A widow is devastated after discovering her husband’s grave was mistakenly dug up, prompting an apology from the local council and undertaker.
Driffield: A council has apologized to a widow who was left “absolutely heartbroken” after she found out her husband’s grave was dug up by mistake. Jenny Thurlow, 74, was devastated when she discovered that her late husband Peter’s grave in Driffield Cemetery had been unearthed due to a mix-up.
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the undertaker expressed their regrets to Mrs. Thurlow, calling it a “miscommunication.” She shared her feelings with BBC News, saying, “When we got there and saw what it was like, I was crying. I just couldn’t get it out of my head.”
Mrs. Thurlow explained that her mother-in-law had passed away in November and was supposed to be buried in the same grave as her father-in-law. Unfortunately, due to a mix-up with the plot numbers, the grave containing her husband Peter was mistakenly dug up instead.
A spokesperson for the council mentioned they are still looking into the situation. They noted that there seemed to be a miscommunication between the family, the funeral directors, and the council regarding which grave was to be reopened. Thankfully, the mistake was caught before the funeral in December, allowing the correct plot to be used.
The undertaker also expressed their deep sorrow for the distress caused to Mrs. Thurlow and her family, stating that they followed all necessary procedures. This incident comes on the heels of another controversy where heavy machinery was seen driving over graves in a different cemetery, raising concerns about respect for the deceased.
