The Eileen Markenstein Memorial Fund
Tax deductible
Eileen Markenstein died on August 17, 2020. She embodied the true meaning of volunteering and giving back to her community. Eileen held many prominent positions throughout her life but was perhaps best known as the volunteer President of The Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery.
Since 2006, Eileen dedicated her life to the protection and preservation of the 1829 Cemetery, the first secular cemetery company in New Jersey and one of the first garden cemeteries. It had previously been the site of Lenni Lenape hunting grounds, Revolutionary War skirmishes, and a War of 1812 bunker. Hundreds of Civil War soldiers are buried there, and the site was used in WW1 and WWII training as well.
Eileen was building a plan for a major restoration of the beautiful garden landscape that once existed on the grounds, the creation of a history museum, and the site’s listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, as well as municipal landmark designation. She would have wanted the rich educational programs and lectures, walking tours, and other special events she initiated to continue.
As a dedicated member of the Jersey City Parks Coalition (JCPC), Eileen was an integral part of and invaluable contributor to our parks community. To honor her incomparable life, JCPC is raising funds for commemorative and historic markers and live memorials, including a beautiful parrotia tree to be planted at the Cemetery entrance gate. If funds permit, we will pursue her mission to obtain landmark status for the Cemetery. Any remaining funds will go to the Cemetery.
We hope that you will help to preserve Eileen’s legacy and celebrate her life by donating to this fund.
“To help get the word out, you can share the link to your Facebook Timeline!”
Since 2006, Eileen dedicated her life to the protection and preservation of the 1829 Cemetery, the first secular cemetery company in New Jersey and one of the first garden cemeteries. It had previously been the site of Lenni Lenape hunting grounds, Revolutionary War skirmishes, and a War of 1812 bunker. Hundreds of Civil War soldiers are buried there, and the site was used in WW1 and WWII training as well.
Eileen was building a plan for a major restoration of the beautiful garden landscape that once existed on the grounds, the creation of a history museum, and the site’s listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, as well as municipal landmark designation. She would have wanted the rich educational programs and lectures, walking tours, and other special events she initiated to continue.
As a dedicated member of the Jersey City Parks Coalition (JCPC), Eileen was an integral part of and invaluable contributor to our parks community. To honor her incomparable life, JCPC is raising funds for commemorative and historic markers and live memorials, including a beautiful parrotia tree to be planted at the Cemetery entrance gate. If funds permit, we will pursue her mission to obtain landmark status for the Cemetery. Any remaining funds will go to the Cemetery.
We hope that you will help to preserve Eileen’s legacy and celebrate her life by donating to this fund.
“To help get the word out, you can share the link to your Facebook Timeline!”
Organizer
Laura Skolar-Gamarello
Organizer
Jersey City, NJ
Jersey City Parks Coalition Inc
Beneficiary