World War I Private Buried 45 Years After Death at Vermont Cemetery

Private Edward James Irwin was buried at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center on Wednesday, marking the final resting place for a man who died in November 1981. The interment occurred nearly 45 years after Irwin passed away in a Rutland nursing home just days before his 84th birthday.

The remains had been stored in the basement of Clifford’s Funeral Home for years without a family member to collect them. Walter Ducharme, who purchased the funeral home business last year, discovered the unidentified cremated remains among rows of other unclaimed ashes. Ducharme noted that no one had stepped forward to handle the matter prior to his acquisition.

Ducharme spent more than a year working with government agencies to identify Irwin. The process involved verifying a Social Security number, a VA file number, and a birth date, though the name on file was initially incorrect. Ducharme described the search as frustrating but persistent, noting that they could not locate any surviving family members or close friends for the private.

Irwin was born in New Jersey in 1897 and served in the Army during World War I from 1917 to 1918. The reason he came to Vermont remains unclear, as does the identity of any relatives who might have been able to claim his ashes. For over a year, Ducharme acted as a detective, piecing together records to match the remains to the correct individual.

News of the search spread to the local community, prompting strangers to organize a service for the private. Elaine Manghi-Buck, a resident of Brookfield, attended the ceremony after hearing about Irwin at her church. She stated she was there to honor the veteran and felt it was important to be present for the occasion.

The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association also arrived for the service after learning of the story through their American Legion chapter. Ed Barton, representing the association, said the group was honored to participate. The gathering grew large enough that the service moved from the grave site into the chapel, a change from what was expected to be a simple burial.

Robert Burke of Vermont Veterans Affairs spoke at the event, describing Irwin’s long journey to find a final resting place. Chris Noble, a deacon at Our Lady of the Valley Church, told the attendees that while most did not know Irwin personally, they recognized his service. He said the community was showing up for one another to honor what the private stood for.

Rev. Tom Harty of the United Church of Bethel added that Irwin was a human being deserving of respect. He asked the congregation to grant the private everlasting peace. Ducharme closed the ceremony by thanking the attendees for their service and apologizing for the delay in getting Irwin to his final destination.