Story Archive

Unwanted Neighbors

Since Mahassen Charara died at age 45, her husband, Abdul, visited her grave annually on the anniversary of her death. Fifteen years later, he was shocked to find a stranger buried next to her — where Abdul had purchased a plot to be buried. It took a lawsuit to force United Memorial Gardens in Plymouth, Mich., to move the coffin and restore the family plot to the Chararas. Four years later, Abdul has found another stranger buried there, with dirt from the burial covering Mahassen’s grave. The Chararas’ lawyer said the cemetery has a history of “disastrous record-keeping” which likely led to the mix-ups. He stressed that they will sue again if the problem isn’t corrected. Abdul’s daughter, Waad Charara, says she feels even worse for the family who will now have to move their loved one to another gravesite. “It’s heart-wrenching,” she said. “If the other family doesn’t want to move their loved one, what are we supposed to do? Either way, somebody is going to get hurt.” (MS/Washington Post) ...Too late.