“Cardinals appear when angels are near.” InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels.

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Tentative plans for a price increase at Oakwood Cemetery are in the works, although the rate has not yet been determined.

Oakwood Sexton Hal Heagy made the announcement during the Oakwood Board of Regents meeting Thursday, June 4.

If approved, this will be the first price increase at the cemetery since 2015. 

Another change at the cemetery will involve putting lots that had been “on hold” back up for sale.

“I’ve always felt that a spouse needs to be next to their loved one,” Heagy said. “But they’re not really coming back and paying for them. I have some from 2012, 2016 and I had one lady come in and said she’s remarried and moved.”

There are no headstones on these lots because the lots must be paid for before a stone can be placed.

“Worst case, the spouse will have to be cremated and put on top,” Heagy said. “I’m not talking one or two…we’re talking several. I’m going to guess it’s over 50.”

The rule is that the lots are to be paid for within 60 days, but Heagy said they have always been lenient and willing to extend the deadline; however, some of the lots have been on hold for years with no follow-up.

The cemetery will attempt to contact those affected prior to putting the lots up for sale, but Heagy cautioned they do not have current phone numbers for everyone.

In another matter, the lack of a quorum once again delayed an official vote on a co-mingling cremains vault request. Earlier this year, Heagy received a request for an underground full-size vault that would contain ashes from various family members.

Because all board members have voiced support for the request, Heagy plans to proceed with the co-mingling vault request and board members will officially approve by vote at a later time. 

In other news:

• The local VFW is making a $500 donation to Oakwood Cemetery.
• Plans for a cold storage building have been postponed until next year due to material delays.
• The cemetery is replacing two angel statues that were destroyed while mowing. 
• Ken Locke from the Salvation Army led a Memorial Day event at the cemetery chapel. About 150 people attended. 
• The next regular meeting will be 5 p.m. July 1.