E.B. cemetery incident robs spirit of mourning O.B. family
JERRY WOLKOWITZ East Brunswick’s Chestnut Hill Cemetery was the scene of an unfortunate theft Monday morning when holiday decorations were removed from the graves of Robert Brenner Jr. and Sr. The Brenner family says this fallen fence is partly to blame for the lack of security within the cemetery.
Fencing around cemetery may be to blame, say family members
By nicole c. vaccaro
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK — Just this weekend, Christmas decorations were placed on the graves of Robert Brenner Jr. and Robert Brenner Sr. By Monday morning they were gone.
Joan Brenner of Crassas Street, Old Bridge, received a phone call from her hysterical daughter, Robin Grimes, early Monday. Grimes had just paid a visit to Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Old Bridge Turnpike, East Brunswick, where she discovered a reindeer, velvet bows and balls missing from her father’s and brother’s graves. Only greenery remained.
"Words cannot express what I felt and am still feeling," said Grimes. "I will never get over this. My father hasn’t even been dead a year.
"Whoever did this has robbed us of our time to mourn, of our spirit. They cannot have a heart."
Grimes’ daughter, Kimberly, a florist, designed the grave blankets herself this year. She wanted to do something nice in honor of her uncle and grandfather, said Grimes.
"The bows that were taken were red and blue, their favorite colors," said Brenner of her husband and son.
"And the reindeer was one we had kept at the house while Robert Jr. was still alive. We wanted him to have it with him now."
Brenner Jr. died six years ago, while his father, Brenner Sr., passed away just this past December. This is the first time the family has reported anything missing from their graves.
Grimes filed a report with the East Brunswick police on Monday, saying that Chestnut Hill Cemetery said there was nothing they could do about the incident.
Both Brenner and Grimes blame the robbery, in part, on inadequate fencing around the cemetery. "There is only partial fencing in place. Anybody can just walk in," said Brenner.
Brenner further claimed that the owners of Chestnut Hill Cemetery told her they couldn’t afford new fencing.
"If money is an issue, why not seek out grants from the historical society?" questioned Grimes. "After all, the cemetery is considered part of the historic district. There are Native American Indians, slaves, and even a governor buried in there."
Representatives from Chestnut Hill Cemetery did not return phone calls seeking comment as of press time yesterday.
East Brunswick police Sgt. Russ MacArthur could not recall anyone other than Grimes filing a police report of this nature in the last few years.
"This is the first criminal mischief report I’ve seen since being here. The cemetery itself has not reported any of these thefts," said MacArthur. "Furthermore, there have been few, if any, resident complaints.
"I actually wish there were more reports filed so that we could justify paying stricter attention to the matter," he said.
"This is certainly a sad day," said Brenner. "It is heartbreaking to my entire family to know that all we have left of them is in that cemetery and now a part of that is missing."