Rochester Mother Locates Son's Burial Site After Decades
A mother identified her infant's burial plot in Rochester after a 45-year search of medical records.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Babies
After a 45-year search, a Rochester mother located her infant son's burial site at Oakwood Cemetery this June. Her son, Abraham Joseph Hastings, was buried in a group plot for infants donated to Mayo Clinic research in 1981.
Why it matters
For families of infants who were part of historical medical research programs, finding closure can involve navigating complex, decades-old documentation. This case highlights how institutional record-keeping can eventually help parents identify long-lost resting places.
A three-month institutional record search confirmed the location of a group burial site containing approximately 20 infants who were donated to Mayo Clinic research between 1917 and 1985. The exact identities of all infants in the plot remain under investigation.
The players
Mayo Clinic
A Rochester-based academic medical center that oversees research donor programs and provides clinical care.
Oakwood Cemetery
A long-standing burial ground in Rochester that has served the community since the 1860s.
Dana Hastings
A mother who spent 45 years seeking the burial location of her infant son.
The details
The search was facilitated by the Mayo Clinic Office of Decedent Affairs after the mother initiated an inquiry in March 2026. Records show the infant, who was born 18 weeks premature in 1981 and weighed 1 pound, 3.5 ounces, was processed by the Anatomy Department for cremation. His remains were later transported to Arendt Funeral Home before being placed in Section 13 of Oakwood Cemetery, a site designated for bodies donated for clinical study.
Timeline
1860s: Oakwood Cemetery began operations.
1917-1985: Section 13 served as a burial site for research donors.
May 27, 1981: Abraham Joseph Hastings was born and passed away.
March 2026: The mother initiated the search through the Office of Decedent Affairs.
June 2026: The burial site was successfully identified.
Health Landscape
This discovery reflects a broader effort to provide clarity on historical medical research donation protocols. It highlights the evolving standards for institutional record-keeping and the long-term emotional support often required for families involved in mid-century clinical programs.
Families seeking information about historical records at medical institutions should begin by contacting the organization's office of decedent affairs or patient advocacy department. These offices are often the primary point of contact for navigating records dating back several decades.
The takeaway
Locating historical records often requires persistence and communication with institutional archives. Families looking for closure may find assistance by reaching out to the decedent affairs departments at the hospitals or universities where original records were maintained.
Further reading
Learn more about local support for families through the Babies section.
More information
Support the memorial effort by visiting the online gravestone fundraiser.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rochester Post Bulletin.
