A Texas funeral home is being sued for $1 million by a family who say their loved one’s body was left “literally rotting” during winter storm Uri in 2021.
According to the lawsuit obtained by Fox 26 Houston, Julietta Guerra is seeking financial help from Integrity Funeral Home in South Houston after she said her son, Edward Silva, was not embalmed for four days.
Dolcefino Consulting said Silva died unexpectedly on February 9, 2021, and the funeral home received his body on February 11 from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office. A memorial service for her was set for February 17.
The funeral director, Hilda Rojas, reportedly assured Guerra that her son would be embalmed and “they would make it look real.” Ella Rojas reportedly also told him that she could see him after the embalming, which would be on February 12.
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A Google Earth image shows the Integrity Funeral Home at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Houston, Texas. (Google Earth)
In the lawsuit, Guerra said she called on February 12 to ask if she could come see her son’s body and was told it wasn’t ready yet. The same thing happened the next day.
Then winter storm Uri hit Houston on February 14 and Guerra said she was unable to reach anyone at the funeral home, so she and her husband headed to the business to find the doors locked with no one inside. As they drove around the building, she said they noticed there were no generators.
Rojas reportedly called Guerra to tell him there was no power and the service would have to be postponed. On February 21, the lawsuit states that he told her that he could now go see his son and that the funeral could take place on February 23.
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A photo of an empty morgue at a funeral home. (Fox News)
Guerra arrived at the funeral home on February 22 with a beautician to do Silva’s hair and makeup. The lawsuit said he was “severely decomposed” and smelled so bad that the beautician told Guerra’s sister not to let her see her son. The funeral director allegedly did not previously tell any family members about the condition of the body.
The lawsuit described her skin as “so delicate that when she put her makeup on, the skin would slip and fall off.” Her hair was also falling out as she tried to cut and style it.
“The body was badly decayed and it smelled rotten. Edward had been left open and had not been stitched back together. His chest had a gaping hole, an empty cavity that wasn’t filled. It didn’t look like it had been embalmed. There was a terrible smell.” the lawsuit said.
The funeral suit the family had brought for Silva also did not fit properly due to “extreme post-mortem swelling.” Ultimately, her clothing had to be opened and placed over her body in order for her to wear it.
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At the funeral home, Rojas reportedly suggested that Silva’s body be sprayed with cologne to help mask the odor. He also suggested adding coffee grounds in the coffin, but nothing worked.
Guerra also asked Rojas why his son was bleeding and why his fingernails were black if he had been embalmed, according to the lawsuit. She said that he did not answer. Rojas reportedly tried to stick Q-tips into Silva’s ears to stop a liquid that was “dripping.”
Roses sit on top of a closed casket at a funeral home. (iStock)
The lawsuit says the family had no choice but to hold a closed casket service on the day of the funeral because the odor was still so strong. More than 100 friends and family members attended the funeral and noticed the smell, causing many to hold their noses. Some were even “nauseous” from the smell.
Days after the funeral, Guerra went to collect her son’s belongings and the director told her he assumed she wanted them thrown away. Reports suggest the items were dumped because they were “covered with secretions from a decomposing body.”
“No family should have to endure the desecration of their loved one’s body like the Guerra family did,” said family attorney Omar Khawaja. “We intend to hold Integrity Funeral Home at Forest Lawn Cemetery accountable for their egregious conduct.”
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According to the lawsuit, Rojas called Guerra months after the funeral and pleaded with him not to sue the funeral home, stating that they would have to “let people go” if he did.
The lawsuit states that Integrity Funeral Home was “grossly negligent” in its actions and care of Silva’s body.
Guerra has reportedly suffered from mental anguish and depression since the funeral home handled her son. She is also said to be “haunted” by the horrifying experience.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Integrity Funeral Home at Forest Lawn Cemetery for comment.
