When a Funeral Goes Happily Wrong
Imagine setting up your shop of grief, ready for a quiet gathering, and then the staff at Harmony Funeral Care drops a bomb that the body you’re holding is actually someone else’s. That’s exactly what Mr. Kee Kin Tiong’s family endured on a chilly December day.
The “Irregular” Wake
- Home’s “void deck” turned into a scene of confusion when staff announced the body had already been cremated.
- Mr. Kee, an 82‑year‑old Taoist, was cleared out and sent off with Christian rites he never wanted.
- Folks on the street—redundantly correct—had to pick up the ashes from Mandai Crematorium.
What Really Happened?
Harmony Funeral Care’s “suspicious” mix‑up was traced back to a single employee. He apparently mixed up Mr. Kee’s body with a 70‑year‑old Christian patron. The same coffin ended up at the wrong ceremony and was cremated. The two bodies ended up sharing the same room at Hock Hin Undertaker, a family business that has been around longer than some of the townsfolk remember.
Family’s Pain
Mr. Ho, the 48‑year‑old son‑in‑law, told reporters how “great pain” had become when his father‑in‑law left the world without a proper family farewell.
“We can’t even be sure if the cremated body was my father‑in‑law.”
He also laments the lack of a three‑day “resting” period that his family usually honors. All of that made a quick reveal: “The funeral home tried to smooth things over by saying the employee had been suspended.”
Where Are the Records?
Mr. Ho begged the undertaker for CCTV footage and a log of when the body was taken. Instead, the staff sent him a polite request that the footage from the night of 29 Dec to 30 Dec was missing. Yes, the evidence is literally gone. Even the company reportedly has no word on whether the other family was informed. That leaves a lot of unsaid bad feelings hanging around.
Next Steps
- Family has filed a police report and is waiting for the investigation by the police and the National Environment Agency.
- They’ve gotten legal advice and worried about using DNA tests on the cremated ashes (though they’re practically a “smoke‑pants” sample).
- Ms. Kee, a 29‑year‑old granddaughter, said, “We share this story because we hope the funeral industry gets better. We can’t shake the pain, and we hope no other family goes through a similar mess.”
Bottom Line
In a city that prides itself on precision, a funeral provider sent the wrong body to ash. The original family is left with a lingering sense of loss and a glaring question: Who holds the right to destiny? The incident has stoked a call for higher standards and HIP‑like respect in bereavement services. In the end, we’re left thinking that maybe the best funeral should be a simple “we’re sorry we messed up and we’re trying to fix it.”
