Ever wondered where Borsano’s story is etched in stone? Here at Cimitero di Borsano we stand. It is one of three cemeteries within Busto Arsizio. It holds stories of lives lived and a community’s evolution.
Cimitero di Borsano is not just a burial ground. It is a chronicle of Borsano. It reflects its history and traditions.
Let us journey into the past. The construction of Cimitero di Borsano was likely spurred by Napoleon’s 1804 edict. This edict banned burials within populated areas. Before this decree interments occurred inside the parish church. Parish priests and prominent families rested in the nave. Other Borsano residents were buried in the adjacent cemetery.
The new cemetery found its place near the parish church. It was close to the country church of Santa Maria dei Restagni. Santa Maria dei Restagni was sadly demolished in 1954.
In 1928 Cimitero di Borsano expanded almost doubling its original size. Further expansion eastward was pursued. However disputes over minimum distances from homes prevented northward growth. An area was soon to be decommissioned due to these constraints.
Near the entrance two tombstones stand out. They tell tales of dedication and remembrance. On one side rests Ermenegilda ‘Gilda’ Rossi. She was a schoolteacher in Borsano from 1858. Her plaque reads about her 40 years of teaching. It speaks of her wise care and maternal affection. She spread threefold love of God to Family and Country. On the other side lies Giuseppe Usuelli. He was born around 1826. He died in Borsano in 1894. Usuelli named the Stelline as his universal heirs. The Stelline were the orphans of Milan. They bring him a bouquet of flowers every year. This happens on the anniversary of his death.
The wide space in front of the main entrance got a dedication in June 2008. It honors Don Alessandro Bossi. He was a former parish priest entrepreneur and writer. A new entrance was built in 2017.
Cimitero di Borsano today remains the smallest of Busto Arsizio’s cemeteries. It represents more than just a final resting place. It embodies community memory local history and enduring tributes. Here within its walls the past whispers. It reminds us of the lives connections and stories that shaped Borsano.