Time Running Out for Family to Claim Body of Bergen County Woman

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Englewood NJ, The family of Carmela Polimeni, a 92-year-old Bergen County resident whose body has remained unclaimed since her death last month, has until this weekend to arrange her funeral before a local funeral home steps in. Polimeni passed away on July 17 at the CareOne at Cresskill nursing facility, and Eternity Funeral Services in Englewood has been trying to locate her relatives since then.

In a notice published in The Record earlier this week, the funeral home announced that if no one comes forward by Saturday, they will proceed with burial arrangements in accordance with local laws and regulations.

Eternity Funeral Services Executive Director Aree Booker explained that efforts to reach Polimeni’s family members and friends in Leonia, where she lived, and in Italy, have been unsuccessful. “We’ve tried every possible contact number we were given, but they were either incorrect or disconnected,” Booker told NorthJersey.com on Tuesday afternoon.

Polimeni’s apartment manager shared with the funeral home that she was never married, had no children, and that her only brother passed away over two decades ago. Although it was believed that her brother had a son in Italy, attempts to reach him have also failed. Booker noted that no one had visited Polimeni in the 25 years she lived in her apartment.

The funeral home has exhausted all avenues in trying to connect with Polimeni’s loved ones, including placing the notice in the newspaper. “We just want to have Ms. Polimeni laid to rest peacefully,” Booker said.

New Jersey law mandates that any unclaimed or unidentified body must be viewed by the local medical examiner, an assistant examiner, or a licensed physician assigned by them. If no one claims the body, it will be buried at the county’s expense in an unmarked grave.

Since the notice was posted, several strangers have reached out to the funeral home offering to pay for Polimeni’s funeral. Some have suggested cremation, though it is not legally permitted. Booker mentioned that he “would definitely honor” any service held at a local church.

Anyone with information about Polimeni’s next of kin is urged to contact Aree Booker at 201-568-2671.

 

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