Cremation dispute
New York family alleges funeral home cremated loved one against wishes, demands answers
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A Queens, New York funeral home cremated a 93-year-old woman against her family's explicit wishes, leaving relatives with no body to bury and no certainty the ashes they received even belong to their loved one. The family of Euvy Rodney is now demanding accountability from J. Fosters Phillips Funeral Home in Jamaica, Queens, according to WBTV.
Rodney had one clear final wish: to be buried next to her grandmother in Guyana. Instead, the funeral home cremated her. Her family says the home dodged their questions before handing over the ashes. "We have no closure," the family said, according to WSMV.
A 93-Year-Old's Final Wish Ignored
Euvy Rodney lived to 93 and had a specific plan for what would happen after she died. She wanted to be buried in Guyana, next to her own grandmother. That wish was not honored. According to KOLD, the family brought Rodney's body to J. Fosters Phillips Funeral Home expecting it to be prepared for that burial — not cremated.
Cremation is the direct opposite of burial. Once a body is cremated, it cannot be buried whole. The family says this choice was made without their consent. They allege the funeral home did not follow any instructions given to them, according to 13ABC.
Funeral Home Dodged Questions Before Handing Over Ashes
After the cremation, the family says J. Fosters Phillips Funeral Home refused to give them straight answers. They claim the home avoided their calls and questions. Only later did the funeral home hand over a container of ashes, according to WALB.
The family has no way to confirm the ashes are actually Rodney's. There is no verification process the family was shown. This has deepened their grief and anger. "We have no closure," they said, as reported by WCAX.
Family Lawyers Threaten Lawsuit Against Funeral Home
Attorneys representing the Rodney family say they want the funeral home held fully responsible. They are weighing a lawsuit against J. Fosters Phillips Funeral Home, according to KKTV. The lawyers argue the home violated the family's rights and Rodney's own final wishes.
Funeral homes in New York are required to follow written authorization before cremating a body. Families must give explicit consent. If the home cremated Rodney without that consent, it could face serious legal consequences, according to WNDU.
Family Left With Grief and Unanswered Questions
The Rodney family cannot hold the traditional burial they planned. The trip to Guyana to lay Euvy to rest beside her grandmother is no longer possible as intended. The family says the loss of that ritual has made grieving far harder, according to WECT.
The funeral home has not made a public statement addressing the family's claims. As of now, the family holds a container of ashes they cannot confirm are their loved one's remains. Their lawyers say they will keep pushing until the funeral home answers for what happened, according to KCTV5.
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