Mortuary supports families with infant funerals

Clarendon-based House of Wills Mortuary has made a compassionate decision to waive many burial costs for infants, recognising that the loss of a child is an unimaginable pain for families.

Managing Director Erlal Mattrasingh explained that the policy stems from the deep emotional toll these tragedies take on both families and mortuary staff.

"Babies, those are the ones that hit the hardest," Mattrasingh said.

He said that in the case of newborns, mothers are preparing for their arrival, "and to think that you're not going to get that opportunity, it is hard".

Under the policy, the mortuary covers costs such as embalming, storage, and, in some cases, transportation.

"Parents shouldn't have to worry about costs on top of the heartbreak of losing a child who hasn't even had a chance at life," Mattrasingh said.

Families are only responsible for incidental expenses like flowers or cemetery fees, which are sometimes reduced as well.

Mattrasingh said that smaller caskets are often made from leftover materials and provided as acts of goodwill.

"If the builder is donating the casket, why should we charge the family?" he asked.

While funerals for young children are thankfully rare, House of Wills maintains the policy because of the unique grief involved.

"We may handle fewer than five deaths of children under two each year, but we also offer discounts to families with older children," he said.

Patrick Williams, CEO of the mortuary, recalled a moment decades ago that shaped the home's compassionate approach.

"In 1981, a young couple lost their daughter shortly after she was born. The casket was small, and we didn't use a hearse -- we placed it on a jump seat in the back of a limousine. At the cemetery, the mother took the baby in her arms and refused to let her go. She was screaming and trembling. The pastor had to intervene. I just gave her a few minutes, and that moment has stayed with me ever since."

Mattrasingh emphasised that the decision is a personal choice, not an industry expectation.

"I wouldn't tell other funeral homes they have to do this. It's something we choose because it's how we want to support families in our care."

Funeral services in Jamaica generally start around $250,000 to $400,000 for basic packages, with more elaborate arrangements ranging from $500,000 to over $1 million. Entry-level packages usually include body preparation, use of the chapel, a standard casket, hearse, and coordination of the service.

Calvin Lyn, president of the Jamaica Association of Certified Embalmers and Funeral Directors, said the association does not have a policy that mandates free burials for children. He, however, said that many individual mortuaries choose to assist grieving families through discounts or complimentary services.

" These decisions are guided by compassion and a desire to support families in their communities," Lyn said.