LOWER BURRELL, Pa. -- Members of Puckety Presbyterian Church said PennDOT accidentally paved over the grave of Sarah Ann Kennedy, a 26-year-old buried in 1841, when widening Puckety Church Road just off Route 56.

"We're received assurances that the remains will be preserved one way or another with integrity," said Pastor Gary Close.

The most likely option is to exhume Kennedy's body and move her to another part of the cemetery, but to do that, the church needs a family member's permission.

"We've made some efforts to try to identify family members, going through our records and contacting members of our congregation who might have a family connection," said Close.

Kennedy's grave sits only 18 inches from the state's right-of-way, but no maps exist that indicate whether her head or her feet are under the pavement.

So far, the church hasn't been able to find anyone directly or indirectly related to Kennedy.

Church members hope the story will produce a lead.

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