OUTRAGED and upset locals are calling for “a bit more respect” following numerous thefts at the Millicent Lawn Cemetery.
Reports of stolen items have been common in recent weeks, bringing fresh pain to grieving families and individuals.
Among those affected is Mount Gambier woman Lynette D’Onghia.
Ms D’Onghia’s late mother Kathleen Watts passed away three years ago and was laid to rest at the Millicent cemetery.
In celebration of Easter and in memory of her mother, Ms D’Onghia had a granite vase with red and white artificial roses specially made to be placed for permanency.
However, just 10 days later and to her disappointment she noticed the vase was stolen.
“I am extremely disappointed the flower arrangement has been removed,” Ms D’Onghia said.
“I hope that whoever stole it finds it in their heart to return it to my mum’s resting place.”
Millicent local Dick Watts, husband of the late Mrs Watts and father of Ms D’Onghia, also expressed his anger.
“I am absolutely disgusted that someone could stoop that low by removing the special arrangement we had placed for Easter,” he said.
Previous complaints relating to the issue of theft at the cemetery had been made by a K. Davies of Millicent, in the April 5 edition of The South Eastern Times.
In a letter to the editor Davies questioned the thieves’ motive.
“One would believe that a cemetery is a place where common decency would prevail, apparently not,” they wrote.
“That you, whoever you are, would steal a light and anything else that takes your fancy is a despicable thing to do.
“Are you too busy buying other things to illuminate your way that you feel the need to steal from the dead?
“Tending to a grave of someone that is loved is the last physical thing that anyone can do – it is private and sacred and you should not have your thieving fingers anywhere near it.”
Ms D’Onghia urges whoever took the memorial granite vase to return it to her late mother’s headstone.
