91原创

When Township of 91原创 staff cleared the 91原创 Lawn municipal cemetery of unapproved decorations, an urn with the ashes of Rebecca Forster鈥檚 friend ended up in a pile of discarded items left by the gate to the cemetery works yard.

鈥淚t was my best friend鈥檚 cremation ashes in a small sealed urn and a picture of him at his mom鈥檚 grave site,鈥� Forster told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淗e passed away May 18th last year and we always went to his mothers grave together when he was in town.鈥�

Forster was 鈥渟addened and angry鈥� when she recently arrived at the cemetery, located at 4393 208th St. in Brookswood, to find the urn was gone.

She searched through the pile, and was able to retrieve her friend鈥檚 ashes.

READ ALSO: 91原创 cemetery condemned for trashing mementos left by families

Forster is one of several upset and disturbed by the Township decision to clear all three municipal cemeteries.

Many have complained that the addition of personal keepsakes to gravesites has been going on for 10 to 15 years at 91原创 Lawn without any of the items being touched.

Henry Yu, who lost his eight-year-old son Winston almost 18 years ago, described the 91原创 Lawn cemetery where his son lies as 鈥渁 sacred space to us鈥� and called the decision to remove the memorabilia as 鈥渁 cold and despicable act.鈥�

鈥淚 struggle to understand the thought process the Township underwent to arrive at such a heartless decision,鈥� Yu commented.

鈥淭he ornaments and items left there represented our messages of thoughts and love expressed to our loved ones since they were no longer with us. I smiled when I saw others鈥� items when I visited the graves around my son. I cried when I felt a connection to others who also experienced the same sense of loss. Those expressions of love connected all of us and were a source of comfort.鈥�

Robbie Franks, who took to social media to alert families after discovering his brother鈥檚 site had been cleared of several items on Friday, May 20, including a cross and chain left by his sister, called it 鈥渉eartless.鈥�

Franks said he initially thought thieves had struck.

鈥淲hen I started looking around, I realized everything was missing.鈥�

Franks finally found the pile, and was able to locate most of the adornments, except the chain and cross.

His father, Jerry Franks, was angry.

鈥淭hey should have notified everybody by mail.鈥� Jerry suggested.

鈥淭hey鈥檝e got to have a better way of doing things. It鈥檚 just not right.鈥�

Jerry鈥檚 wife, Cindy, said there should have been more notice than a 鈥渄inky little sign鈥� by the parking area.

In response to a 91原创 Advance Times query, the Township issued an unsigned statement that said the family mementos were removed from all three cemeteries operated by the Township 鈥� 91原创 Lawn, Murrayville and Fort 91原创 鈥� because 鈥渁 significant number of flowers, adornments, and decorations had accumulated over time, including several broken or deteriorated items, posing an increasingly challenging and unsafe condition for maintenance staff and the public.鈥�

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Scouts tend to veterans鈥� headstones at Murrayville cemetery

A recently erected sign next to the cemetery parking area did not specifically refer to memorabilia, but 鈥渞emoval of artificial flowers and wreaths.鈥�

It said 鈥渋n an attempt to maintain a park-like setting in our cemeteries, only wreaths and flowers (fresh or artificial can be placed on graves. Artificial flowers and wreaths will be removed between March 1 and November 1 at Township discretion. All additional items will be removed and held for one month.

Neighbouring municipalities have similar restrictions.

In Surrey, what is referred to as 鈥減lant material and grave adornments鈥� associated with seasonal events or celebrations are to be removed 30 days after the event by the caretaker.

From the first of March to November first, Surrey regulations forbid grave ornaments, potted plants and memorabilia on graves. Fencing around lots, glass, candles and ceramic objects are not permitted.

In Abbotsford, graveside decorations are limited to 鈥渃ut or artificial flowers and wreaths [which] may be placed on a lot.鈥� Cemetery staff will remove them 鈥渨hen their condition deteriorates.鈥� Metal or plastic vases are the only materials permitted. Any other materials deemed breakable or hazardous will be removed.