History and Serenity in Perpetuity

One of the most remarkable aspects of Bideawee is the incredibly rich and unique history that we have as a 117-year-old organization. Perhaps there is no better place to witness this history than at our beautiful Wantagh and Westhampton Pet Memorial Parks. More than 65,000 cherished pets have found a final resting place there, and the beautiful and serene grounds are a testament to the love and commitment people have for their four-legged companions.

Over the last 10 years, I’ve taken many strolls through our Pet Memorial Parks, and it’s hard to describe the sense of peace and comfort that comes over me as I walk through endless rows of tributes and dedications; symbols of everlasting love. They date as far back as 1915, and include cats, dogs, monkeys, tortoises, lizards and many other beloved pets. Even our founder, Flora Kibbe has her dogs buried at Bideawee’s Wantagh park. She understood long before most that our pets were family and deserved a fitting farewell.

I am endlessly intrigued by the names that people give their pets. There is Satan (I often wonder if he chewed shoes and lived up to his name!), Beethoven and Brutus, Fiffy, and even a tortoise named Speedbump!  Ouch!

The Kibbe Memorial Garden, specifically designed as a final resting place for cremains, has been developed to blend in with nature and provide a serene setting among manicured trees and shrubs. Did you know that you can choose to have your cremains buried with your pets? Today, the human-animal bond is recognized and respected as a vital relationship, and as such, we offer pet parents the opportunity to spend eternity with their pets.  There is so much to learn about our parks, and our staff is always happy to answer any questions you may have.

I know I’m not alone in finding peace in the parks and a comfort in knowing just how loved each of these pets were. I often see others walking through the parks, perhaps to visit their own pets, or maybe just to slow down and enjoy the beauty and history.  The parks are not only an ideal environment for peace and contemplation, but a wonderful destination for history buffs.  And because of this, we recently created a self-guided walking tour map and brochure for our Wantagh Pet Memorial Park. We’ve already had several groups and many individuals take advantage of this tour, exploring the grave sites of many beloved pets who call Bideawee their final resting place, including Sarge, a Belgian Shepherd and army hero of the WWII Canine Corps; Checkers, the Cocker Spaniel credited with saving Richard Nixon’s political career in 1952; a giant 125-pound tortoise; a duck; a capuchin monkey; petit horses; and more.

I’m also excited to share our brand new drone video, which captures aerial footage of our beautiful Wantagh Pet Memorial Park.

Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons at our Pet Memorial Parks and I invite you to enjoy our self-guided tour, or just visit us for a day of peace and contemplation. As always, we are here for you and your pets, and we look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions about our Pet Memorial Parks, you can reach us at 866-262-8133 or memorialparks@bideaewee.org