STOCKTON, Calif. — A Stockton family is frustrated after discovering their loved ones' headstones buried under inches of dirt and debris again.
"I came out here Tuesday, you could not see any of these graves. They were just completely covered over, all the way to the ground," said Kathryn Vermillion standing in the row where her older brother, father and mother are buried. "My (younger) brother had to dig my mom's (headstone) out. We took our feet and tried to shove it off, we couldn't get it off."
Tuesday's visit to the Stockton Rural Cemetery was not the first time that Vermillion had trouble finding her relatives' final resting place.
"We come out every holiday, every birthday and it's the same thing. Last Mother's Day, I came out here. I couldn't find my mom. I was in hysterics. That's not what you want to do on Mother's Day," Vermillion said. "I just expected more out of this cemetery."
Cemetery officials said they are aware of the issue and, in short, are trying their best with what they have.
"We want to assure the community that we are here. We know our purpose. We are here to serve," said Stockton Rural Cemetery Operations Manager Ruben Castillo. "It is a challenging environment; we are a nonprofit. We have our challenges."
According to the cemetery, the challenges include animals like gophers making new holes and spreading dirt frequently, burial markers sinking when grass is watered, and a nine-member staff charged with maintaining 72 acres at the same time as preparing new burials weekly.
"We welcome the community to work with us, starting with bringing your concerns to us," Castillo said. "Please do not leave frustrated."
Castillo said he's working on long-term solutions, like creating schedules for each area to be checked weekly, selling larger, cement burial marker frames, digitizing records to address concerns more efficiently and even possibly partnering with other nonprofits.
"I apologize for families finding this cemetery, and specifically their family plots, at times in a way they wouldn't expect, but we are making every effort," Castillo said. "Just keep reminding us."
Still, Vermillion said she's tired of apologies and is ready for permanent change.
"We're hoping for real change real soon," Vermillion said. "To be buried here with my family? No, not on a bet. It makes me feel sad."
Watch more from ABC10: A new housing project was approved for downtown Stockton
