Families Shocked as Texas Cemetery Tosses Memorial Items

For many El Paso families who have lost loved ones, cemeteries aren’t just a final resting place for the ones they’ve lost, they’re sacred spaces where families go to keep their loved ones’ memory alive. Whether it’s dropping off fresh flowers, planting a tree, or simply sitting and catching up with someone who’s no longer physically here, those little acts help many people cope with loss.

For my family, Mount Carmel Cemetery holds deep meaning. It’s where both of my grandparents were laid to rest. My parents go often to clean the area, replace flowers, and feel close to them. But this past week, their visit turned heartbreaking when they realized that some of the items they had placed on the gravesites were not there anymore.

Some new statues they had placed on my grandpa’s headstone were removed and not gently removed, but thrown in the back like trash. And sadly, it wasn’t just us.

FitFam El Paso recently shared a post about families discovering that cherished grave markers and decorations had been removed at Mount Carmel Cemetery.

The post included a photo of these items sitting next to dumpsters, urging families to pick them up before they were permanently disposed of.

Many people shared pretty much the same feelings when it came to seeing the photos of items just being thrown in the back like trash with one commenter writing:

“These families should’ve been given at least a six-month heads up. These memorial stones weren’t hurting anybody.”

Another shared their experience after calling the cemetery, saying the staff showed no empathy and even hung up mid-call.

“I called asking why my grandmothers marker was disrespectfully thrown behind a dumpster with no notice of this happening (I saw her marker on your previous post and that’s how I was made aware of it) and the woman responded by saying “It wasn’t in the garbage only on the side” I responded “Does that make it less disrespectful” and her reply was “It wasn’t their problem” when I asked for her name she hung up. I called back and talked to the assistant director and received no apology for the woman’s insensitive and disrespectful comment. He wouldn’t give me her name either just an “I will speak to her”. No respect, decency or empathy from them.”

Local Spanish TV news reporter, Edgar Ramirez, followed up on this story and shared updates on his Instagram account with responses from family members who were sad to see the items tossed away. 

He received a statement from Fernie Ceniceros, Director of Communications for El Paso Catholic Diocese, explaining that the cleanup was for safety reasons, especially after recent rainstorms. The full quote read:

“As a precautionary action with necessary safety measures due to current weather conditions, in recent weeks of rain and wind, Mt. Carmel Cemetery has decided to clean the plots and remove decorations from graves that do not comply with the cemetery’s policies. This cleaning is part of the cemetery's regular maintenance, which is carried out at different times of the year. We understand that these decorations are meaningful expressions of love and remembrance, and we sincerely regret any inconvenience their removal may have caused.”

Also mentioned in the response was the cemeteries policies and a list of items allowed and not allowed:

Mt. Carmel Cemetery's policies state the following:

• Only flowers/decorations placed inside the vase will be allowed.
• Decorations are not permitted on top of the headstone or around the grave.
• You may place a plastic cone with flowers and a wooden cross (less than 18 inches) only if there is no headstone.

All decorations not permitted by the cemetery will be removed.
Due to foreseeable incidents, the cemetery will enforce its rules and regulations. This is for the safety of the public and our employees.

The following are not allowed outside of the vase:

• Any type of ceramic
• Photographs
• Pinwheels
• Saint statues
• Any type of glass container
• Borders, edging, fences, hedges, solar lights, artificial grass

Look, I get it. Maintenance is important. And yes, not every gravesite is kept up by families. But for many of us, those little items mean the world. They're not clutter, they're comfort.

I just wish it had been handled differently. An email. A notice. A phone call. Anything. There has to be a more respectful way to go about this.

Because at the end of the day, we’re not just talking about flowers or figurines. We’re talking about grief, healing, and memory.