NEW YORK — A Queens family has filed a lawsuit after a funeral home allegedly sent their loved one’s body to the wrong country.
A woman’s remains were accidentally flown from New York to Guatemala instead of Ecuador
Carmen Maldonado, mother of six and beloved grandmother, died in May.
Her family says they filled out paperwork at the Rivera Funeral Home in Corona to have her body prepared here, but then flew to her home country of Ecuador so the family could say their final goodbyes there.
“She wanted to be buried next to my grandfather,” said granddaughter Karla Minchala.
Instead, Maldonado’s daughter says she learned from a news report on TikTok that her mother’s body had ended up in Guatemala.
Speaking in Spanish, she told CBS News New York: “We accepted God’s will that she leave, but that we would not experience this terrible confusion.”
The family says the funeral home apologized, but then they had to beg to pay for the body to be flown from Guatemala to Ecuador.
“Every day we had to call and call, please, please,” said son Carlos Minchala.
The family also paid the costs themselves to ensure that Maldonado’s body was preserved.
Carlos Minchala had to fly from Queens to Guatemala to pick up her casket, and said it felt like grieving all over again.
Family takes Rivera Funeral Home to court
The family believes they are not alone and says that is why they have taken the funeral home to court.
“A lot of people don’t take legal action, because why? Because some people don’t have legal status,” said Carlos Minchala. “Too expensive… for other countries.”
The lawsuit seeks an undisclosed amount for various causes, including emotional distress and breach of contract.
CBS News New York did reach out to Rivera and the owner named in the lawsuit – RG Ortiz Funeral Homes – but did not hear back by our deadline.
Lisa Rozner
