For over a year, Bridget Heffernan has been holding the ashes of her brother in her Montreal home instead of burying them at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery due to delays caused by a strike. After her mother’s death in September, she now has two sets of remains to bury, but she is unable to get a clear answer on when the burials can take place despite multiple attempts to contact cemetery management. She is looking forward to the moment when her family members can be buried in the family plot with some family present and a priest to say a prayer.
The strike at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery lasted from mid-January to mid-September and resulted in a backlog of burials, with more than 300 bodies being kept in storage. The cemetery reached a deal with maintenance workers in July and with office workers in December. Management stated in a news release that they hoped to resolve the backlog of burials by the end of 2023. However, many families, including Denis Martin’s, continue to face challenges in arranging burials for their loved ones. Martin has been trying to have his mother’s ashes buried in the family plot but has faced difficulties securing a date due to the backlog.
Heffernan, who has been trying to arrange her brother’s burial since March 2023, expressed frustration at the lack of answers and guidance from the cemetery. She posted on a local Facebook page, where several others shared similar experiences of long wait times and lack of communication. Andy Masterson, whose mother passed away in August, also shared his frustrations with the process, saying that while he understands the impact of the strike, families deserve better treatment and communication. He emphasized the need for closure and for someone to take responsibility for managing the situation.
Martin, after speaking with The Canadian Press, received notice that his mother’s burial can take place on a requested date in September. This news brought some relief to his family, who have been struggling to find closure after her passing. However, many others like Heffernan and Masterson are still waiting for answers and burial dates for their loved ones. The delays and lack of communication have made the grieving process even more challenging for these families, who are eager to have their family members laid to rest in the family plot at the cemetery.
The emotional toll of not being able to bury their loved ones is weighing heavily on these families, who have been trying to navigate the process amidst the backlog caused by the strike. They are seeking closure and a sense of relief by finally being able to lay their family members to rest in the cemetery. Despite their frustrations, they remain hopeful that the cemetery management will address the backlog and provide clearer communication in the future to prevent further delays and uncertainties for families going through the grieving process. The importance of honoring the memory of their loved ones and finding closure is paramount for these families, who are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to finally bury their family members.
