In a heartbreaking turn of events, the family of Rhonda Hollis is suing a Detroit-area funeral home after her body was mistakenly cremated weeks before the scheduled service.
The devastating error has left her grieving loved ones without the chance to say their final goodbyes.
Rhonda Hollis, a beloved mother and daughter, passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 23. Her family had carefully planned a visitation on Dec. 16, followed by a funeral and then cremation. But on Dec. 4, Fisher Funeral Home cremated her body—without notifying the family.
For more than a week, Rhonda’s loved ones were left in the dark about the irreversible mistake. On Dec. 12, the funeral home finally called her mother, Kathy Hollis, to admit the tragic mishap.
“I’m supposed to be at a viewing looking at my mom, and I can’t,” Saijae Hollis, Rhonda’s devastated daughter, told WLBT.
The funeral home has since apologized, describing the incident as a rare lapse in their nearly 70 years of service. However, the apology has done little to soothe the family’s anguish.
“I was mad, upset, crying,” Kathy Hollis shared. “They robbed us of our chance to say goodbye.”
The family has now turned to attorney Ivan Land, who filed a lawsuit against Fisher Funeral Home alleging breach of contract, negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation, and emotional distress.
“You cannot make a mistake when you’re dealing with someone’s loved one that’s passed away,” Land said as she explained the irreparable harm caused by the funeral home’s actions.
Saijae Hollis said the family is demanding accountability and answers. “I’m hoping my family gets closure. I just want to figure out what happened to my mom in that timespan of her being at the funeral home.”
