Wendy D. Borwegen
Guest Column
I was a wife of an Edison Township firefighter. My husband, Peter E. Borwegen, dedicated his life to this township. I remember waking up at 1 a.m. during the Durham Woods apartment fire, knowing that my husband was on duty. I got into my car to watch, wondering if my husband would come home that night. The snorkel that he manned was the second engine in. All I could see were flames shooting into the sky, blazing and smoking.
On June 6, 1995, my husband died of a heart attack at the age of 43 at fire headquarters (house No. 3). Stress from union negotiations had gotten to him. He had a funeral procession to St. James Church Cemetery that was more like a Memorial Day parade. Five townships came to honor his memory.
Mayor George Spadoro has announced that as of April 1, owners of any cemetery plots must pay a fee of $750 per intended interment. Now I ask, do I have a crystal ball to know how many Borwegens will pass away within the next 30-40 years? And I am a widow, receiving no income from my husband’s death and no retirement funds. With what income, am I supposed to come up with $750 per plot?
The Borwegens’ extended family purchased this land on Dec. 1, 1938. I possess an original deed signed by Oscar J. Martin, the treasurer. The size of this plot is large enough to hold eight people or 16 people double deep. My husband is buried double deep. It was my intention to be laid to rest in the same plot and leave the rest for any family members in need of a cemetery plot. The Borwegen family have been original Edison residents long before anyone heard of George Spadoro.
The Borwegen farmhouse is located on the street where I presently live. The Borwegens have so much history in this town, as do the Pinter and Swale families. I don’t know how these families feel about this so-called “maintenance fee,” but I am furious! This is land the township took no responsibility for — that is, until it was in its best interest during the re-enactment celebration.
Mr. Spadoro has stooped so low as to tax cemetery plots that have already been purchased, when local people such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have volunteered to clean up the property around St. James Church.
If I don’t deliver $750 to the mayor’s office, as ordered under ordinance 1397-2004, I will be denied the right to be buried with my husband, who dedicated 22 years of his life to keeping this township safe from fire.
Almost every Borwegen male has served this township in some capacity, from fire departments to first-aid squads to volunteering at the firemen’s bazaar that we used to enjoy in the Nixon post office parking lot. These people postponed their vacations just to march in parades for the town to enjoy. Should they be denied burial rights at the church?
When this ordinance was adopted, I called the township so I could attend the meeting to protest, but I was lied to. I was told the meeting was going to be held on the following day, a Thursday.
I found out the next day that the meeting had been held that very night (Wednesday). Once again, Spadoro hoped that no one who might have any personal interest in the new ordinance would attend that meeting. Why penalize the owners of this land? I thought purchasing land was an investment that is supposed to grow in value. Yes, in 1938 this land was purchased for a mere $50, and I am sure the value of the plot has a much greater value today. In fact, it has potential for 12 more family members. That leaves me with a financial responsibility of $9,000. And last but not least, may I ask where this money would go? Will it go toward the missing money in the memorial fund? Just a thought.
On a personal note, Spadoro spoke at my husband’s funeral; he knew and still knows the Borwegen family, and my father-in-law, Peter W. Borwegen, is a retired fire chief. Yet for the next five years in a row, I continued to receive Christmas cards addressed to Peter E. Borwegen and family — signed by the mayor. I refused them, however, and mailed them back.
It wasn’t until I called Spadoro’s office and left a not-so-nice message on his voice mail that the cards finally stopped coming.
Wendy D. Borwegen is a resident of Edison