Can't bury my mum, as nobody knows grave owner.

[NameChangedForTheDay]

Hi all,

Not a AIBU, but shamelessly posting for traffic.

My mum died in April. She always said that when she died, she wanted to be cremated and returned to Liverpool and be buried in the same plot as her own mother.

I spoke to the cemetery. I learn that there's actually six people in that plot, including my mum's grandmother and some of grandmother's maternal family.

The issue I have is the cemetery has no record of who owns the plot and I need their permission to inter my mum's ashes. All they could give me was the address of the last person buried there in 2000. Sadly nobody by that family name lives at that address any more.

So I contacted the council, but they don't own the cemetery and told me to contact the Catholic burials phone number. But they have no record of who owns the plot either.

They did give me the name of the funeral directors that did the burial in 2000, but the funeral directors don't have records that far back.

I've also posted on a FB group in the area where the chap who died in 2000 lived, appealing for any of his family to come forward. So far, no replies.

Has anyone had this situation, or similar?

Is there anything else I can try?

My mum and I really didn't get on and weren't talking when she died due to alcoholism, but I do want to fulfill her final wish still.

I've asked the Archbishop if he knows who'd have record like that.@NameChangedForTheDay

Thank you @Toddlerteaplease

UPDATE!!!

With Saker's help, I found out who the last person buried in the plot was married to. I managed to get enough information to order his death certificate online.

In the meantime, I found his wife's obituary via Google, one of her granddaughters had an unusual name. I found the granddaughter on Facebook and she's pretty sure I'm referring to her grandad. She was only three when he died. But said her uncle took over her granddad's house and she's sure it's the address I gave.

She's speaking to her mum shortly to find out for sure.

Oh and they live in New Zealand!! They moved there three years after her grandad died.

Looks promising. Thanks so much for your help. Especially Saker who made me feel like I was in an episode of Who Do You Think You Are?

Apparently there is a cemetery department. I searched on the Archdiocese's website and it came up under he finance office. But the lady who runs works part time.

Thanks @Toddlerteaplease, see my last update. I might have found my family. Turns out last person buried there was my mum's uncle.

I hope you sort it out, OP - sounds a promising lead!

Hope your new leads work out for you op.

And on the issue of scattering ashes at sea which a few people seem to think is illegal it is NOT. The only time you can’t scatter is if the river is privately owned then you need the owners permission otherwise you are free to scatter without licence or any legality to overcome. In fact I know of at least two firms on the south coast who hire out boats for sea internments.

It's amazing what information you can find out like this :)

I hope the lead works out for you OP.