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Burial Choices Limited For Monroe County's Poor Families

Gregory Peterkin, far right, stands with his surviving sisters and supporters to ask the county to increase funds for burials in the community.
Veronica Volk
/
WXXI
Gregory Peterkin, far right, stands with his surviving sisters and supporters to ask the county to increase funds for burials in the community.

Gregory Peterkin lost his younger sister and his mother in the same month, and he does not have the money to give them a burial.

"It's really hurting the family, we're really confused and we don't know who to turn to. It's just really hard right now."

In cases of those who are homeless or otherwise financially unable to pay for burials, Monroe County provides up to $1,250 for funeral services. According to 2015 survey from the Funeral Consumers Alliance, a direct burial can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000, not including embalming or any memorial services.

Sister Grace Miller of the House of Mercy says the high cost forces some families into cremating their loved ones.

"People who have money, well, they kind of have a choice: either cremation or burial. I think poor should have the same choice."

Peterkin says he doesn't want cremation for many reasons, not least of which being the nature of his sister, Wanda's, death.

"My sister was killed in a house fire, so, I sure don't want to see anyone else get burned."

The Peterkin Family as well as representatives from the House of Mercy and St. Josephs House of Hospitality gathered outside the Monroe County Office Building to call for more funds for burials.

A spokesperson from the county declined to comment.

Veronica Volk is a senior editor and producer for WXXI News.