FGS – How to Get Your Town Engaged in Cemetery Care with Robbin M. Kelley

The Falmouth Genealogical Society Presents Talk:
How to Get Your Town Engaged in Cemetery Care
with Robbin M. Kelley
Saturday, April 4, 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth

The Falmouth Genealogical Society (FGS) will hold its monthly talk Saturday, April 4, 2026, from 10:00 am-12:00pm at the Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth. This talk is free and open to the public. It is also available via Zoom. For the Zoom credentials, please contact fgspresident@gmail.com by April 3, 2026.

For more information, visit the FGS website at falgen.org.

Robbin Kelley, presenting in person, will highlight the importance of cemetery care and local engagement in the preservation of historic cemeteries. Historic cemeteries serve as important cultural landscapes that preserve local history, honor veterans and community members, and provide peaceful public spaces for reflection. Proper care and preservation help ensure that these sites remain protected for future generations.During the presentation, attendees will learn about:

• Why cemetery care matters for preserving local heritage
• Massachusetts laws related to cemetery maintenance and protection
• Opportunities for towns to support cemetery care through Community Preservation funds

Cemetery preservation plays a vital role in maintaining community identity. Historic gravestones and burial grounds document the lives of early residents, veterans, and families who helped shape the region. “Cemeteries are outdoor history books,” according to Kelley. “By maintaining them properly, communities protect their shared heritage while honoring the individuals who came before us,” she adds.

The program will also address some of the challenges historic cemeteries face today, including aging monuments, storm damage, limited funding, and the growing need for volunteer support. Community members interested in local history, genealogy, preservation, or civic engagement are encouraged to attend and learn how they can help support cemetery care efforts in their town.

Robbin M. Kelley is a Certified Professional Genealogist who completed the Genealogical Research Program at Boston University. She has been working as a genealogist for over thirty years and is the owner of Cape Genealogy, a business she has been operating for the past twenty-one years. Her work specializes in proof of lineal descent as well as missing and unknown lineage research.

Robbin originally attended Northeastern University for computer engineering and worked in the computer field for ten years as the Network Administrator for Cape Cod Computers. Her passion for genealogy eventually led her to leave the computer field and pursue genealogy as a full-time career.

Since 2004, Robbin has served as the Cemetery Administrator for the Town of Harwich, overseeing the care and management of sixteen cemeteries and 100 acres. She is a member of the Cape Cod Genealogical Society (CCGS), the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), and the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). She also serves as a Board Member of the Massachusetts Cemetery Association and is a Past President and Board Member of the New England Cemetery Association. In addition, she is a member of the Garden Club of Harwich.