New Calvary Cemetery fund helps with last resort burials

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

A new fund has been established by Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City to provide the merciful act of offering a last resort burial option.

According to Jeff Zyzda, it was just a few weeks ago during a semi-annual board meeting for Calvary when the conversation turned toward the fact that some funeral homes have cremains in storage because they don’t know what to do with them.

During formation studies for the permanent diaconate, he learned about burying the dead being a corporal work of mercy.

“I told them if that’s not happening, I feel strongly that it’s our responsibility as a church – whether or not they are a Christian – to be a last resort for them,” said Zyzda, who will be ordained a deacon Aug. 1. He then came up with the idea of establishing a fund.

With seed money provided by the deacon candidate and his wife, the St. Benedict Joseph Labre Fund (SBJLF) was established and others are welcome to contribute to it.

Zyzda stressed the fact that this fund is not intended for families with financial hardships to bury a loved one “but is when there is no one claiming the body, no one advocating for them.” 

For instance, this fund could be utilized for the homeless when there are no known family members or financial resources.

“One of the roles of the diaconate is charity,” he noted. “I can’t think of a more charitable act than to take care of the remains of someone who may never have known me and I may never have known them. But that doesn’t matter. That’s not the point.”

Providing the seed money was important to the Zyzdas because he helps to ensure that every human person is worthy of dignity, prayer and a respectful burial.

He credited Audrey Knapp, office manager of the cemetery, with doing research and coming up with the name of fund. St. Benedict Joseph Labre was a French saint known as the “Beggar of Rome” who lived as a pilgrim, choosing radical poverty and prayer. Often homeless, he died poor and alone but the church recognized his holiness. The patron saint of the homeless, poor and pilgrims lived 1748-1783.

Calvary Cemetery, noted Knapp, does not have a designated potter’s field that will be used for these burials.“We use graves throughout the cemetery that have been donated by individuals for use by the needy,” she said.

Zyzda pointed out that the new SBJLF will help offset costs associated with the burials. With that in mind, he invites others to make a modest contribution to the fund because every human person is worthy of dignity, prayer and a respectful burial.

He stressed that fact that they are not looking to raise a large amount of money, just a modest $5,000 to $10,000 so the cemetery does not have to take a loss.

Given that the fund has just been established, he anticipates they will produce more marketing materials with a QR code directing them to online donations. For now, those interested in giving to this fund, can mail checks to the Diocese of Sioux City, Calvary Cemetery SBJL Fund, PO Box 3379, Sioux City, IA 51104.

Promoting respectful burials, said Zyzda, is not a new concept for the church. It is something that has been done since the early church.

Because this is often a hidden need, he said, this is something people don’t even think about. Many people including Catholics, the deacon candidate added, do not understand that remains should be buried.

“The Catholic Church teaches that every human body, once a temple of the Holy Spirit andJeff Zyzda  destined for resurrection, must be treated with profound reverence in death,” said Zyzda. “Though cremation is permitted provided, the remains are laid to rest in a sacred place and never scattered, divided, or kept as keepsakes. Human remains are not memorabilia, but the mortal remains of a person made in the image of God.”

He stressed the fact that how the dead are treated often aligns with beliefs about that human person.

“If the body is created by God, redeemed by Christ and destined for resurrection, it deserves reverence even in death,” said Zyzda. “Dignified burial proclaims that every life has worth, no one is forgotten, and death does not have the final word.”

Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City and all cemeteries of the diocese, he noted, are sacred places that are consecrated for the reverent burial of the faithful.

“These are holy sites set apart for prayer, remembrance and hope in the resurrection,” said Zyzda.

For questions about this fund or are in the Sioux City area and need to bury the remains of a loved one, contact Knapp at (712) 233-7511 or [email protected].

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