A remarkable day: loved ones watch the burial of the remains of 27 indigent people at Riverside Cemetery in Billings
The cremated remains of 27 indigent people were interred Thursday at the Riverside County Cemetery in Billings Heights.
And if it weren't for Yellowstone County Commissioners, some of those remains would still be lying unclaimed on a shelf in a funeral home.
The commissioners held a burial ceremony at the cemetery, attended by loved ones grateful for the gesture.
Among them was Heather Pearson, who dearly misses her 55-year-old uncle, David George.
"He'll make sure I'm not homeless, starving or anything like that," Pearson says.
David George's final resting place is in Riverside Cemetery.
George died last August but was never laid to rest, so Pearson and her family were never able to bid him farewell. Until Thursday.
"It's very important to us because, truth be told, a lot of people hit a brick wall when it comes to their loved ones or their ability to get closure," Pearson adds.
The remains of George and 26 others were placed in the Cremation Garden at the cemetery. Some no longer had living relatives, and others simply could not afford funerals.
Heather Pearson pays tribute to her uncle, David George.
"I was also reminded that just because you die with little to no resources doesn't mean you should be buried in a pauper's cemetery," said former Yellowstone County Commissioner Jim Reno.
In 2010, Reno noticed that Riverside Cemetery was in complete disarray.
"You remember how many weeds and stuff were here, it was just awful," Reno added.
Reno made sure the cemetery was properly maintained, and because of that, former Yellowstone County Commissioner Dennis Pitman came up with the annual event held Thursday.
Former Yellowstone County Commissioner Dennis Pittman
"I had a case not too long ago where some people broke into a rented apartment and found cremated remains there," says Pitman, the funeral director.
Pitman helped create the program eight years ago after seeing the abandoned remains lying in funeral home closets.
"We've had husbands and wives with family members sitting on shelves, we're talking 10 to 20 years," Pitman added.
By cremating remains, Pitman said, they can inexpensively place more people in the cemetery.
Joe Aguilar has been the cemetery caretaker since this program began.
The caretaker of Riverside Cemetery, Joe Aguilar.
"Being a Marine and taking care of people. To me, just because they passed away doesn't mean they weren't once people," Aguilar said.
Aguilar makes sure the cemetery is well cared for, whether it's cutting the grass or covering the remains.
"That's why I do what I do. To honor both the fallen and the living. To the families," Aguilar says.
When the remains are covered, he will help the Marine Corps League place plaques on the graves.
It's community service that allows families like Pearson's to find peace.
"They're just sleeping. We let them sleep, they're still with us. And they had such a great day. They wouldn't want it any other way," Pearson says.
Former Yellowstone County Commissioner Jim Reno
Reno hopes the public can help with several issues. The first concerns the Eagle Project garden bed at the cemetery.
"I just have a request, if there is a group of gardeners who would like to take on this endeavor. We'll provide the land, we'll provide the water," Reno said.
He is also hoping to find a welder to fix the outdated archway at the cemetery. If you are interested, contact the Yellowstone County Commissioner's office .