Widows told they can't be buried beside their husbands over technicality

Widows in Perth have been told they cannot be buried in pre-purchased plots beside their husbands because of a technicality.

The women paid for the graves more than two decades ago when their partners passed away, what they didn't know was they only owned the plots for 25 years.

Now, the local council has closed the cemetery and told the elderly women they're not eligible to be buried there.

Widow Sheila Goble grew emotional when speaking to A Current Affair.

"Oh good grief, it's just nasty of the council, it really is, how can they do this to all the widows," Sheila said.

Sheila Goble is fighting for the right to be laid to rest with her husbands, in a plot she paid for.

"He thinks we're going to be buried together there, it's heartless, it really is," Sheila said of her husband.

Sheila Goble was married to Fred for 40 years.

He was the love of her life.

"He put a record on, 'My Girl', and as he came out of the room where the jukebox was, I looked up, and he looked down at me, and I thought 'ahhh,'" Sheila said.

"It was literally, love at first sight for both of us."

Prior to his death, the pair agreed they wanted to be together forever.

"We knew we were losing, and I said 'shall I go and buy a plot?', and he said 'yes'," she said.

That plot, as well as Sheila's, was purchased in 1998, for the pair to be buried side by side at Perth's East Rockingham Pioneer Cemetery.

Fast forward to 2009, and the Governor of Western Australia closed the cemetery.

A few months later, the City of Rockingham adopted a policy which allowed it to "provide persons who do not hold a Grant of Right of Burial", meaning a current lease, the right to be buried with family".

In April this year, the council scrapped that policy.

Sheila's lease expired one year ago.

She said she offered to pay again, but was told she could not.

"(They) told me I could dig my husband's marble grave stone up, I could dig my husband up at my expense, he mentioned, take him to the new cemetery which is about eight to ten kilometres away buy another plot and bury him there."

Gayle Parker's mother Lorna purchased her plot in 1989 when her husband Darryl died.

They too were happily married for decades.

"When you lose someone you always say 'we'll meet again, we'll be together forever' and that was her plan as well and that's what she's still got in her head, that when she goes she will be with dad," Gayle said.

Asked how she would feel going against her mother's wishes, Gayle said she couldn't bear to think about it.

"I don't have to talk to mum and say that's not going to happen, she would be devastated."

Gayle and Sheila say they had no idea the plot was only leased for 25 years.

"No one's been contacted, if they're saying, okay you should have renewed your lease or something, why didn't someone contact us and say that?" Gayle asked.

"Lets face it, Mum's 94, she's not going to be thinking in 25 years down the track after dad went 'oh hang on, I've got to go renew a lease' because they forget about it."

According to the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board website as the "average person moves every seven and a half years, reminder letters are not sent regarding the expiration of a grant."

The Minister for Local Government Beazely says she's received four letters from concerned families.

A social media post has attracted dozens of comments, and the City of Rockingham has confirmed its aware of at least 20 other cases.

The Department of Local Government has been working with the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board and City of Rockingham to find a pathway forward which is compassionate.

The City of Rockingham declined to comment on camera instead issuing this statement:

"Although the City is responsible for cemetery management - burial functions, including the issuing of grants, must comply with legislation, therefore there is no avenue for the City to grant an exemption or to permit a burial in these circumstances."

Because it is the Governor's closure it can only be rectified by our advice to the Governor, a potentially lengthy process that could leave widowers and families in limbo.

Gayle said it is hard to take in that her parents might not be buried together.

"I want to be buried in a nice dress with a bottle of wine," Sheila said.

"Next to your husband?" A Current Affair asked.

"Yes, he's got a beer," Sheila said.