Ken begs to be buried next to wife

WIDOWER Ken Stark's only wish is to be buried next to his wife. However, a regulation by the Somerset Regional Council is denying him that.

Ken Stark of Raceview is devastated that he is not allowed to be buried next to his wife at the Lowood General Cemetery. . Picture: David Nielsen

KEN Stark’s only wish is to be buried next to his wife.

However, a regulation by the Somerset Regional Council is denying him that.

Mr Stark’s wife, Jenny, passed away earlier this month, and was interred in the Lowood General Cemetery, where many of the pair’s relatives have been buried.

When arranging the plot for his wife, Mr Stark requested to purchase the one next to it, in order to secure a burial next to his beloved Jenny.

However, he was denied by a council regulation.

“It just beggars belief,” he said.

“Because I’m alive I can’t buy it, but if I died tonight I’d be able to be buried next to my wife.”

Mr Stark said he could barely believe the council policy when he was told.

“It’s got to be changed,” he said.

“It’s the last thing a grieving partner wants to hear.”

Ken and Jenny Stark moved out of the Lowood area in the late ’70s for work in Ipswich but maintained strong family ties with the area, with Mr Stark estimating 19 of his family members were buried in the Lowood cemetery.

“It’s not like it’s running out of room,” Mr Stark said of the cemetery.

Mr Stark said he would fight to have the rules changed so it didn’t cause the same grief to others.

“I’m not going to let this rest,” he said.. “I’m going to fight on for a spouse’s right to be buried beside their loved one.”

Somerset Regional Council chief executive officer Robert Bain said the policy came about after a number of people chose not to be buried in reserved plot.

“It caused a lot of angst,” he said. “People wouldn’t take up their reserve, and then heirs felt they could use it and there were disputes.”

Mr Bain said he did not believe the council could reacquire the plots if the deceased was not interred in it.

“How do I compulsorily acquire something from someone who is dead?” he said.

Mr Bain said while the council was honouring previous arrangements it would not be reserving grave sites in the future.

Originally published as Ken begs to be buried next to wife