Volunteers hope to clean up Abington Hills cemetery

Abington Hills Cemetery is located on the Morgan Highway and has been neglected for years. The high grass swallows the tombstones and weeds are everywhere.

Dominic Granziano oversees the cemetery as well as Washburn Street Cemetery in Scranton. The Washburn Street Cemetery is in deplorable condition much like Abington Hills. He and one other employee attempt to maintain the 2 cemeteries and cut the grass but it is too much for 2 people.

“My grandfather Najib Saadi, my grandmother Marie Saadi and my father David Bower are all buried at Abington Hills,” said Kathy Roper. “My son is also buried there. He was 40 and died suddenly with an unknown heart issue. My grandfather was a founding father of Abington VFW 7069 and was commander several times. My grandmother was an active member of the ladies auxiliary. It’s been a mess up there for years. When my son was buried in 2014, the only way the grave got leveled and seeded was my son’s friends did it. The brass flag holder for my grandfather and dad were stolen, replaced and stolen again. I’m not able to take a mower so I take a weedwhacker and do what I can. It’s depressing to the downfall of what was once a beautiful cemetery.”

Leslie Wellard had this to say about the condition of the cemetery.

“My husband is buried at Abington Hills Cemetery and his parents. He is a Vietnam Veteran. The cemetery is in deplorable condition. My daughter takes all of her own equipment bi- weekly to take care of the grave sites. It breaks my heart to go up there and see it like that. He was very active in the Chinchilla Hose Company his whole life. You think when you choose a final resting place for your loved one, it would never look like that.”

“My parents bought 4 plots in section H and my aunt and uncle also bought 4 plots in the Open Bible Section,” said Sue Bitterman. “They all bought the perpetual care package and they were promised that their graves would always be in pristine condition. My mom would be up at their graves pulling weeds and high grass with her hands and scissors because she could not use the mower. My son took over taking care of the graves about 4 years when my mom could no longer. The grass was so high, we could not see the American flags that were in the flag holders. My son had to literally cut a path with the lawn mower in order for us to get to the graves. We dug out around the gravestones and filled it in with gravel stones so that the stones won’t be able to get overgrown again. It is hard enough to have to go to pay my respects to all my loved ones and not be able to see the gravestones and see the disrespect shown to all of them. It makes it harder to leave the cemetery.”

In addition to her father, and aunt and uncle, her stepdaughter, sister and husband are buried at Abington Hills.

Barb Evans has an additional problem besides the overgrown grass.

“My mother Mary Williams Pence died in the 1970’s and my dad G. Walter Pence died in the 1980’s. There has always been a problem with water where they are buried. The cemetery once had water lines and spigots which were taken out. We were told that was not causing our water problem. It is like my parents are buried in a swamp. We can’t cut the grass there with a lawn mower because it ss so wet and we have to use a weedwhacker. My grandparents are buried 6 blocks up and they never have a water problem. We considered moving my parents to a new plot but never did. The whole thing is a mess. We had a cooper vase at the tombstone to put artificial flowers in. That was stolen, replaced and stolen again.”

“My great grandparents are buried at Abington Hills. It is in poor shape and poorly maintained.,” said Mike Hughes.

Frank Sullenberger had this to say about the cemetery.

“My grandparents are buried at Abington Hills. I went up to the cemetery and spent 4 hours cutting grass around their graves and countless others. There’s no excuse for the place looking the way it does.”

Volunteers are stepping up to restore the cemetery and bring dignity to the people buried there.

Bill Davies posted a sign near the entrance to the cemetery asking for volunteers and they came to help out.

My parents, grandparents, great grandparents and younger brother are all buried at Abington Hills Cemetery. I am grateful for all the volunteers who have helped out. They have really turned the cemetery around and it has not looked this nice in a decade. People have been so kind and wanted to help. Helping at the cemetery has been a wonderful and rewarding experience for me.”

Duane Seymour Sr. of Duane’s Mowing Service recently volunteered several hours and cut the grass at Abington Hills. My friend’s wife has family buried in section G. He told me how bad it was and the grass is slowing down. I said I’d help. It felt good to help and I will be doing it again.”