AWFUL EXPERIENCE WITH AVBOB FUNERAL SERVICES

AWFUL EXPERIENCE WITH AVBOB FUNERAL SERVICES.

We had a very bad experience with AVBOB funeral services in Pietermaritzburg on the 1st of October this year 2021. I lost my sister to illness and asked one of our pastoral team to organise the services of AVBOB for us. I am part of a large pastoral team with a church of over 6000 members. We have organised many funeral services with various companies but little did we know the pathetic service we would get from AVBOB.

My sister’s husband and two daughters were obviously extremely distraught so we took over the management of the funeral. When my brother-in-law went to view the body, she had not been cleaned and was in a terrible state. The hospital did not register it as a covid death but that she died of natural causes. The second shock was when the coffin got stuck a quarter of the way down and started opening. We finally managed to get it down to the bottom because the hole was not large enough. My brother-in-law and one daughter witnessed the commotion and were very upset.

Thirdly I intercepted the worker my brother in law and he wanted R500 to hire outside workers to close the grave. I did not want the family to know so I asked the only AVBOB representative who was there why this had not been cleared with his employees. He informed me that we had never asked for the service and we were expected to do it ourselves.

I was very angry about the whole issue and of the ten people present half were women and half were men of which 3 were over seventy and my brother-in-law was very unstable on his feet. There were no spades provided and one gentleman fortunately had a spade in his boot. I ended up paying for the workers so that there would be no further drama.

Being in the ministry I have attended many funerals but never had such a stressful situation. We will definitely not be using AVBOB service again and will be informing all congregants in the future to do the same.

Maud Weitsz.