Excitement at the cemetery

Widower with walker cannot visit his wife’s grave

Poorly constructed paths make it difficult to visit the cemetery

(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

Since a widower is dependent on a walker, he can no longer visit the grave of his deceased wife because there is no safe and easily accessible path to the urn. Those responsible say that such a path is not being planned, unless the family bears the costs. 

Although new urn graves are constantly being dug at the Maria Straßengel urn cemetery in the Graz-Umgebung district, the associated access paths are no longer being created. "This has meant that my father, who is dependent on a walking frame, can no longer visit the grave of his deceased wife," the widower's daughter told "Krone". 

Beaten path at the urn cemetery

(Bild: ZVG)

Created gravel path at the urn cemetery

(Bild: ZVG)

The urn graves at the Maria Straßengel mountain cemetery are located on a meadow on a slope. In the lower rows, simple gravel access paths lead to the graves. In the rows higher up, however, where the grave of the family in question is located, no paths have been laid out. Instead, tall grass makes it difficult to reach the graves. It is also slippery when it rains.

Years before her father needed a walking aid, the Judendorf native tried to get the people in charge to change their minds. In vain. "When we chose the grave, we didn't know that there would be no more paths there."

Risk of falling and exclusion of elderly, frail people
The family concerned is not only concerned about their personal situation. Above all, it is important to them that the increased risk of falling is reduced and that elderly and disabled people are once again able to walk to the graves. 

My wish is that those responsible will rethink the situation and create the missing paths. Then my father would also be able to visit the grave of his deceased wife, to whom he was married for almost 65 years.

Tochter des Witwers

Cynical response instead of concession 
The widower's daughter also contacted the ombudsman of the Graz-Seckau diocese. He tried to mediate and informed her that a lawyer would contact her with more detailed information. Three months later, she received a letter from the law firm stating that there was no need for legal action. However, the family could pay for the trip themselves.

Officials from the Diocese of Graz-Seckau, who are already involved in the case, were not available for comment on Friday.