On June 26, Cecilio Meléndez, an adult over 91 years old, died in Barranquilla, after being referred from a health post in Sabanagrande, where he arrived with symptoms of respiratory arrest.
His wish was “to have a dignified death”, that’s why since 2013 he paid an “funeral” policy “on time”, which his relatives wanted to make effective upon learning of his death.
However, when notifying the La Capilla Funeral Home, it informed them that they could not do the diligence the same day, but 24 hours later because “they presented congestion”.
Uncertainly, the family waited, but when the hours passed and they did not receive the service, they called the funeral home again and this time they told them that they could not comply with the funeral plan because the deceased was in default.
According to one of his granddaughters, the delay was due to the fact that the collector stopped going to his grandfather’s house due to the pandemic. The months in arrears that corresponded to April and May were canceled through an electronic payment, days prior to Meléndez’s death.
“The Funeral Home said there was nothing to do because, due to the delay that occurred, we had no right to claim the service. And indeed in the fine print of the contract it says so, but my grandfather did not know it. This is an abuse. Also, that was not what we were told when we called the first time, “said the granddaughter.
Finally, the Sabanagrande Mayor’s Office supported the family to be able to give “Christian burial” to Meléndez, just as they had wished.
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