The body of a Korean War veteran was exhumed at the National Cemetery on Thursday and dentures belonging to his hospital roommate were retrieved.
An order from Chancery Court had been granted for the unusual exhumation of the body of 76-year-old Kenneth Manis.
He was in a room at Parkridge Hospital when he died. His 83-year-old roommate was out of the room at the time personnel took the effects of Mr. Manis. But they got the wrong dentures.
Phyllis Manis, widow of Mr. Manis, told the UK Daily Mail she made the discovery that he was buried with the wrong dentures after finding his false teeth.
She said she and family members wanted the casket brought back up because he would not have wanted to have been buried with items that did not belong to him.
She told the newspaper, "I knew he wouldn't rest in peace with this happening. My husband is laying in his grave with this other man's teeth and I just couldn't let it be that way. I knew my husband wouldn't want it that way."
Ms. Manis said the other patient's wallet and keys were also mixed up with her husband's items.
Parkridge agreed to pay for the exhumation and for the court costs.
Parkridge officials said, "As healthcare providers, our hearts go out to the family of Mr. Manis for the loss of their loved one.
"Following the death of Mr. Manis, the hospital inadvertently gave the family his personal belongings and those of another patient. It is our understanding that these belongings were buried with Mr. Manis.
"At the request of the Manis family, Parkridge agreed to assume the cost of exhuming the coffin so that the personal belongings could be retrieved. It is our intent that this action will bring peace and closure to the family."