The most visible evidence of the Memorial Fund is the Garden of Memories, located just outside the Royal Palm gate. Any resident or former resident is eligible for interment in our Garden of Memories. Guidelines for this are available from the Clubhouse Office or any Director of the Memorial Fund. The interment itself may be as elaborate or as simple as desired. Your Memorial Fund takes great pride in this amenity available to all residents.

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In 1986 the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society purchased this parcel from the Saunder family. They also purchased an additional parcel with the intent of building a full ­care health complex. This is the parcel Hawthorne purchased in 2000 and we refer to as the 100 acres. The Garden of Memories, however, is a .61-acre lot sold to the Memorial Fund in 1995 for the outstanding price of $10. We own this lot, which is approximately 94 feet of highway frontage and 280 feet deep. Included is the historical Richmond Cemetery, which we maintain. Years before Hawthorne existed, a church known as Richmond Chapel stood off the road. Behind the church was the burial ground for its members. The church is no longer standing. The Richmond Cemetery is today an historical landmark and can be found on the internet by clicking here. Eighteen names are recorded with the earliest birth date of 1830 and the latest date of death of 1951. Hawthorne’s Garden of Memories is located to the rear of the Cemetery.

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Our first interment was in May 1988, when Hank Parks was placed in the Garden. The Good Samaritans granted permission to create a small place for cremains. Today we have almost 400 individuals in this Garden.

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Improvements were made in 2004 and 2005 increasing the area and adding electricity, irrigation and granite markers to identify the names of those placed in the Garden. These major changes were made possible from a bequest by the estate of Clifford and Maude Hollister. Maude served on the Memorial fund as a Director. Cliff was a leader of our AARP Chapter.

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