Justice for Justin: Help Us Rectify Cemetery Error

My name is Wendy Keller, and I am writing this with a heavy heart. This past October, my family experienced unimaginable pain. My beloved brother, Justin Keller, passed away unexpectedly after returning home from open-heart surgery. He was only 46 years old. In the midst of our grief, my mother, Julia, and I visited Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison to plan Justin’s burial next to my grandfather, Harold Long, a WWII veteran. What we found that day was beyond devastating.

The burial plots my mother purchased in 1966 were no longer ours. The three plots had been occupied by strangers’ headstones, and my grandfather’s grave had been moved without our knowledge or permission. After some investigation, we discovered this happened back in 2008, but no one ever informed us.

I can’t describe the heartbreak of standing there, seeing my grandfather’s headstone moved to a different spot, and realizing my mother’s plans for our family’s resting place were erased. We were already mourning Justin’s sudden passing, and this just added to our devastation.

We contacted the cemetery, which is owned by the City of Madison, and they’ve offered no solutions. They’ve suggested it could cost up to $17,000 to secure new plots, which my mother shouldn’t have to pay. She purchased those plots in good faith nearly 60 years ago and trusted that her father’s grave would remain untouched.

My mother is 82 years old and overwhelmed by this injustice. She just wants to grieve and bury her son and father with dignity. Instead, we’re being forced to fight for what is right. Legal fees to hold the cemetery accountable are significant, and we can’t afford to do this alone.

Why We’re Asking for Your Help

I want to honor my brother’s memory and give my mother the peace she deserves. We’re raising funds to cover legal costs, secure a resolution with the cemetery, and ensure we can finally lay Justin to rest beside my grandfather. This fight isn’t just about our family—it’s about preventing other families from experiencing the heartbreak we’ve endured.

We need your support to make this right. Every donation, no matter how small, will help us navigate this painful journey and bring my mother some semblance of peace during this incredibly difficult time.

Thank you for reading our story and standing with us. Please share and donate if you’re able.