Mother Finds Infant Burial Site After 45 Years

A Rochester woman located her son's final resting place at Oakwood Cemetery following a three-month search.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Babies

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a weathered stone cemetery archway, evoking quiet closure. — Dana Hastings successfully located the burial site of her infant son, Abraham Joseph Hastings, in Rochester 45 years after his 1981 death. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Dana Hastings successfully located the burial site of her infant son, Abraham Joseph Hastings, 45 years after his 1981 death. The discovery was made in June 2026 after the mother contacted the Mayo Clinic Office of Decedent Affairs.

Why it matters

The search provides closure for a mother who spent over four decades unaware of her son's burial location. It highlights the complexities of archival records regarding historical research donations.

Abraham Joseph Hastings was born 18 weeks premature on May 27, 1981, weighing 1 pound and 3.5 ounces. His remains were placed in Section 13 of Oakwood Cemetery, a site that served for research donations between 1917 and 1985.

The players

Dana Hastings

She is a mother who spent 45 years searching for the burial site of her infant son.

Mayo Clinic

This is a Rochester-based nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education, and research.

Oakwood Cemetery

This is a historic burial ground located in Rochester that has been in operation since the 1860s.

The details

Records indicated the infant was taken to the Mayo Clinic Anatomy Department for cremation before being moved to the Arendt Funeral Home. A staff member at the Office of Decedent Affairs confirmed the burial location after a three-month review of historical documents.

Oakwood Cemetery began operations in the 1860s.
Section 13 served as a research donor burial site from 1917 to 1985.
Abraham Joseph Hastings died on May 27, 1981.
Dana Hastings began her search in March 2026.

Culture Shift

This search reflects an evolving cultural demand for transparency in institutional record-keeping regarding research donations. Families are increasingly using modern search protocols to reconcile historical gaps in funeral and burial documentation.

Dana Hastings is currently raising money to purchase a permanent gravestone for the burial site. Residents may contribute to this effort to help provide a formal marker for the infant's final resting place.

The takeaway

Searching for long-lost records often requires persistent coordination with institutional offices that hold historical archives. Families seeking similar closure can start by contacting the specific department that handled remains at the time of death.