The family of a , U. S. Army , veteran who served in World War II believes he is buried in a cemetery story they purchased years ago in the , Massachusetts , town they grew up in — as he wished, according to her mother’s counsel.
But he’s not, a complaint filed by the community says.
Before , William Z. Lemnios , died at age 98 on , June 18, he and his partner left written guidelines for their relatives about how they’re both to be buried at , Highland Cemetery , in , Newburyport, a town about a 40-mile drive east from , Boston , that’s located along the beach, according to a problem filed , Nov. 27.
According to the problem, the pair, who were “happily” married for more than 70 years, purchased two tomb lots next to William Lemnios ‘ mother’s grave in 1988.
William and , Angelina Lemnios , wanted to be buried together in one bunch and left the second bit for their home, according to the problem. If no family member used the following lot, the complaint claims, it was supposed to remain empty.
” Under no circumstances should anyone Never in our household been buried it, and it should never be sold to someone NOT in our home”, William and , Angelina Lemnios , wrote in their guidelines, the issue says.
On , June 25, one moment before William Lemnios ‘ designed cremation at , Highland Cemetery, the ideas changed when a , Newburyport , city official told William and Angelina Lemnios ‘ boy that animal remains were found in their gravesites, according to the problem.
A mock burial was held at , Highland Cemetery , for , William Lemnios , as a result, then his remains were transported and buried at another cemetery in , Newburyport , against “his direct instructions and last wishes”, the complaint says.
Angelina Lemnios, 98, is unaware that human remains occupy her and her husband’s cemetery lots instead of her husband’s body, according to attorney , Gregory V. Sullivan, the president of , Massachusetts-based law firm Malloy &, Sullivan who represents the family.
Her family hasn’t told her because it would devastate her, Sullivan told , McClatchy News , on , Dec. 3. After her passing, she anticipates being buried there.
A few days after , William Lemnios , was buried,  , Newburyport , officials met with his family at , Highland Cemetery , and told them three unidentified bodies are buried in the cemetery lots owned by him and his wife, according to the complaint.
The family is suing the city of , Newburyport , to have the bodies exhumed.
Sullivan referred to Angelina Lemnios ‘ wishes as “it was so important to her and her husband that they be buried there.”
Newburyport , officials didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News ‘ request for comment  , Dec. 3.
Newburyport , Mayor , Sean Reardon , said the city doesn’t” comment on ongoing litigation” in a statement to the , Daily News , of , Newburyport, which first reported on the lawsuit.
William Lemnios , was’ a true American hero ‘
When , William Lemnios , died at his home in , Lexington, Massachusetts, in June, he passed “peacefully” and was” surrounded by his loving family”, according to his obituary.  , Lexington , is about a 40-mile drive southwest from , Newburyport.
William Lemnios , was born on , Sept. 13, 1925 , in , Athens, Greece , before he and his parents migrated to the , U. S.  , in , April 1929, according to his obituary.
According to the lawsuit, he and , Angelina Lemnios , are and were “devout members of the , Greek Orthodox Church, which rejects cremation”.
After , William Lemnios , graduated from , Newburyport High School , in 1943, he went on to earn a bachelor of science degree for electrical engineering degree at , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , and a master of science degree in theoretical physics from the , University of Illinois, according to his obituary.
As a , U. S. Army , sergeant, he served in the military during World War II for two years and four months, when he experienced combat in , France,  , Germany  , and , Austria, his obituary says. He helped liberate Nazi Germany’s Dachau concentration camp nearly 80 years ago on , April 29, 1945, according to his obituary.
William Lemnios , was” a true American hero”, the lawsuit says.
Following the war, Lemnios worked at the , MIT Lincoln Laboratory , for 41 years, according to his obituary, which says “he led the development of advanced concepts for the , U. S. Department of Defense , that underpin many of the national security systems that protect our Nation today”.
In 1957, he and , Angelina Lemnios , moved to , Lexington , and raised four children, his obituary says.
City won’t remove the bodies, lawsuit says
As of , Dec. 3, the Lemnios family still doesn’t know who is buried in their family’s cemetery plots, Sullivan told , McClatchy News.
Newburyport , city officials haven’t disclosed their identities, he said and called the situation “really bizarre”.
When city officials informed the family of the three bodies, they offered to bury , William Lemnios , at a cemetery for veterans, according to the complaint.
According to the complaint,” the Lemnios family did not like this for a number of reasons, including religious ones.”
The city is accused of refusing to remove the bodies from the , Highland Cemetery, according to the complaint.
The family will” settle for nothing less than , Newburyport , removing the bodies currently located in the lots purchased by Mrs. and , Mr. Lemnios , so that the body of , Mr. Lemnios , can be placed to rest there”, the complaint says.
The lawsuit demands a jury trial and demands an unspecified sum of money in damages.
According to the complaint, it also requests a court order mandating the city exhume the corpses.
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( c ) 2024 the Merced Sun-Star
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