Death overseas
 

I got the news almost 3 weeks ago that an old friend of mine that was living in the Phillipines was killed in a motorcycle accident. He was originally from Elton, and he and I worked together years ago. Originally, accordding to his sister, he was embalmed and a memorial service was held in his home town there with his wife and her family. Then he was to be flown back to the US for a funeral and burial in Elton.

After 3 weeks of red tape and 'runaround', looks like his family may finally have him on a plane and coming home. Simply pitiful how the US Embassy handled this and I am sure of some things, and can only speculate on others. I do know that nothing got done until the family wired $10k to them to pay for services???????? Crazy!

My little sister is a mortician with 17 years of service at the same funeral home. She tells me that dealing with funerals with other countries involved is a nightmare for all involved. Her husband frequently travels overseas for work and she already has a plan should something ever happen to him. She and her kids will jump on a plane and go to where his remains happen to be, have a small service and viewing, then cremate and carry him home themselves. It is such a shame they have to think like this and I just wanted to vent, but I know a few guys on here work overseas.

That sucks. Sorry to hear about your friend.

Sorry for your loss......My Aunts brother passed away on a rig in China and didn't make back till Point Aux Chene till over 9 weeks later.

Sorry for the loss of your friend. I travel overseas alot for work and every country is different. It is good to have a forward plan for overseas deaths because the US State Dept is almost no help overseas. Other thing to consider if you are going to retrieve a body in another country, sometimes getting a visa just to enter a country can take months.
There was a young lady from Lafayette who was hit by a car and killed in South Africa during the FIFA World Cup a year ago and they had to hold a fundraiser in Laf. to raise some money to bring her body back. $10K seems to be the magic figure in try to expedite things. The western world places a higher value on life and death than other countries.

Sorry for your loss