Not everyone sees cemeteries that way. All those George Romero zombie movies, you know. But over the past decade, the Forest Hills Education Trust folks have promoted life-affirming events like the "Lantern Festival,” a Buddhist-inspired, Asian-themed, but cosmopolitan, night. At an early wine-cheese-nibbles VIP party, attended by 150 donors and patrons, two dancers swayed to Balinese music and people discussed the afterlife and tranquility. Later, for the main public event, Master Tsuji’s Samurai Taiko Drummers (and martial arts group) played to a crowd of 5000. Then, people floated candle-lit and personally inscribed lanterns across Lake Hibiscus. The feeble breeze, however, left many vessels hugging the shoreline.

At the close, a bagpipe outfit played “Amazing Grace.” If you think of Forest Hills, said the cemetery’s board chair Bud Hanson, you may think “yankee.” But, he added, “This has become the burying place of choice for the Asian community – 50 to 60 percent of our new clientele is Asian. They start saving for their funeral when they’re born; the gravesites we have now have available have Eastern exposure; there’s sloping land: and (the Asians) are birds of a feather.” As, he noted, are most ethnic groups, when it comes to final resting spots.
    People of all stripes spent $10 on a lantern (drawn by a Japanese calligrapher, personally inscribed to your dead loved ones by you), to place upon the lake. “It’s a peacefulness, a letting-go,” said Heather Colmore, of Charlestown. “The cycle of life includes death. It’s an acknowledgement we’re all connected.”
    Lidney Motch, a Jamaica Plain investment manager, said, “ I hope for peace and comfort. I think our culture needs more spirituality and events like this.” Annie Bisphom’s husband died in 2004, and is buried at Forest Hills. The Mattapan teacher says, “I feel at peace when I’m here. This helps the healing process.”
     Want your dirt nap to take place here? Plots start at $3750 and you can spend up to $1 million said George Milley, the president and CEO of Forest Hills Cemetery. You could be parked in worse turf. You’re surrounded by famous folks – Eugene O’Neill, e.e. cummings, etc. – and you (or your ancestors) are assured eternally great landscaping. “We’re the hidden jewel on the Emerald Necklace,” Milley added, looking around. “There are so many people here visiting a cemetery and not in a depressed mode.” (A version of this story ran in the Boston Phoenix last July.)

95 Forest Hills Ave., Jamaica Plain, 617-524-0128 www.foresthillstrust.org