Some of us in rural America understand the concept of pioneer cemeteries.  They are small cemeteries with, in most instances, only a few burials that date back to the 1800s.  Most of these cemeteries are fenced in and closed, if not by decision, then by practicality to new burials.

Today, however, when there is great cost to buy cemetery plots at larger metropolitan cemeteries and also a trend for getting back to community and nature, many of these cemeteries are being asked to accept new burials.  That’s a problem simply because there is probably no active board and no up to date burial maps.

I came across a recent article in the Connorsville, Indiana News Examiner where members of the community and also some former cemetery members are asking for some of these cemeteries to be opened to new burials.  Turns out that at least one family had some burials in a closed cemetery and still owns six lots that have now been voided and refunded.  The reason for the voiding is that the county, who now controls these closed pioneer cemeteries, cannot be absolutely sure that someone is not buried in the lots that the family has been give deeds for.

In arguing to keep these cemeteries closed, Fayette County Commissioner Leota King said, “We can’t have people buried where there’s somebody buried.  There are a lot of unmarked graves in these cemeteries.”  It does turn out in this case that the county will be forming a commission to see what can be done with these cemeteries, of which the article states number about 100 cemeteries in Fayette County alone.

Funeral Director Daily take:  It never ceases to amaze me of all the issues that can come up when dealing with death and human emotions.  I see both sides of this issue — on one side you don’t want to dig up an unmarked grave where you don’t know if someone is buried or not.  On the other hand — if a family has relatives in a cemetery and it appears that there is space in that cemetery — they should be able to purchase a lot and be buried there.

It’s a classic example of the sanctity of the dead versus the needs or desires of the living.  It seems to me that there is a lot of that in funeral service.  Individual funeral home owners and operators have to really straddle this issue and not take sides.  Let the cemeteries come up with decisions and give your professional opinion if ever asked.  These types of things can be public relations nightmares — I was once asked my opinion on how to settle a disagreement where a non-profit cemetery had sold the same lot twice because of a clerical error.  It was a strategic lot for both families and, even though I checked the legality of the issue before giving my opinion — I’m sure that one family was not happy with me.[wpforms id=”436″ title=”true” description=”true”]