When I first learned of this travesty it was when my ex-husband, common-law for 7 years Richard Joseph Mills passed away early in August (3 years ago this August 3rd 2010 at 3:03pm~We are now Nov 2021). Joey, like many others in the AA section, were ODSP recipients and buried at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. He, as hundreds of other ODSP/O.W recipients, he was buried with an alloted amount of funds which included the plot, a “marker”, funeral service and burial casket. All of which was to be provided by government aid and handled through Ontario Works (O.W) and Darte Funeral home in St Catharines. Joey; as he was most widely recognized as, is now buried in an unmarked grave making it impossible for people to adequately visit Joey's (or others) grave site in order to pay their respects. I, myself have gone to great lengths in trying to remedy this situation, but have been shuttled around between numerous organizations including the Funeral Parlor that did the service. When Joey passed away, by default his sister Susan Mills became the acting authority throughout the funeral process, even though he was survived by his Son and daughter the main beneficiaries. Susan has been of no help. As it comes around to the third year (11 years currently) of his passing, I have to wonder about the nam y others as well as he that are now to have peace. It is a terrible thing for someone who was so loved, to be without a gravestone or a simple marker for visitation purposes. I will again write our local MP concerning this initiative. It's obvious to anyone that cares to visit the site where they lay, there is no discerning marker that even shows the area where they are buried. Each time, to locate Joey is heartbreaking. Walking through the cemetary with a rudimentary graph map that only brings me within a possible 5-7 ft of where Joey truly lays. Pacing and counting back and forth, walking over all these forgotten souls is quite saddening and to do this every year is a daunting task. It is some thing I would rather not have to do again and wish others could avoid such ordeals as well. Unfortunately at Victoria Lawn Cemetary, there are many in un-marked graves, most of which were ODSP recipients themselves. I can only speak for a few of the deceased that I knew personally and the families that now wonder where there loved one lay. I hope that with some help and awareness from the public that this can change and "needs" to change. It’s not just for Joey but for all whom lay in these unmarked graves. All I want is to be able to pay my repects to him properly and to have that for other families as well. To have the comfort of laying flowers upon their families graves, knowing without a doubt that they are beneath the marker that they paid for and so deserve.
