Great-Grandmother cremated by the wrong family after an error at mortuary

The devastated family of Marion Greenwood had planned her funeral in loving detail. The ailing 95-year-old had told relatives her last wish had been to be buried alongside her husband and son. Marion’s grieving relatives had organised the coffin, funeral service and flowers at their methodist church in Ashton.

Grandson Mark Andrews said: “It was all planned out. It will never happen now.” Mark and the family are still reeling from the shocking news that Marion’s body was released to the wrong relatives in a mortuary mix-up – and later cremated.

It was Mrs Greenwood’s daughter Susan who had to contact the family and cancel the arrangements for the funeral. “My mum is heartbroken,” said Mark. “She hasn’t been able to sleep since she found out.”

Mark remembers how Marion had been very particular about what happened after her death. “My grandma did not want to be cremated,” he said. “She had a space in the family plot.

“This has devastated the whole family. We just can’t believe this has happened.” In his grief and anger, Mark still has time to spare a thought for the second family caught up in the tragic blunder.

“We feel for them,” he said. “They thought they had already cremated their relation and will have to go through it a second time now. They must be going through hell just like we are.”