ComplaintsforSerenity Funeral Home

• Initial Complaint

  12/16/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  Please refer to my email to S ******** at BBB titled Complaint against Serenity Funeral Home email 1 of 2 sent 12/16/22 at 12:38PM. The full content of my complaint could not fit in this space; plus I have attached audio of the facts.

  Customer response

  12/23/2022

  My family is left in shock, devastated, and in distress. For the publics safety and emotional well-being this funeral home needs to be held accountable.
  
  Mid-November I contacted Serenity Funeral Home ****************************************************** to organize the transport of my brother ************************* *************** from Miami ************************ to be buried in ********* **. I haggled to get a good price. I was sent the price list.  
  
  On 11/29/22 via email I asked for the cost to be put on company letterhead and email to me. There was an issue surrounding the next of kin. My brother had 4 wives. It actually turns out he only had 3 wives and the 3rd wife wanted to cremate him. I informed ********** of my deep faith and it is against my beliefs to cremate anyone who is created in the image and likeness of God. My brother has a plot beside our mom ******************************* and his son ***************************
  
  ********** stated he had talked with my sister-in-law and my sister-in-law *************************** agreed to sign my brother over to Serenity Funeral Home. I was informed by ********************* that she was in essence signing him over to me. ********** informed me that I was now responsible for making all the arrangements and fees. My brother is now my responsibility. (Listen to audio recording). So, I proceeded to make the arrangements. On several occasions I was informed by the ***** medical examiners office that they had not received a signed release for my brothers body from my sister-in-law. So, I called ********** periodically to see where the process was at. On 12/1/22 I was informed all paperwork was complete and (Listen to audio recording).
  
  On 12/2/22 ********** sent me Authorization to Embalming and Death Certificate forms to complete. My brother is now under my authorization and my sister-in-law cannot revoke it. I completed those forms and emailed them back to **********. On 12/4/22 I called and confirmed the cost of everything with ********** because he had not sent me the invoice. 
  
  On 12/5/22 I went to Serenity Funeral Home ****************************************************** to finalize everything and choose a casket. I was told ********** was in the basement and was not to be disturbed. I asked to see the casket book and she told me she cant let me see the casket book. I would have to talk to ***** because he is the owner. I asked her to ask ***** to send me photos of the caskets. In the afternoon I received photos of caskets that were substandard. I sent ********** an email asking about the limited variety of caskets and inquiring about the ***** ********************** home that is in charge of sending my brother back.  
  
  At approximately 9PM the same night I received a phone call from ********** that left me in distress. I was left feeling belittled, attacked, confused, ashamed and devastated (Please listen to the recorded conversation). My only inference was ********** wanted to pay for everything and have me owe him. Based on the verbal assault; I had no say in anything. I cant ask about anything. I am to be submissive and accept whatever he says. (Listen to audio recording)
  
  On the morning of 12/6/22 I immediately called another funeral home to take over as ********** suggested. I was informed contrary to what I was told by ********** my brother had already been picked up by the Genesis ********************** Home in *****. So, when ********** was verbally accosting me, he already had control of my brothers body. (Listen to audio recordings). The funeral home I contacted to take over informed me that Genesis ********************** Home in ***** stated my sister-in-law had signed him over to them and I have no say so. I was also informed that earlier that day ********** had contacted my sister-in-law and instructed her to cremate my brother. My sister-in-law would not answer any of my calls. I was informed by another person that my sister-in-law was shocked and devastated. She had been expecting a call telling her the date of the burial. Instead, ********** called her and told her to cremate him. After speaking with ********** my sister-in-law changed her phone number, so I was not able to contact her. ********** has intentionally devastated and caused distress to my family. ********** had told me I could choose another funeral home; however, ********** with malicious intent sabotaged my plans to bury my brother by calling my sister-in-law and telling her to cremate my brother. ********** knows cremating my brother would cause deep emotional turmoil and distress. It is a violation of my religious beliefs.
  
  No one at Serenity Funeral Home will talk to me outside of him. I do not want to do business with Serenity Funeral Home because of the trauma I have endured. It is unreasonable to expect me to do business with Serenity Funeral Home. I should have been allowed to change ********************** homes as ********** strongly suggested. (Listen to audio recordings) I am distressed about Serenity Funeral Home reverting back to my sister-in-law to cremate my brother when my brother was supposed to be under my care. ********** did something he told me was not possible to do. No one should be treated this way. This feels like Ive been kicked when I am already down; like I have been stabbed when I am already bleeding. This is unimaginable, tortious, devious, and unbelievable. This is horrifying!

  
  

  The attached audio recordings titles are the date and time the recordings were made.
  
  Thank you,

  Business response

  01/06/2023

  Serenity Funeral Home ********************************************************************** ************ "Serving you with compassion embracing you with tranquility"

  see attached response in regards to complaint

  Customer response

  01/09/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  Please review attached Position letter.
  
  

  Regards,
  
  *******************************

  Business response

  01/10/2023

  Dear ********************: 

  Our obligations have been satisified with the next of kin, the wife. Thank you. 

  Customer response

  01/11/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  This is cold and disheartening. I contacted these people Serenity Funeral Home to bring my brother home to ********* ** to bury him by his mother and his oldest son
  I was told *************************** signed my brother over to me. The level of deception, mockery, and inhumane treatment of this matter is unimaginable. No one should have to deal with these kinds of people. They lack integrity, compassion, professionalism, values and morals. *************************** was not the person who employed them. I employed them to handle bring my brother home. I should have been allowed to change providers as aggressively told by Serenity Funeral Home to do. Thank you BBB of ********* for your attention in this matter. May *** bless you and keep you!  
  

  Regards,
  
  *******************************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩