The body of a popular barmaid has been stuck in a morgue fridge for a month because her funeral costs were denied.
Tracey Polley passed away at home at the age of 51 after a long illness.
Due to her sudden death, she did not have any money or insurance to pay for her funeral, with the responsibility falling on her son, Anton Smith, 27, and her best friend Helen Rice, 51.
But when they tried to get funding to cover a basic funeral, they were denied because they had already spoken to a funeral director which they could not afford.
Helen said: "Everyone has the right to have a proper funeral with their family and friends there.
Mourners pay respects at funeral to Brit mum accused of murdering her toddler son
Funeral home hosts guided tours in a bid to 'bury the myths' around death
“I have been her personal assistant for 11 years but I have been friends for 30 years, so it still hasn't sunk in yet.
"If I could go back to when the police asked us if we wanted to appoint a funeral director, I'd say no and let the council handle it.
"But Anton and I went to the Alexanders Funeral Care and tried to sort the cheapest funeral procedure out, but looking into her accounts we realised she didn't have anything in place to cover a funeral. It was going to cost us over £3,000, so we couldn't afford it.
"I fought her battles for years and this is my final battle for her. She deserves better. She's had a crap life and a crap death and she deserves some justice from it.”
Anton was put in touch with firm Simplicity, a company that handles low-cost funerals which can't be attended by family and friends.
He added: “She has now been picked up by them and will be cremated this week without a service.
"After we were denied any funding from the council, we were given two options.
"Either give the funeral directors access to her house and accounts to try and raise funds, or go with Simplicity and get her body cremated.
"She's been through so much already that I didn't want to prolong it even further.”
A memorial service for Tracey is also planned.
A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire Council said: "We're sorry to hear about the concerns raised in relation to these funeral arrangements.
"We have been in contact with the family and we are trying to help find a solution, but there are laws governing the council’s responsibilities with national assistance funerals.
"The council does not get involved if someone has already instructed a funeral director or where arrangements have been made.”
Source: Read Full Article