COVID halts funeral of Merlene Ottey’s grandma

Relatives of 107-year-old Blanche Bowen, grandmother of sprint legend Merlene Ottey, said the government's ban on funeral services is a big blow to them.

This after family members flew to Jamaica and stayed in quarantine for Bowen's funeral which was scheduled for Saturday. Bowen is to be laid to rest at the Gurney's Mount Baptist Church in Hanover. Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced on Monday that effective today, funeral services would be prohibited. However, burials would be allowed under strict protocols where no more than 15 persons, including the official clergy and gravesite workers, would be allowed. Additionally, only the hearse and vehicles taking the official clergy and mourners would be allowed

Bowen's daughter, Joan Bowen-Ottey, told THE STAR that their plans are now all messed up. "We are confused and don't know what to do. We weren't planning any big thing. Everything was prepared already, we have masks and sanitisers for everybody that coming. We had everything also set up to show it on Zoom to all those overseas and who can't come," she said. "What the prime minister was saying is that people were leaving from one parish to the other. My mother wouldn't be leaving the church yard, my father is buried there and she will be right beside him." The legendary Ottey, Bowen-Ottey's daughter, will also miss the burial.

Disappointment

Bowen-Ottey said that due to the number of flights Ottey would have had to take with COVID-19 still a threat, she decided against coming to Jamaica. But Bowen-Ottey said there is a feeling of disappointment for her brother and other relatives who had followed Government protocols to be able to attend the funeral. "Merlene wasn't planning to come because she is in Europe so you know how many planes she would have to take and that's what she is afraid of. My brother who came in recently, his quarantine is up and my daughter and grandniece quarantine will be up this week in time for the funeral," she said. When asked how they will now select the 10 family members for the burial, she said that they still have to figure Saturday out. "I don't know as yet because it's my sister who is really running the show.

I spoke to her this morning and just waiting to see what we do but we are not into breaking any of the rules. This is sad because we don't really have any cases in Hanover and to see that we are suffering because of other parishes," she said. Bowen's granddaughter, Amber McKenley, who lives in Missouri, USA, was upset with the turn of events. "It's actually very disappointing especially that I've been through a lot to come here because it's expensive to get a ticket on such short notice. I've been in quarantine for the past two weeks and to hear this three days before the funeral. Grandma lived so long and to not have any service is disappointing," McKenley said.