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| Jasen Sylvester Benwah |
Tuesday, August 5, 2003
CAPE ST GEORGE, NL.
Recently, while visiting Our Lady of the Cape Roman Catholic cementary in Marche's Point, I was alarmed to see bank erosion at the cementary getting very close to a row of about a dozen graves, including my great great grandmother Desiree Benoit.
While talking to relatives and residents living next to the cementary, I got a feeling that bank erosion has been an ongoing problem for decades. The old part of the grave yard next to the bank have already lost at least one row of graves to the ocean and maybe more. The yard's south side straggles a 75 foot high bank of gravel, covered on top by only a layer of top soil- overlooking St. George's Bay.
It seems that reinforcing the bank with concrete would cost many thousands of dollars, so the only logical alternative is to relocate the dozen graves to the opposite side of the yard, which, with community involvement would not cost as much. It involves notifying the RCMP, Dept of Health, digging new graves, digging up the existing graves, building plywood boxes for the remains to be moved and relocating the grave markers. Not such a tall order when the alternative is to see, possible by next year, human remains along the shoreline- as has happened before. The RCMP is currently in possession of 2 small human skulls and some bones that were recovered on the shore. These remains are currently unidentified and will need to be reburied at some point.
Most grave yards were and are not mapped out, so graves that lose their markers become unidentified. This is the case with some of the graves to be moved and Sister Gurtrude (in a telephone coversation last Wednesday, of Our Lady of the Cape Parish, asks family and relatives with any knowledge of the unidentified grave sites to please come forward with this information. She had been asked by a parishner last year about the emminent danger that the graves along the bank were in and has been working out the details since last winter. The planned move has not actually been finalized, but is expected to be done.
In a telephone conversation earlier last week with Sister Nicole, she related to me that this in fact is planned for August of this year, before her and Sister Gurtrude leave the area for good. Permission has already been granted by the families involved, the RCMP has been consulted with. I for one, wanted to see the graveyard committee take charge of this issue and deal with it accordingly. So, this is great news for all the descendants.
Most communities have a mixed past when it comes to neglecting it's dead. The old graveyard at the cape (located in the field of Archibal Kerfont) is no longer even properly marked. It is sad to see people not taking responsibility for their dead. I think at least a single large cross on the site would would be the minimum that would satisfy me. But, again, I say these things to bring an awareness that we need to take responsibility, and not to be just criticizing anyone in particular. I believe some of us need to be reminded of these concerns and for this reason I bring it to your attention.
There is also a small graveyard in a field owned by Terrance Benoit in Marche's Point. It is fenced and one can see gravestones from the road. I have heard of a grave site with 4 unmarked graves on property on the east side of Rouzes Brook, originally owned by the Leroux family and today owned by Alex Rouzes. Seniors remember the grave sites, but, the crosses are long since gone and they do not know who is buried there.
The De Grau graveyard has dozens and dozens of unmarked graves as do the Marche's Point graveyard because families have not properly maintained the grave markers. All local grave yards in Bay St. George are the same. Some our our ancestors must be very offended. It is not about money or costs- it's about a duty to our ancestors and taking the time to honour them.
Not everyone will be willing. Some will have no part of it. But, it should be noted that many gravesites are properly being looked after by the families and descendants and this should be consided an example to us all to follow. I commend them.
But, this issue is not about blame, it is about coming together and making it right. I really do not wish to offend anyone. People need to take the time and look after their ancestrial gravesites. It will require people donating their time and some money, and it must be undertaken. Count me in. I will be doing my part.
Jasen Benwah
Resident of De Grau, NL
© Copyright 2003 The Georgian
