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The 92-year-old Leonia resident died at CareOne at Cresskill on July 17, Aree Booker, the executive director of Eternity Funeral Services LLC in Englewood tells Daily Voice.
UPDATE: Funeral Home Awaits Payment For Carmela Polimeni's Service Month After Her Death
"Nursing homes are supposed to have arrangements pre-planned, next of kin, etcetera," Booker said on a call with Daily Voice Tuesday, Aug. 13. "But it seemed like [CareOne] dropped the ball."
That leaves Booker scrambling to locate Polimeni's next of kin. So far, he's been entirely unsuccessful.
"She was never married, no children," Booker said, seemingly distraught. "The only person that knew her was her former housing manager."
Booker says he was contacted by CareOne approximately nine hours after Polimeni's death. The facility gave him an information sheet with two phone numbers on it:
One was her former housing manager's, the other was an Italian line — the latter didn't work.
Booker has until Aug. 17, one month since Polimeni's death, to locate Polimeni's next of kin. Booker placed an ad in the Bergen Record seeking Polimeni's relatives.
If no one comes forward by Saturday, Booker's next step will be contacting the medical examiner, in accordance with state law.
CareOne at Cresskill's Vice President of Operations Lisa Rhoads issued the following statement to Daily Voice:
CareOne at Cresskill was deeply saddened when Carmela Polimeni suddenly passed away. She has visited CareOne at Cresskill for several short stays and is loved by the community in our building. Despite extensive efforts over several weeks, we were unable to identify next of kin.
CareOne has worked with Eternity Funeral Services to arrange for a proper and respectful burial and is working with them to ensure the cost of the burial is covered.
Polimeni's story has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook, and left locals both stunned and broken-hearted.
"Very sad indeed," one person commented on a photo of the notice published in the Bergen Record. "[What seems] so much worse is that Miss Polimeni lived without family or friends visiting. I have been to many of these so called homes and I rather be dead."
"This is so strange," another added. "I would think that upon entering CareOne that a family member or next of kin would have to sign off on documents. I realize some people may not have family but then that should have been noted in her files when she was admitted.
"Praying that someone can be located. This poor woman deserves to be buried and at peace not just tossed to the trash. Heartbreaking."
Booker says some community members offer to make a donation toward a cremation for Polimeni. Others ask if she had any money.
He couldn't recall any other situation like this.
"It's almost scary, I've never seen nothing like it," he told Daily Voice. "Somebody dropped the ball at CareOne and it's upsetting. I hope they haven't been doing all their patients like this."
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