I called and told the funeral director, Quianna, that I was not happy with the facilities for the funeral. Quiana was rude, argumentative, and spoke over me, raising her voice louder and louder. I had to say to her stop speaking to me like a child and over me. When she kept it up, I had to say goodbye, Ma'am, and I hung up the telephone. I called back, and I asked if she would support a church funeral service. She said yes. I called my friends and ST Thomas Church, which was the day before the scheduled funeral. ST Thomas Church said yes right away, Barbara Parks, was so kind. Quianna was right about one thing, my family, especially my sisters, who knew the neighborhood, should have told me before I came from Texas. I didn't understand Quianna's disrespect until my sister shared an email she sent to the funeral home--that my other sister, who also didn't come to family meeting with funeral home, used my Father's power of attorney to try to cremate my mother. My sister told me that Quianna would not give them my mother's remains unless they reimbursed me in full. Finally, Quinna said they had been calling a lot, bothering her, although she didn't mention what it was about. Quianna said she treats everyone the same, no matter if they pay or not. But my sister, who didn't pay anything, said she was nicer to her, and my sister called and wrote complaints on their website objecting to live-streaming and my mother's photo and obituary on the website (Settled by cancelling both). I am very disappointed that Quianna refused to publish her obituary without the birthday. My sisters had objected to my mother's birthday showing. I want it published now with the birthday, as some time has passed. So, my brother and I paid for services we didn't get. The Chatman-Harris viewing room is exceptionally nice, but I was told we couldn't have our viewing there because they were full, and we would have to use the chapel. I asked several times if we could use the viewing room, and finally got a "yes." They were disorganized, and I don't know the reason for this because it didn't seem to be a normal state of affairs. Every day or other day I would get a call that they need this or that information, sometimes the same information I had given them. Right before the viewing, they called and said they need hair, a wig for my mother, and no family member had brought over under garments. I rushed to the store, then rushed over with clip in hair, and Ariel asked me for the hair. I refused, stating I would put it on my mother, fully ready to wash her hair and dry it with the towel I brought. As they informed me her hair was matted and, at the top of her head, an injury was showing. Ariel said she wasn't there yet, and they were still working on her. My sister had called and gave them the what for, telling them to fix her hair and make it right. The body was late, but our family viewing proceeded. They apologized they had her awhile so she wasn't as nice as possible, but she had no matted hair, she was dressed well, and there was no visible injury in her head. My brother and sister felt she looked good. Although yes, if they embalmed sooner, she would look even better. We gave them the information in my mother's birth certificate, but for "mother's name," they put "unknown." I asked them to change it, and they said they wouldn't, until I argued it wasn't our fault--they conceded, and said they would fix it. I appreciate that they took us on late notice, but I wonder if they were too busy. Generally, they did an excellent job. Ariel had already been kind throughout, and her professionalism and hard work made up for the rocky start and middle. The CD Ariel made of the photos I submitted was outstanding! Except she had removed two pictures of my sister when my sister was protesting the live stream, and told her she wanted them removed, after I told her not to remove them. My sister wanted them in after all. You see my sister cried and hugged me when she saw my mother at the viewing. She was very pleased, and I knew as a minister the family needed to see her remains after the way in which we found her--deceased on her kitchen floor. The bulletin Ariel did on the chosen bi-fold that I typed in my hotel was outstanding! At the funeral, I wondered why they played a tape recorder when I arranged for the pianist to sing "His Eye is on the Sparrow." He seemed like an accomplished musician, as at rehearsal and funeral he accompanied my solos well. But he wouldn't rehearse this song and Sweet Hour of Prayer, beyond singing a portion of Sweet Hour of Prayer, instead of the verses. However, the pall bearers and gentlemen supporting the funeral were nothing but professional gentlemen and all, gave excellent support. Lesson learned: "If your sisters disrespect you and your mother's wishes, the funeral home will disrespect you. But you're blessed for suffering for Christ's sake (burying my mother as she requested) read more
