BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — For one local son, a funeral which took a wrong turn was hardly a fitting farewell to his father.

Joe Brown of South Buffalo was carrying the casket with his father’s remains to the steps of the church after his funeral Wednesday morning, when the funeral director stopped the pallbearers in their tracks, and notified them that the hearse was gone.

“It’s disgusting,” said Brown, who can’t believe that the last memory he’ll have of his father’s farewell is one of disrespect.

The family had to wait an extra 30 minutes at the church for another hearse to arrive. The Cadillac hearse was rented out by Mertz & Sons Funeral Home on Englewood Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda. Funeral Director, James Mertz said he was appalled at the theft.

“We are deeply saddened that while serving the Brown family, a crime was committed beyond our control,” he said.

The hearse was stolen late Wednesday morning from Washington Street, while a funeral was taking place inside St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, so the remains of Brown’s father was inside the church.

http://wivb.com/2015/07/15/hearse-stolen-during-buffalo-funeral/