Embattled Cemetery Wins Contract For Indigent Burials
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The same cemetery that has been handling indigent burials for Cook County will continue to do so despite earlier criticisms of its operations.
The Homewood Memorial Gardens Cemetery submitted the lowest bid of the cemeteries eligible to take part in the process, and it's going to charge the county more.
The will charge $474 per body as opposed to the former rate of $289.
The cemetery had previously been criticized by Sheriff Tom Dart for what he called appalling conditions--including the stacking of remains, leaving caskets in a chapel for days and burying more than a dozen fetuses and infants in a single casket.
Cook County Medical Examiner, Dr. Stephen Cina told county commissioners that he has personally inspected the cemetery and found conditions much improved.
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