Man And His Children Have Been Cleaning Neglected Gravestones Of Strangers On Their Daily Stroll

Jun 03, 2020 by apost team

A man and his children are using their daily exercise to clean gravestones in local cemeteries in Cheshire, England. Ryan van Emmenis, 37, from Winsford, has cleaned more than 20 headstones with help from his children since the lockdown started. Ryan, who owns a cleaning company, came up with the idea after one of his friends posted a picture on social media of his sister's grave and noticing that it had weathered.

The COVID-19 epidemic has changed everything for people in countries around the world. In many US states, and all across Great Britain, there have been very strict lockdown restrictions.

Van Emmenis had a friend who posted a picture of a gravestone. His sister had passed away. In the photo, the headstone looked dingy and dirty. Van Emmenis offered to clean it. The cemetery would be a perfect place to practice social distancing, and he could freshen up the stone so that everyone could see this woman's name and dates more clearly.

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Cleaning the headstone made Van Emmenis feel good. What's more, his wife was happy he'd done it. She gently pushed him to do more. That wasn't much of a stretch for Ryan, of course.

His company, Cleaning Helps, seeks to make a positive difference in addition to doing effective work. After finishing that first headstone, Van Emmenis resolved to take cleaning supplies with him on his walks. He knew he'd be able to get more headstones looking spick and span, and besides, the cleaning usually only took one hour.

Finally, Ryan Van Emmenis knows that no matter how big a headstone is, he'll usually have help cleaning it. This project has become something the whole family does together.

Van Emmenis' three children, Brooke, Lana, and Larsson, are always willing to help by brushing the surface of the headstones. They're always careful, especially with older, more delicate headstones. They know that these are monuments to people who were an important part of their communities, and they respect that.

Van Emmenis also offers tips for people who want to try cleaning their own family monuments. It's important to be gentle.

Non-professionals should limit themselves to soap and warm water instead of attempting to use chemicals. A soft-bristled brush, like a soft toothbrush, is a good tool to use. It can take some time, but restoring beauty to these headstones can be a great feeling.

Have you found ways to serve your community in spite of the lockdown? Let's chat about them in the comments!