Bipartisan Efforts to Hold Funeral Directors Accountable in Pennsylvania

Source: WTAE

Legislative Changes on the Horizon

In a significant move, a bipartisan effort is underway in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to establish new legislation aimed at holding funeral home directors accountable for their actions. This initiative comes in the wake of serious allegations against Patrick Vereb, the owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial in Pittsburgh. Charged with mishandling pet remains, Vereb’s actions have raised alarms about the need for clearer regulations in the funeral service field, particularly concerning the cremation of pets.

Background of the Case

In April, the Pennsylvania Attorney General announced charges against Vereb, claiming that he disposed of pets’ remains improperly, including dumping them in landfills. Additionally, he allegedly provided pet owners with the ashes of unknown animals, leading to heart-wrenching outcomes for many. One pet owner, Carrie White, expressed her devastation, stating, “Now I don’t even know whose ashes or if these are ashes at all that are in this box,” while holding a box that was supposed to contain her late dog Killian’s ashes.

Need for Regulation

State Senator Nick Pisciottano, a Democrat representing District 45, has pinpointed a significant gap in current laws regarding the cremation of pets. He remarked, “We realized there was a gap in the law, and there was really no state law regulating this funeral activity for the cremation of pets.” Pisciottano is collaborating with Republican state senators Rosemary Brown and Camera Bartolotta to draft legislation aimed at addressing this issue.

Key points of the proposed legislation include:

• Establishing offenses for misrepresenting the disposal of animal remains.
• Implementing penalties for funeral directors who fail to fulfill their obligations.
• Potentially revoking licenses for directors found guilty of malpractice.

According to Pisciottano, current penalties for such infractions are minimal, often limited to a minor charge for services not rendered.

Concerns from Former Employees

Adding to the alarming narrative, Tiffany Mantzouridis, a former funeral intern at Vereb Funeral Home, shed light on her experiences. Working there from February to August 2024, she described a stark contrast between how the funeral director treated grieving families and the actual treatment of the animals. Mantzouridis noted, “He would show compassion for pet owners to their face, but as soon as they walked out the door, it was kind of like throw them in a bag, toss them on an old embalming table.”

She emphasized that stronger laws could have prevented such occurrences, saying, “If there were laws in place before this, I feel like this definitely would not have happened.”

Community Outcry and Next Steps

The fallout from Vereb’s alleged misconduct has left many pet owners feeling betrayed and distressed. Carrie White exemplified this sentiment, highlighting her deep emotional connection with her pets: “I don’t have children, but my love, you know, it’s just as deep, and they need to make sure that he answers for this.”

With several charges pending against Vereb, including theft by deception and deceptive business practices, the community is eagerly awaiting the introduction of both Senate and House versions of the proposed legislation in the upcoming weeks.

The aim is clear: to ensure that funeral directors are held accountable for their services, particularly when it comes to the sensitive matter of honoring beloved pets.

Tags: funeral directors, Pennsylvania legislation, pet cremation, funeral home accountability, Patrick Vereb case, Nick Pisciottano, Riverside Funeral Home, pet owner advocacy, veterinary ethics, bipartisan legislation