Liz: I might be TOTALLY wrong, but I think the plot belongs to the heirs of the person listed in the record as the plot owner. The one your great-aunt owned should be the property of your great-aunt's direct heirs. But "possession of the cemetery deed" is also important. My great-grandmother's brother-in-law bought a plot at Genola Rural Cemetery in East Northport in 1896, when his mother-in-law, my great-great-grandmother, died. She was the first one buried in the plot. {1896}. The owner of the plot died next - around 1902 - my great-grandmother & her sister, widow of the original owner, both died in 1935 & both were buried in the plot. Eventually, the deed came to my great-aunt. Her son gave it to my mother; we used it in 1992 when my mother died. I have it here in Maryland. The originally 1896 purchaser died w/out an children. In 114 years since 1896, the deed itself served to allow numerous burials for members of our family line - my mother in 1992 being the last person buried in the plot. There is still some room in the plot, I believe. David Roberts Hollywood, Md. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Elizabeth Martinez-Gibson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 10:21 AM Subject: [NAS] Cemetery plots > > Hi Everyone. > > > > I have a question and it is something that I have been wondering, but it is purely curiosity...I've been to several different cemeteries where my grandfather and great grandparents are buried. My grandfather's plot is in the L.I. National Cemetery and it was meant for two burials...my grandfather and my grandmother. They were divorced and most likely, if she is even alive (I have yet to find her), she would not be buried with him. This past summer, I went out to St. Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx, where one of my greatgrandmother's is buried. At the cemetery, I was told that the gravesite is three deep, but only my ggrandmother is buried there. The plot is listed as being owned by her daughter, my gr-aunt, who is also deceased. So there are two graves that belong to the family. My other ggrandparents are in East Hillside Cemetery near Glen Cove. The caretaker told me that there was one more site that belonged to the family. I don't know who in the family owns that one. My q! > uestion is, if the owner of the plot is deceased, can a family member claim the remaining gravesites? > > Again, I am just curious and wondering if anyone else has dealt with this type of situation. I am not looking to gain possession for my own burial (I don't live in NY anymore), but what if there were family members that could not afford a plot...and this space, bought by ancestors, exists. I, personally would at least like to be listed as a next of kin in case any other family members are out there looking for my family. Just wondering...any thoughts? > Liz