Sininõmme Cemetery — pine woodland and a historic memorial
Sininõmme kalmistu is a cemetery in the village of Peeterristi, within Narva-Jõesuu municipality. It lies in pine woodland on sandy hills between Narva and Narva-Jõesuu. The grounds contain family graves, an old chapel and a memorial to those who fell in the Estonian War of Independence.
Location
The cemetery is in Ida-Viru County, in the village of Peeterristi, beside the Peeterristi–Kudruküla road. Use the name Sininõmme kalmistu when searching on a map or in the cemetery register.
Access and entrances
The grounds extend along the road and have several entrances. Observations during the visit suggest that walking between the graves is not always easy: sandy slopes and the lack of proper paths make access more difficult.
Comfortable footwear is advisable. If you are visiting a particular grave, check which entrance is closest beforehand, especially if you need to carry water, flowers or cleaning tools.
Water and waste containers
At the time of the visit, a barrel of water for watering plants stood near one of the entrances. Waste containers are located at several points around the cemetery. When planning grave care, consider the distance to the water supply and the sandy terrain.
The old chapel
An old chapel survives within the grounds. At the time of the visit, it appeared to be unused. Along with the war memorial, it is one of the cemetery’s most noticeable landmarks.
Old graves
Almost all the graves in this cemetery are very old, although there are also some more recent burials.
Some of the crosses are particularly unusual.
Memorial to those who fell in the War of Independence
Near one of the entrances stands a memorial to those who fell in the Estonian War of Independence of 1918–1920. It was unveiled on 16 July 1933. According to the Estonian Military History Database, it commemorates five fallen servicemen and two unidentified soldiers.
The memorial is a concrete obelisk with a depiction of the Cross of Liberty near the top. Two cast-iron memorial plaques were originally mounted on its base. It is listed in the National Register of Cultural Monuments under number 27104.
The plaques were removed in 1961, but the monument itself survived. In 1990, the Narva Heritage Society tidied the surrounding area and installed new chains. Later, the two surviving original plaques were returned to the monument, and a third was added with information about the memorial’s unveiling and restoration.
The additional plaque also records that a coffin containing soil from graves in Siberia was buried here on 2 April 1989. This inscription adds another chapter of remembrance to the history of the war memorial.
Notable burials and finding a grave
The public sources consulted do not confirm any burials of well-known public or cultural figures in this cemetery.
Grave care at Sininõmme Cemetery
Regular grave cleaning helps keep a family burial plot tidy by removing fallen pine needles, leaves and branches, clearing weeds, and caring for the headstone and plants.
If you cannot visit in person, contact Angelio to discuss grave care at Sininõmme kalmistu. Provide the location of the plot and, if possible, attach photographs to help determine the work required.
