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News brief: Public invited to burial ceremony for unclaimed persons

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Coroner’s Office will be holding an interment service on Friday for seven individuals who were unclaimed after their deaths in Lewis County.

The urns containing their cremated remains are to be buried at Pioneer Cemetery in south Chehalis.

The public is welcome to attend. The ceremony is set for 11 a.m.

Pioneer Cemetery is located at 2000 Jackson Highway. It is owned by John and Marie Panesko, who are donating the space.

“John Panesko has once again offered the use of his cemetery allowing for the cremated remains to be interned with dignity, respect and compassion,” Coroner Warren McLeod stated in a news release this morning.

Two years ago, the coroner’s office and Panesko arranged for two unclaimed individuals to be interred at Pioneer.

McLeod said there may be an eighth person laid to rest with them, if his urn is delivered back from the crematory in time.

Parking is available across the street.

The following are the individuals:

• Robert Francis Aita, 73, Centralia, died Oct. 3, 2013

• Johnny Barna, 60, Centralia, died Nov. 30, 2014

• Jack I. Cook, 67, Centralia, died April 11, 2014

• David Hahn, 51, Centralia, died Sept. 15, 2014

• Trisha McKenzie-Fire, 57, Randle, died Sept. 22, 2011*

• Kenneth Petkevis, 57, Centralia, died Jan. 7, 2014

• Richard Reise, 72, Centralia, died Jan. 26, 2015

* McKenzie-Fire, was reported missing from her home in April 2011 and her remains were discovered about a mile and a half away on Sept. 22, 2011.