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Archiver > NEW-ZEALAND > 2011-08 > 1314319460


From: "Sandra Shaw" <>
Subject: Re: [nz] Unrelated babies buried with man
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:44:30 +1000
References: <004f01cc62e7$c6457570$52d06050$@com.au> <CFA688211E694522AC0E7BAE199E3CAF@conae2b75dbceb><op.v0secjgvasahrn@martok-pc.optusnet.com.au>
In-Reply-To: <op.v0secjgvasahrn@martok-pc.optusnet.com.au>


It apparently was the custom to bury stillborn babies with another person to
save the cost of a funeral to the distraught parents.
My mother had a stillborn infant in 1940 and according to my mother the
midwife had told her that the baby was buried with a lady.
In the 1990's the largest local cemetery made known that they were creating
a memorial for stillborn infants.
I contacted the cemetery and found my sister's burial had been recorded in
the cemetery books under a surname only. I was asked if I was aware of what
my parents were going to name her and now the baby's Christian name has been
recorded.
In an area where many stillborn babies had been buried the cemetery
installed a large granite monument on which was inscribed the names of the
stillborn infants and their date of birth. Surrounding the monument a
beautiful garden was created with seating where families could visit.
The day the monument was opened there were many mothers, some in their 80's
and 90's, who attended the ceremony and it was apparent that they had never
forgotten the baby they had lost but were happy that the baby had now been
recognised. It was possible that this was the first time these mothers had
openly grieved for their baby.
Sandra




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