When my Granddad who has Alzheimer’s and ill health does pass, we hoped to fulfill his longstanding wish: to be buried alongside my Gran in the double plot they had purchased together years ago, after she lost her battle to cancer. Their love was profound, and their desire was always to spend eternity side-by-side. Unfortunately, the path to honor this wish has been obstructed by a legal technicality that allows funeral directors to hold grave deeds in their own name, resulting in a barrier to families wishing to lay their loved ones to rest as they intended.

The pain of being unable to honor a loved one’s final wishes is immense and deeply distressing. It affects countless families across our region who face similar struggles.

Grave plots should be in the families name when purchased as part of a funeral package. When a grave plot is bought, it represents more than just a piece of land; it carries the weight of love, legacy, and final dreams. The current legislation that permits funeral directors to hold these deeds in their own names often contradicts the intentions of grieving families, leading to unnecessary heartache and legal hurdles.

It’s essential that we change this legislation to prohibit funeral directors from holding grave deeds in their own names for personal and professional gain, ensuring that the rights remain with the families who purchase them. By making this change, we can protect the sanctity of final resting places and respect the wishes of those who envisioned eternal rest beside their loved ones. Families should have the unquestionable right to decide on burial arrangements without interference.

This amendment is not only a necessary step but a moral imperative to safeguard our loved ones’ final wishes and our peace of mind. Join me in calling for legislative change to protect our rights, ensuring every family can fulfill their loved ones' last wishes without opposition. Please sign this petition to urge our lawmakers to act quickly on this critical issue. Your signature can bring comfort to many families like mine by preserving the dignity of loved ones’ final resting places.