Mortuary says allegations are baseless claims
French’s president: Staff has spent careers serving local families
Families must always be treated with the utmost care and respect — period. They always have been and will be at French Funerals. Allegations published last week in the Albuquerque Journal are appalling, and they are completely false.
The staff at French Funerals have spent their careers serving Albuquerque’s families on their very worst days. When the reputations of these professionals are called into question, I have no option but to respond.
The allegations put forward by the Silva & Hughes law firm on behalf of Marc and Sally Powell are untrue and designed to shame our company into a settlement, but their claims are unsubstantiated, simply untrue. In August of 2017, we provided the utmost care and respect to the Powell family during a very difficult time. Based on my review of documents and recollection of events, the family didn’t indicate there were any issues or concerns until we were first approached by the law firm in December of 2019, more than two years after Mr. Powell’s cremation. The law firm made baseless claims and a demand we settle with a cash payout.
Because we were concerned we might have missed something, we worked to have the allegations investigated by a third party. The care, casket and communication with the family were maintained to French Funeral’s high standards. The claims made by the law firm were found to have no merit and have done nothing more than strike fear into the hearts of the community.
French has served the Albuquerque community since 1907. Our reputation maintaining the highest ethics speaks for itself. Funeral service is a calling. We are called to help and serve our community at a critical time of need. When we make a mistake, or miss in some detail of service, we own that mistake and take immediate and appropriate measures to ensure we do not repeat.
In this case, I’m proud to say that Powell is one of tens of thousands whom French has served with the same level of care I would expect for my own family members.