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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/11/police-investigate-report-grandmothers-coffin-swapped-for-pine-box-before-cremation
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police investigate report grandmother's coffin swapped for pine box before cremation | Police investigate report grandmother's coffin swapped for pine box before cremation |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Police are investigating an alleged fraud after a central Queensland family accused a funeral home of switching a grandmother’s $1,700 silky oak coffin for a cheap pine box just before her cremation. | Police are investigating an alleged fraud after a central Queensland family accused a funeral home of switching a grandmother’s $1,700 silky oak coffin for a cheap pine box just before her cremation. |
| Janice Cecilia Valigura, 74, was farewelled in Rockhampton on Monday, but her family say she was removed from her casket, wrapped in plastic and placed in a cheap box prior to her cremation. | Janice Cecilia Valigura, 74, was farewelled in Rockhampton on Monday, but her family say she was removed from her casket, wrapped in plastic and placed in a cheap box prior to her cremation. |
| Letters written by her grandchildren and placed on her heart were thrown away. | Letters written by her grandchildren and placed on her heart were thrown away. |
| Queensland police have confirmed they are investigating the matter. | Queensland police have confirmed they are investigating the matter. |
| “It’s been reported as a fraud and that’s what’s being investigated at this stage,” Detective Sergeant Craig Strohfeldt told reporters on Thursday. | “It’s been reported as a fraud and that’s what’s being investigated at this stage,” Detective Sergeant Craig Strohfeldt told reporters on Thursday. |
| “It’s only been alleged at this stage but if the investigations do prove that an offence has been committed then it is a shocking thing.” | “It’s only been alleged at this stage but if the investigations do prove that an offence has been committed then it is a shocking thing.” |
| The funeral home, Harts Family Funerals, declined to comment. Owner Tony Hart would only say there were “two families involved in the story”. | The funeral home, Harts Family Funerals, declined to comment. Owner Tony Hart would only say there were “two families involved in the story”. |
| The president of the Queensland Funeral Directors Association, Anton Brown, said changing coffins was not common practice in the funeral industry. | The president of the Queensland Funeral Directors Association, Anton Brown, said changing coffins was not common practice in the funeral industry. |
| “It’s like buying a Mercedes and getting a Toyota Corolla,” Brown told ABC radio. “When people choose a funeral director they put a lot of trust in that person.” | “It’s like buying a Mercedes and getting a Toyota Corolla,” Brown told ABC radio. “When people choose a funeral director they put a lot of trust in that person.” |
| Valigura’s son Mick Valigura said the family was shocked by what they claimed had happened. | Valigura’s son Mick Valigura said the family was shocked by what they claimed had happened. |
| On the funeral home’s website, Hart promises to provide bereaved families with “personal and exceptional care”. | On the funeral home’s website, Hart promises to provide bereaved families with “personal and exceptional care”. |
| “We pride ourselves on offering families a funeral that is affordable, professional, modern in standards and of the highest integrity,” he says. | “We pride ourselves on offering families a funeral that is affordable, professional, modern in standards and of the highest integrity,” he says. |
| Queensland | Queensland |
| Death and dying | Death and dying |
| news | news |
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