SPRINGFIELD – The efforts of the Illinois Office of Comptroller (IOC) to preserve the dignity and sanctity of care of the deceased continues with an investigation into the crematory authority license at Bohemian National Cemetery Association in Chicago, Illinois.
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The IOC was alerted about possible violations at the crematory located on Bohemian cemetery grounds late afternoon July 21, 2026. Office staff visited the site first thing in the morning on July 22, 2026, and found multiple equipment failures and some human remains waiting to be cremated that were not maintained at the proper temperature.
IOC employees were on site at Bohemian every day, for several days following the initial visit. We directed the crematory to stop accepting any new decedents for cremation until all issues have been resolved. Bohemian has been cooperative to date.
At the time of our visit, 35 individuals at the facility were waiting to be cremated. This has been completed and nearly all the cremated remains have been returned to their respective families.
The investigation is ongoing and potential disciplinary action is being discussed.
Cemetery burials and cemetery visiting hours have not been affected and remain unchanged.
Every human being deserves to be treated with respect when they pass, and we are doing everything in our power to hold crematories around the state to the high standards that families deserve.
While Bohemian did comply with stopping crematory operations, I am thankful for a new law my office spearheaded that will allow the IOC to summarily suspend a crematory license without a prior hearing and immediately inspect the premises and records in egregious cases. It takes effect January 1, 2027.
