George to lead cemetery service

Cardinal Francis George will preside at a graveside prayer service Wednesday at a far Southwest Side cemetery where deceased adults and fetuses – either unclaimed by family or who died penniless and their families couldn’t afford a funeral – will be buried, Chicago’s Roman Catholic archdiocese announced.

The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholic Cemeteries offered plots for up to 300 deceased earlier this year, after the Sun-Times first reported crowding concerns at the Cook County morgue.

In all, 14 adults and 24 fetuses currently at the morgue will be buried during the Wednesday afternoon service at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 2755 W. 111th St. The burials are largely free, with taxpayers picking up the $2,662 tab for the burial shells.

Lisa Donovan