Nephew seeks help to bury uncle

A St James man is making a desperate appeal for public assistance to bury his elderly uncle, whose body has remained unclaimed at the Cornwall Regional Hospital since November last year.

Michael Clarke, a security guard, says his 66-year-old uncle, Owen Daley, passed away at the Montego Bay-based hospital due to a heart condition. With no children or immediate family to handle his final arrangements, Daley's body was listed as unclaimed--until Clarke stepped in.

"He didn't have any kids and he was single. He was living with some church people ... He was actually working with them for a while, but then he got sick, so they took him to the hospital," Clarke said

"He was working with them for about 17 years. I remember I used to go and check on my uncle at the church. He would wash and clean for them," Clarke said.

Despite his financial struggles, Clarke said he felt it was his duty to give his uncle a proper burial.

"I only found out two weeks ago that the hospital still had him as an unclaimed body. I couldn't leave him like that," he said.

Clarke has since made arrangements with a funeral home, selecting the most affordable package, which costs $300,000. However, despite reaching out to relatives and various agencies, including the National Insurance Scheme and his member of parliament, he has been unable to raise the full amount.

Clarke also informed that the funeral home has offered him six weeks of free storage. As the days pass, he finds himself racing against the clock. Now, he is turning to the public, hoping for any form of support to lay his uncle to rest.

"I'm trying my very best to try to get help so that I can bury him within six weeks. It has been two weeks since I took him from the hospital. I'm trying my very best to see how I can get some assistance from the public. I need help," Clarke appealed.

Anyone who wants to help Clarke bury his uncle can contact him at (876) 525-2070.

Account information -

Michael Clarke

Gateway Co-operative Credit Union Limited

# 131111893747