SPRINGFIELD — Siblings are accusing a Chicopee funeral home of cremating their deceased father before they had a chance to pay their final respects, a new lawsuit alleges.
Breanna Santiago, a Pennsylvania woman, and her brother, Anthony Santiago of Westfield, claim Grisé Funeral Home cremated their late father ahead of a pre-scheduled viewing of his body, which allegedly violated a contract between the parties.
Breanna Santiago allegedly called the funeral home on Sept. 14, 2022, to talk to Angela Belz, funeral director, about funeral arrangements for her sick father, says the nine-page lawsuit filed in Hampden Superior Court last week.
The next day, Angel L. Santiago, the siblings’ father, died. He was 72, according to his obituary. The lawsuit was filed on the third anniversary of his death.
Breanna Santiago alleges that on Sept. 16, 2022, she called Belz to plan the outfit her father was to wear during the one-hour viewing before his cremation.
Instead, Breanna Santiago alleges she was told that her late father had already been cremated, the lawsuit said.
“At no point in time did either plaintiff (Breanna Santiago or Anthony Santiago) execute a written cremation order,” the lawsuit said.
The funeral home, open since 1921, is a family-owned business. It works with families on funerals — either burials or cremations — and pre-arrangements, according to its website.
When reached by phone Monday, Belz, the funeral director, said she was not aware of the lawsuit. She declined to comment.
There is no attorney listed for Belz or the funeral home in court documents. This is the only lawsuit filed against the funeral home, according to court dockets.
The Santiago siblings are represented by Springfield attorney Enrico De Maio. De Maio did not immediately respond to phone or emailed requests for comment.
The Santiagos are suing the funeral home on multiple counts including intentional interference with a dead body, reckless and negligent interference with a dead body and interference with a corpse. Additional counts include negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract.
They are demanding a jury trial.