02/06/2026
Among the deceased at Oak Lawn Cemetery & Arboretum are Mabel Osgood Wright and her sister, Agnes H. Wright, who both pushed for a more open, park-like cemetery design in the early 1900's. Without any authorization from Oak Lawn officials, Mabel hired a tree service to plant oaks along the riverbank just north of her parents’ grave. You might say she did as she pleased, but Mabel was an early conservationist who also wrote extensively about nature and bees. Perhaps you're familiar with her more famous legacy — she started the CT Audubon Society, an organization where she served as President for 28 years. I could go on, but I wanted to share a bit of the background that makes Oak Lawn Cemetery such a special place to so many families, including my own. To say it was an honor to work on their new brand would be an understatement — it was an absolute privilege. The Wright sisters' foresight and commitment to the land is one of the reasons Oak Lawn was the first cemetery in CT to also become an arboretum. The people at Oak Lawn today continue to shape, nurture, and evolve the beautiful landscape. They are committed to engaging with the community. Anybody is welcome to walk among the many rare and unusual trees, plants, and bushes. It's a famous spot for birders and there are not one, but two working apiaries. It's this connection to nature that we wanted our design to reflect. The stately White Oak is often considered a symbol of immortality, and we truly hope the brand we helped to build lasts forever.
