Carol Ann Bennett was shocked to discover an empty spot instead of her son’s headstone at Mount Patricia Cemetery in Corner Brook. She frequents the cemetery weekly, finding solace in the peaceful surroundings. However, her tranquility was shattered when she received a distressing call from a funeral home informing her that her son’s headstone had been removed without prior notice.
According to Bennett, the headstone exceeded the height restrictions set by Mount Patricia Cemetery for the Catholic section. The manufacturer, Heritage Memorials, had taken it to Nova Scotia for adjustments along with other non-compliant headstones. The cemetery permits flat stone monuments in the Catholic area to protrude nine centimeters above ground level, while the maximum height for monuments in other sections is 91 centimeters.
Judy Brake, another affected individual, discovered that her family headstone was missing after seeing Bennett’s social media post. Both women expressed concerns about the lack of communication regarding the removal of their headstones, with Brake highlighting that her family’s headstone had been absent for over two years, questioning the absence of notification from the diocese.
Mount Patricia Cemetery Association clarified that it was not their responsibility to notify families about headstone adjustments. Association president Carl Bennett explained that Heritage Memorials had decided to modify non-compliant headstones but failed to inform the cemetery or the affected families beforehand. While expressing regret for the lack of notice, Carl Bennett emphasized the importance of adhering to monument policies to ensure fairness for all.
Heritage Memorials admitted to the miscommunication that led to the removal of the headstones, attributing it to their lack of awareness of the cemetery’s regulations in the past. The company’s president, Steven Nelson, apologized for the oversight and assured that new procedures had been implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future. Six headstones, including Bennett’s and Brake’s, are scheduled for reinstallation this week.
In light of the situation, both affected families and the public are questioning the effectiveness of the current policies and the need for better communication and empathy in such matters.