Catholic Cemeteries

William Howard and Jodi Howard filed the proposed class-action suit Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging breach of contract, negligence and fraud.The lawsuit does not state the relationship, if any, between the plaintiffs, whose attorney, Jeffrey Spencer, could not be immediately reached.The suit seeks unspecified damages, plus the creation of a trust so that any wrongfully obtained monies can be returned to the class plaintiffs.An archdiocese spokeswoman said the lawsuit has not yet been served so she had no comment on its allegations, but she issued a general statement about Catholic cemeteries.“The care of our burial grounds is a priority for our Catholic cemeteries as a ministry of the church,” the statement read. “Catholic cemeteries, as religious ministries, are not required under state law to create a financial reserve for an endowment care fund. However, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles voluntarily maintains a designated fund that is equivalent to what is required by state law to ensure the perpetual care and maintenance of the final resting places of our Catholic faithful.”According to the lawsuit, San Fernando Mission Cemetery is the burial location of William Howard’s parents and brother as well as Jodi Howard’s sister and grandparents.Burial contracts with the archdiocese call for 15 percent of the amounts paid to be devoted to cemetery maintenance, the suit states.However, the archdiocese is failing to use the cemetery maintenance fund monies at its burial grounds, leaving them “desecrated” and “in a state of disrepair and neglect,” according to the complaint.The gravesites are covered in weeds and  grave markers have been lost, damaged or removed, the suit alleges.“Plaintiffs … cannot locate the gravesites of their decedents …,” the suit states. “There can be no peace of mind or assurance of a dignified and respectful final resting place … due to defendants’ misconduct.”...

A number of the grave markers have sunk in recent weeks. Some markers, which lie flush with the ground, have tilted back and in a few cases the ground beneath the markers has given way and the stones have fallen into cavities below.“I’m concerned about my wife but I feel bad for all these other people,” Lopez, a Chino resident, said, referring to the grave of Erlinda Lopez, which is near some of the damaged graves.According to the Los Angeles Archdiocese, groundskeepers are repairing the damage caused by recent storms. It also reassured the public that the cemetery and others under care of the church will be tended to diligently.“We want to assure our patrons that our cemeteries will continue the steadfast care of the resting places of their loved ones,” archdiocese spokeswoman Adrian Alarcon said in a statement.Chino resident Cheryl Besink said she noticed the problem at the cemetery some time after Christmas, following one of the first winter storms.Some of the markers have been adjusted but the damage affecting other graves and markers appears to have increased, Besink said.Besink, who was a close friend of Erlinda Lopez, said she is concerned by the number of graves where it looks like the ground is settling.Roy Lopez said he has contacted cemetery personnel and has been told that the damage will be repaired.“It’s frustrating, the way they keep the cemetery and are not doing anything about the situation,” he said.The majority of the affected markers, at least two dozen, are in the southwestern portion of the facility. There are others damaged throughout the cemetery. The cemetery consists of about 40 acres of which about 23 are developed, according to the cemetery’s website.Holy Cross’ manager, Olga Medina, said Wednesday she was not at liberty to discuss the matter and referred questions to the Los Angeles Archdiocese.Holy Cross is part of Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries, a ministry of the church, according to its website.Caring for the cemeteries is of great importance to the archdiocese,...

Eustace A. Hermes, 99, passed away Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. The fourth of nine children of Steve and Mary Huehlefeld Hermes, he was born Jan. 21, 1917, in Koerth. He entered St. John’s Seminary, San Antonio, in September 1930 and was ordained a priest June 12, 1941, at San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio. Parishes he served include St. Rose of Lima, Schulenburg; Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ganado; and St. Mary’s, Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Victory, all in Victoria.After medical retirement from full-time parish service, he remained involved in non-parish priestly ministry for many years. He was especially active in the Knights of Columbus, the Serra Club of Victoria (religious vocations), the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and the Victoria Catholic Cemeteries, of which he was a long-time director. He was named a Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) by Pope John Paul II on May 16, 2001.Monsignor’s survivors include his beloved cousin Elizabeth Hoffer and six nephews, four nieces and their families. Visitation began at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016 at Rosewood Funeral Chapel, Victoria, with vigil and rosary at 6 p.m. The funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016 at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral followed by entombment in Resurrection Mausoleum. The principal celebrant of the funeral Mass was Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, assisted by priests of the Dioceses of Victoria. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.