County buries unclaimed remains of 1,656 people

Wednesday was the day of the annual interring in Boyle Heights of cremated human remains that were never picked up from the coroner by family members. A couple of dozen people attended a brief ceremony, among them county Supervisor Don Knabe. "You know, all we’re attempting to do is each year is to give these folks the dignity of a decent burial and treat them as a human being,” Knabe said.

The remains buried Wednesday were mostly of people who died in the county in 2009. Some could not be identified; others were indigent or simply went unclaimed. Rev. Chris Ponnet, a chaplain at County-USC Medical Center, led the service for the fifth year. Coverage: LA Times, KPCC, SGV Tribune

Here is some background on the county "crematorium cemetary," as the sign labels it, from the Boyle Heights History Blog, and a 2010 rumination on the tradition by author D.J. Waldie for KCET. The facility is a former potter's field at the corner of Evergreen Cemetery closest to 1st and Lorena streets.

Photo: LA Observed