I-TEAM: New claims against cemetery in Atlantic Beach

Families say they aren't getting what they paid for; cemetery now responding

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – More families have come forward to say a local cemetery isn’t giving them what they paid for.

The News4Jax I-TEAM has been investigating Beaches Memorial Park and First Coast Funeral Home in Atlantic Beach for nearly two months, and has since uncovered more instances where the cemetery has accepted money from customers for services that were not delivered as promised.

Al Bourgeois and his family are so concerned they’ve called police and say they want the State Attorney’s Office to investigate the cemetery. Bourgeois’ mother was entombed in a crypt at Beaches Memorial Park last November. His family paid $2,995 in January for a name plate. Five months later, they still don’t have it. Bourgeois said John Rayan, with Beaches Memorial Park and First Coast Funeral home, has given him nothing but excuses.

“He (John Rayan) told me production is going to be the 27th, it should be here the 27th of March. So 27th of March, I come to visit him, he's not here, not returning phone calls,” Bourgeois said. “He told my father when he and my sister came, it will be here by Mother's Day. It's on the truck. It'll be here in the next few days and this was right after Mother's Day.”

Bourgeois said it’s still not there and that he keeps getting the runaround.

Owner Amanda Rayan told the I-TEAM she had a death in the family and did not finish ordering Margaret Bourgeois' name plate. She said it has been ordered but can't tell us when it will arrive. She said she is waiting for the company to tell her when it will ship. She admits it was a mistake on her part and is sorry it happened.

Delores Craig’s family is also looking for answers about her headstone.

“He (John Rayan) came walking up and saying it's been Fed-Ex’d out on May 10. It's still not here, there is no tracking number,” said Kristie Sharpe.

Sharpe said her family paid $7,648 for their mother's service Feb. 12, a price that included a graveside marker. Three months later, flowers and balloons are all that mark Craig’s final resting place.

“He (John Rayan) doesn't give you an excuse. If he does, ‘I'm sorry. I've been overloaded with work. I've had to work out of town. I've had other services to do,’” said Sharpe.

Amanda Rayan said she expects the marker to arrive around June 20, in the next shipment.

Eugenio Puangco's family said they've also heard nothing but excuses for two years from Beaches Memorial Park about why the bench he bought from the cemetery has not been delivered to his graveside at Arlington Park Cemetery. The I-TEAM spoke to his daughter in New York over the phone.

“He wanted us to be able to sit there and be comfortable. He was always taking care and looking out for everybody,” Maria Curcio said regarding her father’s desire to have the bench placed next to his final resting place.

Curcio has the contract her dad signed, showing he paid $400 for a bench. His children paid an additional $395 to put his picture on that bench. Arlington Park Cemetery emailed Curcio a month ago asking if they could just pick up the bench at Beaches Memorial Park -- since they couldn't get the Rayans to deliver it.  Curcio says she still hasn’t received a response from Amanda Rayan.  Rayan told the I-TEAM that she never saw that email, and that the state should have reached out to Curcio by now.  Rayan explained Curcio can pick up the bench anytime. 

When asked if Puangco’s picture was on the bench, since the family had paid $395 for it, Rayan said no, and that they typically leave it up to the family to place the picture on the bench.

“My father suffered so much before he passed, and we suffered with him. And it feels like it is not resolved,” Curcio said. “It feels like we have not been able to put this to rest.”

Jose Samonte’s family has a similar issue, too. They said they were told last July it would take 6-8 weeks to have Samonte’s name inscribed on the Veterans Memorial Wall at the Atlantic Beach cemetery. They paid $290 for the inscription, and it still had not been done when they visited eight months later.

Amanda Rayan told the I-TEAM they use an inscriber based in Central Florida, who only travels to their cemetery when there are at least five inscriptions that need to be completed.  Right now, they only have two.  Rayan told the I-TEAM that if the Samonte family would like their money back, she would return it.

Lola Mae Terry’s family still has the receipt they say John Rayan signed when they paid $500 three months ago for a marker to be placed at their mother’s grave. They, too, are still waiting for delivery.  Amanda Rayan said that marker should be included in the June 20 shipment as well.

As for Bourgeois, he calls what’s happening to his family “criminal,” and is hoping the State Attorney’s Office will investigate.

“He (John Rayan) just covers lie after lie and sees how far he can take it without restitution,” Bourgeois told the I-TEAM.

Bourgeois is concerned the stress of fighting for his mother’s name plate has taken a toll on his father.

“I think it's probably going to put him in the grave quicker,” Bourgeois said.

But his family’s worry goes beyond that concern.

“I have siblings who wonder if my mom is even in there,” Bourgeois said. “If he doesn't put a name plate on there, maybe people think it will go away and maybe sell that same spot.”

The State Attorney’s Office is currently reviewing the matter.

Bourgeois has now hired an attorney and is suing the cemetery.

His family is not the first to sue. The I-TEAM has found three other civil suits filed by families, against Beaches Memorial Park.

The I-TEAM also took a close look at the cemetery’s website. It states that the cemetery has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. When the I-TEAM called the BBB to check on that rating, it reported a C rating for the business, and said the cemetery was not a member of the BBB.  The BBB later changed that rating to an F, based on additional complaints that were received.

The cemetery’s website also boasts that the business has received the Angie’s List Super Service Award. The I-TEAM contacted Angie’s List about that claim, and was told the cemetery has never received that award. Angie’s List also stated that it has asked Beaches Memorial Park to stop making that claim.

This past Saturday, the I-TEAM recorded video of a funeral taking place at the cemetery, even though its license is expired. The I-TEAM saw the owner and his wife, along with a young girl, help lower the casket into the ground, while they were dressed in shorts and T-shirts.

The I-TEAM confirmed with the state office that regulates cemeteries and funeral homes that this is a violation of the law. State officials said they will investigate this matter.

Amanda Rayan explained that she was late in sending the payment for the renewal of the cemetery’s license, and added the check has now been sent to the state.


About the Authors:

Jennifer, who anchors The Morning Shows and is part of the I-TEAM, loves working in her hometown of Jacksonville.