DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am the youngest of six children. When my dad passed away in 1943 at age 51, my mother purchased a cemetery plot in St. Peter’s Cemetery to accommodate four burials.

When my mother passed away in 1967 she was living with my sister, who wasn’t married yet. The rest of us were all married, and we assumed that the plot would go to my sister after she married in 1968.

But when my oldest brother’s wife died in 2005, we discovered that my brother was considered the owner of the plot. This shocked my sister, since had taken care of our mother for so many years.

My oldest brother and his wife were cremated, which will allow my sister and her husband to be buried there, since they also plan on cremation.

However, we have since discovered that my nephew, the oldest son of my eldest brother, is now considered the owner of the plot. I have nothing against my nephew, who is also my godchild. But he lives in Hawaii and has never married, so it does not seem likely he would want to be buried here.

But when he passes, who will take over the ownership of our family plot? Except for my sister, the rest of us all had families and our own plots.

Maybe I’m too concerned, but since I’m 83 and the youngest, we will probably all be gone by the time my nephew passes. — L.G., Lewiston

ANSWER: Sun Spots spoke to Gerard Raymond, the executive director of St. Peter’s, who told her that “back in the day” when cemetery plots were sold they were passed through the male line.

In other words, the oldest son inherited the plot, then his oldest son and so on.

If a son had no son, as in your nephew’s case, then the plot would go to the next oldest son, or his oldest son. Kind of like how royalty and the aristocracy in Europe passed on estate and titles. 

That is no longer the case, of course. According to Raymond, ownership now passes to all the children equally.

Raymond also noted that your nephew need not continue to be the owner of the plot and can assign it to another family member.

To do this, first contact your nephew and see if he’s willing to transfer the plot. If so, the cemetery can supply the appropriate form, which your nephew will need to sign in front of a notary public in Hawaii.

The next question will then be: Who wants the plot? Hopefull this decision will not lead to more problems.

Readers, please note that what Sun Spots has written here applies only to St Peter’s Cemetery. Each cemetery has its own rules.

The nice lady who answered the phone at Fortin Funeral Homes in Lewiston said she could provide contact information for local cemeteries. Other funeral homes could help as well, since they all must regularly coordinate burials with cemetery officials.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Healthy Androscoggin is joining with Team Red, White, and Blue and Tri-County Mental Health Services for Make A Difference Day.

We will be collecting items for care packages to go to the 133rd Engineering Battalion of the Maine National Guard. Collection is from Oct. 15 to Nov 1.

HA and TCMHS will be the drop-off points. HA is located in the back on the lower level parking lot of YWCA in Lewiston. Jerry DeWitt’s office at TCMHS will be used.

Items needed are travel-size personal hygiene items, single-serving individually wrapped snacks, gum, candy, small stuffed animals or toys, foot powder, hunting-type socks, hand warmers, gift cards to use online, personally written letters or cards. stationary, cards, stamps, and canned or instant meals.

Monetary donations can be made to Team RWB to help with shipping of care packages. Also on Nov 1 a drive-by drop-off will be held in the lower level YWCA parking lot as an alternative for those wanting to drop and go.

We will accept any Halloween candy or listed items. Let’s make a difference, Androscoggin County! Thank you for supporting our troops. — Gigi Tharpe, tharpegi@cmhc.org, 207-795-2545

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

Copy the Story Link