Robert Emery, 60, passed away on 20/2 in Kelowna, British Columbia. Throughout his life, the father of three children battled obesity. At the time of his death, he weighed 324 kg.
Aware of her father's unique physique, his daughter Morganne Emery anticipated difficulties with funeral arrangements. "But I never imagined the family would be pushed into such a harsh situation," she shared.
On 23/2, Morganne and her elder brother visited a local funeral home to discuss arrangements. There, they were stunned to learn: no crematorium in Kelowna could accommodate her father's body.
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Gia dinh ong Robert Emery o Kelowna, British Columbia. Anh: CTV News
According to safety regulations, most crematoria in British Columbia have a maximum weight capacity of about 226 kg. Any body exceeding this limit must be transferred to specialized facilities.
The family began a desperate search. Initially, a facility in Armstrong, a one-hour drive from Kelowna, agreed to accept the body, but then unilaterally canceled at the last minute without explanation. They then contacted Kamloops but were again rejected because the "equipment was not large enough."
"At that point, I was completely devastated. I didn't even know where my father would finally rest," Morganne said.
Searching across the Okanagan region, Morganne was directed to a facility in Nanaimo, over 400 km from home, requiring sea transport. However, the cost of transporting the body such a long distance was prohibitive for the family.
After numerous appeals, a facility in Maple Ridge, 354 km from Kelowna, finally agreed to accept the body. The cremation was scheduled for 13/3, meaning Robert's body would have to wait three weeks from his passing.
Frustrated by these barriers, Morganne took to social media, urging the funeral industry to change. "My father was severely overweight, but he was a human being first and foremost. His weight does not define his worth. Instead of grieving, we had to beg to protect his basic right to dignity," she wrote.
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Ong Robert Emery khi con song. Anh: CTV News
A representative for British Columbia's Attorney General, Nikki Sharma, stated that current laws do not mandate uniform cremation capacity across facilities, and the government has no immediate plans to amend the legislation. "Existing regulations allow for the lawful transportation of remains to other licensed facilities capable of safe handling," the spokesperson said.
This means that for families with obese loved ones in Canada, transporting bodies hundreds of kilometers, as the Emery family did, will remain the "official solution" for the foreseeable future.
"No one tells you that after they close their eyes, your loved one will be treated as an inconvenience instead of a human being. It's devastating and unjust," Morganne said.
By Bao Nhien (Maple Ridge News/CTV News)
