I am trying to learn where newborn infants would be buried when they died at the hospital in the 1960's. Trying to help a friend locate where her siblings would be buried. Her father always told her that the hospital had taken care of everything. I tried the family's catholic cemetery and they weren't buried there. Did the hospitals have a protocol when they knew babies weren't going to survive? Anyone have advice? Thanks, Lisa
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The protocol is exactly the same as it is for any other death. They ask the family what arrangements they have made and cooperate with the mortuary that will pick up the body. With involvement from the coroner if required.
If the person who died has no known family, there are protocols for that too, though it's impossible to have a neonate without known family, since someone had to give birth (unless the parents lied about their names and address and skipped out).
The hospital may have had a mortuary or two they worked with if the family didn't know where to turn. I would call the hospital's admin staff and ask them.
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If an infant is born alive but died hours or days later a live birth and then death certificate should have been issued. If an infant was still born (born dead) then a stillborn or fetal death certificate is issued only. So the county the birth/deaths took place in should have the appropriate certificate on file with what happened to the remains. The certificate may just have the last name or "infant of .....(surname). More than likely if the parents let the hospital take care of everything then the remains were cremated by the county and kept by the coroner to bury with other pauper and unclaimed remains in one grave plot. Could be the actual burial didn't take place till much later, then a certain number of ash containers were collected by the size allowed by the grave plot. One can also contact the county to find out what cemetery was used the year of the birth/deaths for unclaimed remains.
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Great advise from both of you. Yes, they are both listed in the Connecticut death index, so the next step is to obtain the death certificate and find out where they were buried. Thanks, Lisa
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