Notre
Dame has two cemeteries, but the most famous person associated
with the University isn't buried in either.
After Knute Rockne died in a plane crash in Kansas in 1931 his
body was brought back to South Bend for burial. He was interred
in Highland Cemetery, a few miles west of campus at the intersection
of Portage Avenue and Lathrop Street.
Why was Rockne, who was only 43, not buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery
at the south end of campus? According to Lewis A. McGann, whose
grandfather, Lewis W. McGann, headed the McGann Funeral Home,
which handled Rockne's burial, the decision was made by Rockne's
widow, Bonnie. She wanted to be sure the grave would be cared
for in perpetuity, and in those days Cedar Grove didn't offer
that level of service. It was the responsibility of families to
cut the grass and otherwise maintain the grave or else pay a maintenance
fee. At Highland Cemetery maintenance was included in the price
of the plots.
Lewis A. McGann said Mrs. Rockne actually bought the plot from
his grandfather, who owned several in the Graceland section of
the cemetery, where most of the Catholics were buried. Bonnie
Rockne was Catholic, and her husband converted in 1925.
Rockne's grave isn't difficult to find. As you enter Highland
Cemetery, bear right past the office. In the grass at the first
V intersection, you'll see a memorial marker for the legendary
coach. This is not the grave. Rockne's simple headstone -- the
corners of which have been chipped off, presumably by souvenir
hunters -- lies just past the marker and to the right, five rows
or about 25 yards back from the road.
Highland cemetery is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday, 9 to 2 on Saturday, and Sundays by appointment.
No one with the enduring national fame of Rockne lies in Cedar
Grove or in the Holy Cross Community Cemetery, above the north
shore of Saint Mary's Lake. But you can find dozens of prominent
names there from Notre Dame and South Bend history.
The grave of Notre Dame founder Father Edward Sorin, CSC, lies
at the head of the community cemetery in the middle of a row of
five superior generals of Holy Cross. Two of the others served
as presidents of Notre Dame: Father Andrew Morrissey, CSC, president
from 1893-1905, and Father James Burns, CSC, 1919-1922.
All but one of Notre Dame's 14 deceased presidents are buried
in the community cemetery. The exception is Cardinal John O'Hara,
CSC, 1888-1960. The order's first and only cardinal, O'Hara is
entombed inside the Basilica.
(January 2006)
