‘No closure’: Great-grandmother cremated against her final wishes, family says
No Closure: Great-Grandmother Cremated Against Final Wishes in Queens
Tyunews.com – The grieving family of Euvy Rodney, a 93-year-old great-grandmother, is demanding answers from a Jamaica, Queens funeral home after they allege their beloved matriarch was cremated contrary to her explicit final wishes. Rodney passed away on July 8, and her family immediately noticed something was wrong when they learned about the unexpected cremation instead of the burial she had requested in her native Guyana.
The family obtained a death certificate that clearly documented Rodney's desire to be buried in Guyana, where she hoped to rest beside her own grandmother. However, instead of honoring this heartfelt request, the J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home cremated her remains. This devastating outcome has left the family feeling that they have lost their mother twice—first in death, and then again when they lost her body to cremation.
Family Speaks Out About Their Pain
"We have lost our mom twice," explained Christine Weaver, one of Rodney's eleven children. "We have lost her in death, we have lost her body, we have no closure for our mother." Weaver's words capture the profound sense of no closure that the family continues to experience. She added with emotion, "For all she has done on earth, that's how you treat her?"
The family's struggle did not end with discovering the cremation. They had to "jump through hoops" to reclaim Rodney's ashes, adding to their emotional burden during an already difficult time. This additional challenge has made it even harder for the family to find peace and no closure in their grief.
Civil Rights Leaders Call for Investigation
On Monday, Civil Rights Leader Rev. Kevin McCall organized a press conference outside the J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home to demand accountability. McCall expressed his outrage on behalf of the family, stating that no funeral home should carry that title if it lacks dignity and respect for grieving families.
"They robbed this family of that," McCall declared passionately. "We are calling on this funeral home to be shut down immediately. The state needs to investigate." His words reflect the family's feeling of no closure and their desire for justice. McCall emphasized that the community deserves to know why such a fundamental mistake occurred.
Legal representation is now stepping in to help the family. John Eleftrakis and Wayne Wattley from the EEP Law Firm announced they are launching an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Rodney's cremation. The attorneys indicated they could pursue a lawsuit if warranted by their findings.
Funeral Home Responds to Allegations
J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home Inc. released a statement addressing the family's concerns. The statement expressed deep sorrow for the distress caused and promised to support the family with care, compassion, and respect during this challenging period.
"For generations, J. Foster Phillips has been a trusted, family-owned funeral home, serving our community for 97 years with care and compassion," the statement read. "As a third-generation business, we have always been committed to treating every individual with dignity, respect, and the highest standard of care." The funeral home added that they remain committed to accountability and honoring the trust placed in them by families they serve.
"Out of respect for those involved, we will not be providing further comment at this time," the statement concluded. Despite this response, the family continues to feel a sense of no closure as they await answers about what went wrong.
The family plans to hold what they are calling a symbolic funeral on Friday in Queens. This ceremony will provide an opportunity for Rodney's loved ones to finally say goodbye in the manner she had always wanted. Until then, the family's search for no closure continues as they navigate this unexpected loss and the questions that remain unanswered.