This week's Portage Live That Matters is Debbie Clem, director of McCool, Blake, and James Schrock cemeteries.
Clem has been director of cemeteries since Trustee Brendan Clancy gave her the job when he came into office in January of 2011. She was the office manager for four years prior to that. As director, Clem has several jobs.
She oversees and schedules all the burials done in the cemeteries. On top of that, she oversees the overall maintenance of the township cemeteries. She runs the office as the office manager and also sells the graves.
Clem knows plenty about the history of the cemeteries.
According to Clem, McCool was the original pioneer cemetery which opened in 1852. It originally started as a church cemetery then became a township cemetery. Over 3,200 burials have taken place there.
At Blake cemetery, 800 burials have taken place. The James Schrock cemetery has been closed since the last burial in the 1800's. The cemetery is not even an acre along the toll road.
Clem is currently working with the Department of Natural Resources to preserve the cemetery and the monuments in it, including fragments of headstones.
Clem also shared the fact that a few roads have been named after the deceased. Taking care of people is Clem's favorite part of her job.
"I really help a lot of people that are at the saddest part of their lives," Clem said. "I try to make things easier and better for them. I'm here to help them in any way I can." Clem said.
She likes to be there for people by making the cemetery nice and comfortable for people going through losses.
"I am just so thankful that God has put me in this place," Clem said. "It's my calling."