Family upset after funeral home cremates wrong body

Val Jean's clothes and jewelry were also on the wrong person.

Adult family members did not notice the mistake at the open-casket ceremony, but several younger family members did.

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Errol McDonald, one of Val Jean McDonald's eight sons, said his 10-year-old grandson told him, "That doesn't look like grandma."

His brother, Leroy McDonald, said his 6-year-old granddaughter told him something similar.

"She said, 'Granddaddy, I don't think that's grandma,'" said Leroy McDonald. "I know she took it hard."

Richard McDonald, another son of Val Jean McDonald, also remarked the person didn't look like his mother.

Other adults explained that cancer can change a person's appearance.

The New York Times reported that six days after the funeral, on Jan. 5, a manager from the funeral home the family used, McCall's Bronxwood Funeral Home, called Richard McDonald, and told him the wrong body was in the funeral.

Darryl McDonald drove to the funeral home to confirm what his brother was told.

"The (manager) was apologizing," Darryl McDonald said. "She only realized what she had done when she was looking for the other lady."

The family scheduled another cremation for Val Jean's body Jan. 9.

After family came from all over the world for the first viewing -- some as far as Australia -- only four people could come to the proper viewing.

When Leroy McDonald collected Val Jean's remains, he left a made a pointed remark. "I said, 'You sure this is my mother now?'"

James H. Alston, the owner of the funeral home, said the business has been operating for 50 years.

"We have a stellar reputation in this community," he said. "We're known for our care, compassion, professionalism, the quality of our work."

When Alston was shown a side-by-side photo of both of the women, he said, "Looks like the same woman to me."

George Arzt, spokesman for the funeral home, said, "All aspects of the situation were shared with the appropriate government regulating agencies, and therefore we cannot say anything further. We have expressed to the affected families our acute distress and sorrow over this occurrence, and we are reimbursing the McDonalds for all costs associated with the funeral."

A spokeswoman from New York's Bureau of Funeral Directing said it is investigating.

The New York's Division of Cemeteries is also investigating, according to a spokesman.