Ontario couple refused $24,000 refund for cemetery plot

An Ontario couple has issued a warning to those choosing their final resting place after they were denied a refund of more than $24,000 for a cemetery plot in a town they don't live in.

In 2020, Brian Dupuis and Christina Hojka-Dupuis purchased a plot at Assumption Catholic Cemetery in Mississauga, Ont. in 2020, but has since moved to the small town of Hagersville, Ont. more than an hour away.

“Unfortunately, we changed our minds,” Dupuis told CTV News Toronto. “You never know what the future holds.”

The couple originally bought a plot of land to be buried near Hoyka-Dupui's parents, but now the drive from Hagersville to Mississauga can sometimes take up to three hours.

“As we get older, I can't see my wife or travel,” Dupuis said.

The Dupuis paid $24,200 for the cemetery plot and monument. So far, their information is not written on the tombstone, they say.

When the couple asked the cemetery for a refund, they were told it was impossible.

“They basically said it's not in their policy,” Dupuis said.

Assumption Catholic Cemetery in Mississauga, Ont. can be seen from above. (Waspen Catholic Cemetery/Facebook)

The couple were then told they could sell the plot themselves on Kijiji or Facebook, an offer they say surprised them.

“People move on,” Dupuis said. “It could be to a new city, province or even out of the country,” added Hojka-Dupuis.

When reached for comment, Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Services said plot owners can sell their rights to other Catholics under the law for no more than the cemetery's current price. Private cemetery owners may agree to purchase rights at their discretion, the report said.

“All cemeteries and crematoria have to have a set of approved bylaws that are approved by the Ontario government and it tells you what you're allowed to do and what you're not allowed to do,” John Cunningham, president of the Ontario Funeral Service Association, told CTV News Toronto. . “It's a buyers and sellers market and there's no guarantee you'll get back your original purchase price.”

The couple said they want to warn others to be careful when planning their final resting place.

“It would be a waste to hold on to a site with a monument and not use it,” Hojka-Dupuis said.

Those considering buying a cemetery plot should ask plenty of questions, learn about their options, and familiarize themselves with the owner's refund policy in case they change their mind. Each cemetery's bylaws also state the types of monuments allowed and how many urns can be placed in the cemetery.