In 2013, JewishGen, a Jewish genealogical website, forwarded a database of 494 names of people buried in the cemetery to then Cemetery Director, Rick Kool. Included were 40 names with ‘Unknown’ given as their grave-site designation. Figuring out where those people could be buried was a question waiting to be answered.
By combing through archival records, Professor of Archaeology Erin McGuire and Amber Woods were able to determine the location of eight plots. Additionally, gravestones for two other people were placed on the family plot as requested by their descendants. The rest of the names are listed on a larger monument so that everyone we know about are now recognized.
The Aaronsons
A large Woodman of the World Monument meant to mark the grave of A.A. Aaronson and his wife Rose was installed on the graves of A.A. Aaronson’s brother, Barney, his wife Rachel and daughter Hannah.
Four burial rolls, adjusted for the revised numbering system, all indicate that Rose and A.A. Aaronson are buried in Row D – Plot 14 and 15. Only a small piece of kerbing bearing the name Aaronson has marked that location. The same four burial records indicate that Barney and Rachel are buried in the triple wide plot in Row G – Plot 15 and 15. Their son, Jacob, is buried in G-12
However, adding to the mystery is that A.A. Aaronson is listed twice in the Roll of Occupants of Graves in Hebrew Cemetery 1862-1941. The first reference places A.A. Aaronson and ‘wife’ roughly in a plot in Row D about where the kerbing exists. The same source later indicated that A. A. and Rose were buried in Row G, not exactly, but close to the spot where Barney and his family are buried.
Barney and Rachel’s daughter Hannah was also on the list of unknown plots. The only record of her burial is in the Roll of Occupants of Graves in Hebrew Cemetery 1862-1941 which indicated that she was buried in Row G. No plot number was given.
With a grant from the Greater Victoria Savings Credit Union, the Cemetery Committee was able to move the marker to the proper location and place a new monument for Barney, Rachel, and Hannah on their grave.
The Woodman of the World Monument:
The Woodman of the World Monument before being moved:
The graves of A.A. Aaronson and Rose before the Woodman of the World monument was moved:
Where the Woodman of the World monument should have been located, indicated by a blue X:
The Levy Family Plot
The family plot of Phoebe Levy her husband Joseph and daughter Annie was missing the grave of Annie’s husband Abraham. At the request of their descendant Carolyn Hahn, a headstone for Abraham was placed on the family plot.
Family plot prior to adding the gravestone for Abraham Levy:
The Lewis Family Plot
Aaron Lewis, son of Lewis Lewis and brother of Philip Lewis was on the list of unknown plot locations. At the request of descendants a gravestone for Aaron was placed on the Lewis family plot.
Lewis family plot prior to the addition of a gravestone for Aaron.
The Sylvester Family Plot
Frank Sylvester, his wife Cecelia and their son Clarence “Toots” are buried in a family plot. The death of their very young granddaughter, Louise “Muriel” Campbell in Winnipeg was a tragedy for the family. Muriel’s name was on the ‘unknown plot location’ list, however, records indicate that she was buried in the Sylvester family plot.
Sylvester family plot prior to the addition of a gravestone for Louise “Muriel” Campbell:
The Jewish Cemetery of Victoria, British Columbia 