Saying goodbye to a loved one who has passed away is the most difficult thing to do in life. Grieving families often choose something very special and meaningful to be left at the gravesite, in honour of that person.
The grieving family in a (recent news) had what sounds like an amazing headstone created for their family member. The headstone was damaged, possibly by a piece of equipment used by the caretakers at the cemetery.
I was extremely heart broken for this family as I read the article as I too had a very sad experience with the P.G. cemetery.
My father has been buried at the cemetery for 25 years and 25 years ago we had planted a small shrub at the head of his in-ground headstone. Two years ago when I made a visit to my father's grave with a home-made wreath, which I had done for 23 years at that point, I discovered the shrub had been removed. I had always attached the wreath to the shrub, so in my mind the shrub and the wreath were both gifts to my father.
When I spoke with the caregiver at the cemetery I was told that the shrub had died and it needed to be removed, so they removed it. I had in fact been to my father's grave numerous times before I brought the wreath and I believe the shrub was just as healthy and vibrant as it had always been.
Although I was extremely upset the day I discovered my father's shrub had been removed and till this day am saddened by this, I was grateful for the cemetery caretaker who took the time to dig in the snow and locate my fathers grave so that I could leave the wreath with him.
I do understand how difficult it must be to maintain the cemetery and I do understand that there must be rules and regulations in regards to the gravesites, but I ask that people understand too how the grieving families feel when such situations occur.
I was very relieved to read on in the article that the cost of the repair to the headstone would be taken care of, one less thing for this loving family to worry about.
Linda McClelland (Peden)
Kamloops
