Aug. 22, 2002 article in the Ste. Genevieve Suntimes News

Aug. 22, 2002

Archdiocese apologizes for way graves were removed

ST. LOUIS – The Archdiocese of St. Louis is apologizing for the way the recent relocation of some graves in the St. Philomena Cemetery in Bloomsdale was handled.

The graves were moved to make way for an expansion of the St. Agnes School. However, instead of removing each of the graves individually, the entire section of the cemetery was dug using a bulldozer and the human remains were dumped into a mass grave, along with the grave markers.

One of those concerned about the way the situation was handled is Joan Eydmann. She says some of the remains were not buried very deeply and subsequent rains have exposed what are believed to be bone fragments and rosaries as well as pieces of the caskets.

Msgr. Richard Stika, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of St. Louis issued the following statement:

"The Archdiocese of St. Louis regrets that a portion of a parish cemetery in Ste. Genevieve County was moved in a manner that leaves no markers to identify persons who had been buried in the space which the parish needed for a school expansion. Having recently been made aware of this situation and the concern it has caused for the descendants of persons buried at St. Agnes Cemetery in Bloomsdale, the Archdiocese is pleased to fund the construction and installation of a monument that will mark the names, and dates of persons who had been buried at the site.

I have asked Monsignor Robert L. McCarthy, the director of the Catholic Cemeteries of St. Louis, to make arrangements to have the monument built and installed. Father Raymond J. Oge, the pastor of St. Agnes Church, will assist with preparing the information needed from parish records and from descendants of those buried in the portion of the cemetery, which was moved.

Christian burial is a sacred rite that should be supported by perpetual stewardship. As such, it is only fitting that a memorial should be constructed that will mark the burial spot of Catholic forbearers in Ste. Genevieve County who helped to build a vibrant church there."

There were nearly 100 graves relocated and headstones destroyed when the old part of the St. Philomena cemetery was moved in July.

A volunteer group is being formed to identify the graves, which were removed, so that the names can be placed on the monument, which the archdiocese has agreed to place over the area where the remains were reburied.

This is a list of the graves, which were removed: [NOTE: The following list was taken from an email posting by the webmaster. The asterisk* indicates that a photo of the lost headstone appears on this web site.]

1. Basler, Carolyn ( Oct. 11, 1882-Aug 17, 1891) "Gone To Be An Angel"
2. Beauert/Beaveri, Crescentia (Jun 4, 1811 -Dec 26, 1887) wife of Tho's Stoetzle
3. * Boyer, beloved dau. of J.L. & M. Boyer (Dec 22, 1872 - Jan 27, 1873)
4. *Boyer, Felicien (1839 - Mar 21, 1870) [wife of Jacob]
5. Boyer, Josephine M. (Oct. 1, 1862 - June 14, 1894) wife of Louis J. Boyer
6. *Boyer, John L. Jr. ( Feb 21, 1832 - Jun 23, 1859)
7. Boyer, L. ( - Jan 1, 1902)
8. *Boyer, Leocadie (Sep 30, 1852 - Nov 12, 1874) wife of Louis Boyer
9. *Boyer, Martha M. (Sep 6, 1834 - Nov 22, 1910) beloved wife of Jacob Boyer
10. Boyer, Phelomina (Jan 28, 1861 - Sep 7, 1893) wife of Wm. Boyer
11. *Boyer, Reine (Aug 12, 1834/7 - Jul 1, 1859) wife of Edward Boyer
12. *Boyer, Richard F. (Nov 11, 1871 - Mar 10, 1933/53)
13. *Caliot, Melanie (Sep 14, 1804 - Apr 14, 1880) wife of John Caliot
14. *Carron, Malone (Dec 11, 1810 - Jun 12, 1880) wife of Joseph Carron; "May She Rest In Peace"
15. *Carron, Damase G. (Apr 27, 1861 - May 15, 1862)
16. Carron, Effie L.( - 1894)
17. *Carron, Ellen (Apr 9, 1855 - Mar 25, 1883)
18. *Carron, Frank J. (Sep 16, 1833 - Jul 19, 1875) "May He Rest In Peace"
19. Carron, H. L. (Jun 6, 1881 - May 5, 1899)
20. Carron, Jessie L. ( - 1894)
21. *Carron, John (May 6, 1832 - Dec 6, 1901) "Eternal rest Grant Him, O Lord, And Let Eternal Light Shine On Him. May He Rest In Peace. Amen"
22. *Carron, John C. (May 20, 1858 - Aug 31, 1866)
23. *Carron, John J. O. (Oct 10, 1865 - Jun 8, 1866)
24. Carron, Leon J. (Nov 24, 1870 - Nov 20, 1882) "The Christian son, By death set free, The parents left sad-hearted; In Heaven shall reunited be, And never more be parted."
25. *Carron, Mary Ann (1819 - Feb 25, 1897)
26. *Carron, Mary O. C. (Jun 13, 1863 - Aug 25, 1866)
27. *Carron, Mary P. J. (Feb 2, 1865 - Aug 25, 1866)
28. *Carron, Matilda (Aug 10, 1822 - Apr 14, 1894)
29. Carron, Odile Diana ( - 1894)
30. Carron, Pelagie (Jul 1, 1840 - Dec 24, 1895)
31. *Carrow, Emely (Sep 19, 1847 - Sep 1, 1872) dau. of Joseph & Malandy Carrow
32. *Drury, Caroline (Dec 29, 1861 - Jul 21, 1934) [Caroline Hermann Drury, wife of Cyrus Drury]
33. *Drury, Clothilde (Mar 22, 1838 - July 31, 1880) wife of Michael [V.] Drury [Clothile Calliot Dury]
34. *Drury, Cyrus (Jan 18, 1859 - Sep 24, 1915)
35. *Drury, Dora Melanie (Apr 2, 1880 - Aug 25, 1896) dau. of M.V. & C. Drury, _____pled of John Drury
36. *Drury, John B. (Feb 1, 1823 - Apr 10, 1901)
37. *Drury, Mary O. (Dec 4, 1804 - Dec 19, 1878) wife of John Drury, Sr. [Mary Olympe Placet Drury, founders of Bloomsdale]
38. *Drury, Mary C. (May 2, 1831 - Jan 25, 1903) wife of Clem Drury [Mary Cornelia Carron Drury]
39. Ehler, Valentine T. (Aug 15, 1896 - Nov 23, 1819) "A little time on earth he spent, Till God for him his angel sent."
40. Grass, Florence J. (May 10, 1916 - Jul 26, 1917) dau. of P.F. & S. Grass "Gone to be an angel"
41. Grundmeyer, John A. (Apr 17, 1892 - Aug 11, 1893) son of H. A. & C. G. Grundmeyer
42. Hassel, Msgr. Henry (Aug 30, 1873 - Dec 18, 1955) pastor of St. Philomena Church for 46 years;
43. *Hermann, Regina (Jan 17, 1858 - July 26, 1869)
44. Jokerst, Barnard (Nov 2, 1849 - Apr 14, 1894) husband of P. J. Jokerst, "Farewell my wife and children all; From you a father Christ does call; Mourn not for me, it is in vain; To call me to your sight again."
45. Jokerst, Pauline (May 4, 1860 - Jul 10, 1882)
46. Jokerst, Rosine P. (Mar 9, 1882 - Oct 15, 1890) "Hier ruht in Gott" "Die Liebern die der Tod getrennt vereint der Himmel wieder."
47. Kertz, Appolonia (Aug 8, 1832 - Jun 10, 1907) wife of John "We labored together, We rest together, Asleep in Jesus, Blessed sleep."
48. Kertz, John (Jun 18, 1831 - May 30, 1896)
49. Lakebrink, Rev. John (Oct 31, 1891 - July 6, 1974) pastor of Holy Martyrs Church of Japan 1925-1949; SS. Philip & James Church 1949-1963
50. Lalumondier, Adolph (1842 - 1914) father
51. Lalumondier, Clotilda (1847-1930) mother
52.*Lalumondier, Louis (Jan 30, 1813 - Feb 8, 1872)
53. *Lalumondier, Palagia (Feb 7, 1818 - May 10, 1896) wife of Louis Lalumondier [Pelagie Boyer Lalumondier]
54. Lalumondier, Rosamon (Jul 27, 1861 - Jan 4, 1889)
55. LaRose, Louis, Jr. (Nov 15, 1849 - Dec 22, 1881)
56. LaRose, Vital (May 22, 1840 - Dec 25, 1893)
57. LaRose, Cora (Aug 11, 1865 - Mar 26, 1900) wife of Felix LaRose
58. LaRose, Elizabeth (Jan 9, 1873 - Apr 1, 1960) wife of Felix
59. LaRose, Felicity (Feb 10, 1856 - Sep 20, 1881)
60. LaRose, Felix (Jan 13, 1856 - Oct 5, 1940) buried with Elizabeth
61. LaRose, Laura (Jan 13, 1859 - Nov 13, 1883) wife of Felix
62. LaRose, Julie (Aug 5, 1821 - Jul 29, 1897)
63. LaRose, Mary V. (Mar 3, 1846 - Jan 23, 1897) wife of V.P. LaRose
64. *LaRose, Louis, Sr. (Mar 2, 1818 - Apr 20, 1900)
65. Ledeur, Francis (Jun 13, 1816 - Apr 27, 1874) "A father kind, A husband dear, A faithful friend, Lies buried here"
66. Cherlevill, Jule (Nov 30, 1851 - Sep 25, 1902)
67. Loida, Annie M. (Jun 7, 1888 - Jun 14, 1888)
68. Morice, Frank (1854 - 1934)
69. Morice, Mrs. Louis A. (Oct 25, 1857 - Apr 18, 1894) "Our mother"
70. Mudock, James (Jun 15, 1800 - Nov 30, 1882)
71. *Placite, Ambrose (Apr 4, 1844 - Oct 25, 1914) "R.I.P."
72. *Plaset, Mursleat (Oct, 1825 - Apr 8, 1896) wife of Isaac Plaset
73. Primo, Emily (Aug 26, 1861 - Mar 13, 1881)
74. Primo, Peter C. (Nov 18, 1892 - Mar 9, 1893) son of Peter J. & Emily S. Primo
75. Primo, Julia C. (Apr 25, 1873 - Jul 6, 1849) dau. of P. & M. O. Primo
76. Primo, Mary P. (Nov 29, 1872 - Sep 24, 1873) Dau. of P. J. & E. S. Primo
77. Primo, Peter (Feb 28, 1821 - Jun 5, 1898)
78. Rosi, Father Aloysius ( - 1853)
79. Schweiss, Frank X. (Aug 31, 1871 - Jan 28, 1899)
80. Spalding, Bennett (Aug, 1801 - May 19, 1863)
81. Spalding, Peliza (1807 - Mar 1, 1850) wife of Bennett Spalding
82. Sucher, Katherina (Oct 5, 1854 - Sep 5, 1898) "Mother, thou wast mild and lovely, Gentle as the summer breeze"
83. Sucher, Mary T. (Sep 8, 1877 - Feb 9, 1894) "Here rests in peace"
84. Thomure, Clalie M. (Mar 25, 1853 - Sep 19, 1919)
85. *Thomure, Juliet (Jul 4, 1835 - Apr 8, 1894)
NOTE: the following were not listed in the church filings in court, but were between the stones removed and so also are now missing; included in these would be five stones unreadable when the church filed their court
papers:
86. Unknown ( Nov 17, 1902)
87. Kirchner, Katharina (Mar 5, 1858 - Jan 20, 1901)
88. Hipes, Bartley (1827 - 1902) "Dearest father we loved thee"
89. Jokerst , Louisa J. (Nov. 23, 1875 - Apr 17, 1895)
90. LaBruyer, Effie F. (Aug 31, 1882 - Nov 18, 1894) dau. of Louis & Diana LaBruyer
91. Kennedy, John Franklin (Feb 5, 1886 - Jun 6, 1887)
92. Boyer, Cornelia M. (Jan 28, 1854 - Nov 24, 1888) wife of Alexis H. Boyer
93. Carron, Infant of John & Mary
94. Primo, Felista (Aug 9, 1858 - Dec 31, 1876) dau of Peter & Mary Olimp. Primo
95. Sucher, Sophia (May 15, 1843 - Feb 13, 1870)
96. Labruyere, H. J. (Dec 31, 1844)

NOTE: The following 5 markers were apparently moved to a new location; the remaining 91 on the
above list were buried in the mass grave.
1. Cyrus and Caroline Hermann Drury
2. John & Clotilda Drury
3. Father Lakebrink
4. Felix & Elizabeth LaRose
5. Father Rosi

Aug. 28, 2002 article in the Ste. Genevieve Herald

Letter to the Editor of the Ste. Genevieve Herald

Aug. 23, 2002 transcription of news broadcast on KFVS TV 12 news

We are hoping to establish guidelines to help protect cemetery stones for future generations. Please check this page for updates, or join the Ste. Genevieve Genealogy email-list, the Missouri Cemeteries email-list or the Missouri Cemetery Preservation email-list.