Abandoned Tombstones Matched to Recent Graves

A number of missing tombstones from Encino have been matched with graves they are to mark, mortuary officials said Friday.

Sixteen markers that turned up mysteriously a few weeks ago at Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles have been linked with deceased people who were recently buried there, mortuary officials said.

The markers had been delivered by an Encino memorial company that abruptly went out of business.

“We’ve matched the tombstones we received and have contacted the next of kin, or they have contacted us,” said Connie Keith, Mount Sinai office manager.

Keith said she is still receiving calls from managers at other mortuaries who are checking to see if tombstones that have appeared mysteriously at their establishments belong to Mount Sinai.

Valley Memorials Lodge Monument in Encino was abandoned without warning about three weeks ago, according to neighbors who occupy the two-story office building where the firm was located. They said they saw several bronze markers and tombstones being loaded onto a truck one morning.

Mount Sinai said tombstones were dropped off there without documentation, authorization or fees to cover their placement.

Norman Ruppurt of Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth said that four of the missing markers were left there recently and that two of those were matched up with graves there. At least one marker was left at Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, said a Burbank woman who had bought the marker for her deceased husband.

The owner of Valley Memorials, David Lodge, told Mount Sinai personnel that his business is closed and that he is in another state.