Cemetery Buried Husband In The Wrong Grave, NJ Widow Claims

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A Morris County woman is suing a cemetery, claiming that they buried her husband in the wrong grave.

Debra Poller, a widow from Lake Hopatcong, claims that Stanhope Union Cemetery, in Netcong, mishandled the remains of her husband following his death.

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Poller’s husband, Allan, died Nov. 30, 2025. Poller arranged for him to be buried in the four-grave family plot she purchased. Specifically, she wanted him buried in Plot Number 142 of Stanhope Union Cemetery.

About three days after his death, Poller noticed that her husband was buried in Plot Number 141, not 142 like was arranged, according to the suit.

As of April 30, when the suit was filed, her husband’s remains rest in the wrong grave, according to the lawsuit.

"As a result of the above, (Poller) has been forced to endure severe emotional distress and mental anguish and has been denied her right to grieve the death of their late loved one, Alan Poller,” the suit reads.

Poller is claiming negligence for mishandled remains, infliction of emotional distress, and tort of outrage against Stanhope Union Cemetery. The suit calls the cemetery’s actions “intentional, extreme, reckless, and outrageous conduct.”

She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and the cost of the suit.

Patch has reached out to Stanhope Union Cemetery for comment and has yet to hear back.