A Family Mystery: Body Moved from Hawaii to San Francisco 52 yrs after Original Burial

Eliza Mercado was born 1891 in Puerto Rico and died August 1, 1923 in Honolulu Hawaii, where she was buried. On August 4th 1975, Elizabeth’s body was removed and put on a plane to be re-buried at Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma, California.

While most Graveyard explorers know that relocation of interns from one cemetery to another is really nothing new, rarely does it involve such a long distance. A move such as this would be quite costly and certainly not paid for by the cemetery or state. The reburial was not of ashes, but a grave.

Eliza Mercado was laid to rest this second (last lets hope!) time with Chilo Mercado, who was born 1881 in Puerto Rico, immigrated to Hawaii abt. 1899 and then settled in San Francisco in 1924- one year after the death of Eliza. Chilo Mercado passed away on July 24, 1968.

I have no idea what the relationship is between Chilo and Eliza; they may have been wed or she may be a Daughter. Whatever the relation, someone cared quite deeply to know that they should be placed together and made this happen.

I have tried to research cemetery reburials in Hawaii circa 1923 with no luck. Cypress Lawn staff was kind enough to meet with me and throughly check their records but there was nothing specified other than the above posted dates and information. One clue may be in the undertaker (Tommy Wong) and address on Kopke St. Honolulu. If anyone has any information or theories I would love to hear them.