On the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 2, the cremated remains of more than 40 unclaimed residents of Centre County were laid to rest in a columbarium at Bellefonte’s Union Cemetery, located along East High Street.

The project was made possible through a joint effort by community members, county officials and the coroner’s office staff, who worked together to establish the columbarium. The structure provides a reverential, public space for the cremated remains of those who, for various reasons, have been left unclaimed by family or friends.

Most people hope to be remembered with a memorial service, surrounded by loved ones in grief, though that isn’t the case for everyone.

Numerous, often deeply complex and personal factors — including funeral costs, family estrangement, the inability to identify remains or the next of kin’s refusal to claim them — can leave counties responsible for care of the deceased.

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS The columbarium is pictured.

“In cases where the remains of deceased individuals are not claimed, the coroner’s office cremates the remains, and beginning today, this community columbarium will be slowly filled over the next few decades with the remains of deceased people from Centre County,” said County Commissioner Mark Higgins, who spoke at the interment ceremony, alongside Deputy Coroner Debra Smeal and Pastor Spence Garvin.

Smeal opened the ceremony by dedicating the columbarium to former Deputy Coroner Judy Pleskonko, who first presented the idea to the commissioners in 2022.

Pleskonko tragically died while assisting at the scene of a car accident in 2023.

“This project was a goal of Judy’s prior to her interment. Judy’s life ended tragically, but I know she’s with us here today,” Smeal said, her voice filled with emotion as she remembered the loss of her friend, whom she had worked with since joining the coroner’s office in 1997.

Earlier this year, several plots at Bellefonte Union Cemetery were anonymously donated in memory of Pleskonko for the columbarium project. With the plots decided, Happy Valley Monuments was commissioned to assemble the columbarium. Dylan Wetzler and his staff at Wetzler Funeral Services constructed, compiled and assembled the columbarium and generously donated installation costs, including excavation, topsoil, finished grade and seed.

HUNTER SMITH / THE EXPRESS Centre County Commissioners Mark Higgins, Steve Dershem and Amber Concepcion attended the ceremony.

The generous donations allowed the commissioners to purchase a large columbarium to hold several decades of additional unclaimed remains

“Judy’s legacy embodies the spirit of community,” said Higgins, reflecting on the teamwork that brought the monument to life.

“We see the public spirit of Centre County present,” he added. “The public tends to and cares for these deceased people, and we have cultivated a space for these people to rest together — essentially a public resting space.”

Final remarks came from Spence Garvin, a certified lay pastor from the Allegheny Synod. Garvin was inspired to get involved after seeing previous coverage of the columbarium project in April. The service highlighted the deep bonds that unite Centre County residents and offered prayers for peace for the individuals whose remains were laid to rest.

During her comments, Smeal expressed her gratitude, stating she would be remiss not to recognize the “many individuals who dedicated time and made donations to accomplish this for Centre County.” She acknowledged the Coroner’s Office staff, including Coroner Scott Sayers, Deputy Coroner John Kublak and all other deputies, as well as former Deputy Domer Smeltzer.

HUNTER SMITH / THE EXPRESS Pastor Spence Garvin, certified lay pastor from the Allegheny Synod, presented final remarks and offered prayers for peace for the individuals whose remains were laid to rest.

Smeal also recognized the Union Cemetery Board and their volunteers for landscaping and maintenance, the Pennsylvania Homicide Investigation Association for funding the plaque recognizing the decedents and Fm Smeal Enterprises of Curwensville, Pa., for funding the plots.

Finally, she thanked John Franek and his staff and the County Commissioners as well as her family and friends.

Commissioner’s gave additional thanks to Julia Sprinkle and the staff in the commissioners’ office for handling the financial arrangements.

Before the interment, the county thoroughly examined the remains to determine if any belonged to veterans and ensured they were interred at the National Military Cemetery at Fort Indiantown Gap in honor of their service.

Should a family decide to claim a loved one’s remains, they may contact the coroner’s office for details. Complete records are kept so the appropriate urn may be returned in such an event.

Higgins said that Commissioners plan to coordinate with the Coroner’s Office for periodic internment services, suggesting they occur annually going forward.

Smeal said she hopes “this columbarium will be recognized and provide a final resting place for indigent decedents of Centre County for many years to come.”