Mother Reports Halloween Decorations Stolen From Son's Grave
A woman in Lehi reported that the Halloween decorations she placed at her son's grave disappeared over the weekend, seemingly stolen from the city cemetery. She called on others to respect items left to honor loved ones.
Remembering Eli Augustine
Elaine Augustine shared that her son, Eli, passed away on November 17, 2021, at age 13 from rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer.
He was a fighter. He was a great kid, and I miss him.
The Tradition of Halloween Decorations
Following Eli's death, the family began decorating his headstone each Halloween. According to Elaine:
One of Eli's favorite holidays is Halloween. He would think it was hilarious if we put a skeleton out on his gravesite.
This led to the creation of "Mr. Bones," a skeleton adorned by Elaine and accompanied by a bowl of candy for visitors.
We wanted it to be a fun thing and not, like, morbid. It was my friend who made a placard that said something to the effect of, 'One of Eli's favorite holidays is Halloween, so we wanted, in his honor, to provide a treat for you.'
Impact on Cemetery Visitors
Visitors appreciated the tribute. Tiara Webb, who visits her mother's grave regularly, commented on the display's meaning:
I just thought it was always so beautiful that she would do that in the name of her own son. It actually made me even look up his own story.
Elaine’s message emphasizes respecting personal memorials and traditions at cemeteries.
Author’s summary: A mother’s annual Halloween tribute to her late son was stolen, highlighting the importance of honoring and respecting memorial decorations in cemeteries.