Forgotten Souls Laid to Rest
On Thursday, November 8, 2018 under blue skies and an autumn breeze, the Chester County Coroner's Office interred, at Philadelphia Memorial Park in Frazer, the cremains of 52 individuals who did not have any next-of-kin or whose next-of-kin would not or could not take responsibility for them.
The Rev. Robert Garrett led the assembled group in a non-denominational ceremony. Coroner Christina VandePol, M.D. spoke at the ceremony saying she wanted to honor the lives of the individuals who have been left in the care of the Coroner's office. Music was provided by Carter, Hill & Hobson, a blue-grass combo and by West Chester University music professor Mark Rimpel. Flowers were provided by Philadelphia Memorial Park and by Peter Urscheler, Mayor of Phoenixville.
The names of the 52 individuals were read in turn by Coroner Christina VandePol, Deputy Coroner Maryanne Higbee, Office Manager Patty Emmons and Phoenixville Mayor Peter Urscheler. The ceremony was attended by several Chester County elected officials, staff from the Coroner's office and staff from Chester County Henrietta Hankin Library.