaches that the faithful should bury their loved ones in a Catholic Cemetery, where members of the Body of Christ gather to pray for their eternal rest and peace. It is still the mark of a devout and faithful Catholic to provide that his or her remains are buried in conformity with the faith and the norms of the Church, in a cemetery where the whole church offers prayers for eternal rest and peace.

Gate of Heaven Cemetery, consecrated by the Church for Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, is owned and operated by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Our ministry is devoted to God as an offering of praise through worship, prayer, and reflection. We have several different departments, all focused on serving grieving families with compassion and respect. Our Escort

Team exemplifies this dedication, guiding funeral processions from the front gate to the committal site and representing the cemetery with dignity. They arrive early and are prepared to navigate the grounds in all weather conditions.

In 2014, the Director, Debra Crane took initiative to bring back this ministry at Gate of Heaven. We are fortunate to currently have several escorts from family parishes within the Archdiocese. Each escort has their own heartfelt reason for serving, and we are honored to share their stories.

An escort who started with us in 2014 is Carolyn Conrad, a parishioner at Guardian Angels Parish. Reflecting on her role over the past decade, she shared, “I truly believe my work here is a ministry. Being present at each committal service allows me the opportunity to support each family in person with my prayers. Many times, I have comforted young couples who have lost a child, by sharing my own experience of loss at childbirth, helping them to see that they too, will be okay. I believe that God placed me here for a reason.”

In the next year to follow, Tina Uhlenbrock, from Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish joined the team, bringing her background in elder care. “Working with seniors has made me familiar with loss and my nine years at Gate of Heaven have shown me that death touches all ages – newborns, children, teens, and young adults as well as elderly,” said Tina. “I continue this ministry because it feels deeply important. I’m honored to stand with families in their grief, to pray with them, and to convey our sincere sympathy for their loss. Being here has been a blessing and I believe God placed me at Gate of Heaven for a purpose.”

Another dedicated escort at Gate of Heaven, is Ann Rytel, a retired surgical nurse from Christ Hospital and from St. Margaret of York Parish. “Being an Escort at Gate of Heaven has been an enriching experience for me,” said Ann. “After retiring from nursing, this position feels like I’ve come full circle in caring for families at one of life’s most vulnerable times. Everyone grieves differently. So, this work requires patience and understanding. It can sometimes be a logistical challenge too.” Reflecting on her faith, Ann added, “This role has deepened my prayer life; as I now pray for the souls of the departed daily. I am grateful for this ministry, and for the dedicated, caring people I work with at Gate of Heaven.”

Back in July 2015, a major loss happened in the life of Cindy Burke, from Good Shepherd Parish, when her husband of forty-four years was laid to rest at Gate of Heaven. Overwhelmed with grief, Cindy felt as though her own life had ended too. It was two months later when she met with Pat Williams, who was a Family Services Advisor, to design the shared marker that she would someday have beside her husband. During that meeting, Cindy felt an unexpected sense of peace and found herself saying aloud, “I could work here.” Pat, immediately responded, “We have a job for you.” Within two weeks, Cindy began her journey as an escort. Reflecting on her eight years in this role, and asked what this ministry meant to her, Cindy replied, “Serving as an escort has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling times of my life.  My work as an escort is part ministry and part therapy – helping others in their grief, has helped me in mine. God knew what was good for me. Amen!”

Pat Williams, a retired Family Services Advisor, kindly shared two key reasons why he chose to be an escort here. “It is a ministry for me and it gives me a purpose in my retirement.” As a member of St. Andrew Parish, Pat explained what inspires him to continue this work. ‘Throughout my life, I have sought out ways to help people that are experiencing difficult times and circumstances beyond just saying. ‘I’ll pray for you.’ Yes. Prayer is powerful and I always appreciate prayers from others. I also pray for the families that I serve. However, I get the extra fulfillment when I see the impact of my efforts firsthand. There is no greater pain than losing a loved one, and I feel that being an escort offers a way to help. A successful escort is someone who is present, yet doesn’t overshadow the beautiful, final tribute to the departed,” said Pat. When asked what keeps his passion to continue this ministry, he replied, “I’ve had the honor of meeting wonderful families and marveled with the stories about the legacies of their loved ones. This work at Gate of Heaven brings me hope and reminds me that we, as God’s children, are on the right path. I thank God for allowing me to serve His families.”

These stories of our dedicated escorts are true reflections of Christ’s flock. They embody the spirit of His disciples, actively living out the Church’s mission by following Christ through both Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Their work of instructing, advising, consoling, and comforting reflects the Church’s ongoing commitment to mercy, especially in the sacred act of being present to support families in their time of loss. Our escorts truly exemplify our ministerial focus at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Honoring Life on Sacred Ground

Gate of Heaven Cemetery’s Escort Team

Carolyn Conrad

Tina Uhlenbrock

 Ann Rytel

Cindy Burke

Pat Williams

  Dolores Bebko