Group interment of unclaimed human 'cremains' scheduled at Lewis and Clark County Cemetery

Lewis and Clark County is hosting an interment ceremony Nov. 20 at 10:30 a.m. for the cremated remains of 153 individuals who died in the county over the years, but whose remains have never been picked up.

County Commissioner Susan Good Geise told Lincoln Government Day participants that the remains have been stored at the coroner’s office or at area funeral homes, and in some cases date back to the 1930’s. She said just leaving them sitting on in a shelf is not a proper place for them, so they will be interred at a vault at the County Cemetery near the corner of McHugh and Forestvale, across from Forestvale Cemetery.

Giese said the county cemetery is not generally well known since it is used by the county to bury indigent people who didn’t have the resources, financial or familial, for a burial elsewhere.

“I was at a meeting last week about indigent burials,” she said, “and we’re seeing a lot in Lewis and Clark County; a real uptick, when somebody dies, their family says, ‘no I’m not gonna pay for burying them.’”

“People, sadly, are walking away from their responsibilities and leave it to the country to deal with,” she said.

Giese said the interment ceremony is open to everyone and will feature participation by representatives from all different faiths. She hopes to see a lot of involvement by community members from throughout the county to help give the 153 individuals a proper service.

“It’s gonna be a big deal. I think that’s who we are,” she said.

For anyone interested in attending, signs will be posted to help direct people interested in attending to the county cemetery for the service.