Disposition Of Remains_brother

Embassy of the United States of America Consular Section Kyiv, Ukraine

July 7, 2009

Dear Mr. Pham: It is unfortunate at this sad time that we must immediately call your attention to the urgent need for making necessary arrangements relating to the disposition of Mr. Steve Pham’s remains. The following paragraphs explain the options you have for making your decisions. During our phone call, you stated that you would like to return your brother's remains to California for burial. The total cost for preparation and air shipment of mortal remains to the United States is approximately $3,300. The total cost for preparation, cremation, and air shipment of ashes to the United States is approximately $1,600. Should you decide to have burial take place in Ukraine, the Embassy and local officials will take every possible care to follow your wishes as to ceremony and site of burial. The cost for preparation and burial in Kyiv, Ukraine is approximately $300. We should point out that preparation and air shipment are carried out in accordance with the law of and facilities available in Ukraine. In some cases, the services available may fall short of those available and expected in the United States. We recommend that you ask your hometown funeral director to determine the advisability of viewing the remains. The U.S. Embassy generally cannot directly arrange the preparation or transportation of remains to the United States. Usually, a Ukrainian funeral home makes these arrangements when there is no relative or legal representative present in Ukraine. The following funeral homes in Kyiv, Ukraine have assisted in repatriating the remains of American citizens in the past: 

“Gemma”, Volodymirska 19 Tel.: +380 44 269 6518  “Ritualni Poslugy”, Vorovskoho 47/14 Tel.: +380 44 486-0607  “Skorbota”, Honchara 77 Tel.: +380 44 235-9179 or +380 50 311 0366 The U.S. Embassy cannot recommend any particular funeral home, nor can we assume responsibility or liability for the professional ability, reputation, or quality of services provided by the funeral homes listed above. We have had the most experience in working with the Skorbota funeral home, which has English speaking personnel on staff, and has arranged the repatriation of remains to the United States in several previous cases. Once you have selected a funeral home, you may wish to consider wiring funds for payment of services directly to the funeral home via Western Union.

If paying the funeral home directly is not an option, the Department of States provides a means whereby you may wire money to the Department in Washington, D.C. Upon receipt of the funds, the State Department will authorize the Embassy to use the money to pay for preparation and disposition of your brother's remains in accordance with your instructions. You may forward the funds by Western Union telegraphic money order to the Office of Overseas Citizen Services, Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520. Please include it the money order your brother's full name, your instructions as to the disposition of the remains, and instructions that the funds be transmitted to the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. Please note that, in addition to any applicable Western Union fees, the State Department will charge a $30 processing fee for using this service. After all bills for costs incurred in the preparation and shipments of the remains have been received and paid, you will be sent an itemized accounting of final costs, and any balance left will be refunded to you by the Department of State. For additional information, you may also call the Office of Overseas Citizen Services at 202-6475226 between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday. At other time, the Overseas Citizen Services Duty Officer may be contacted at 202-647-1512. We understand that your father is Steve Pham's legal next of kin. To ensure that their wishes are carried out, we ask that your father complete the attached Affidavit of Next of Kin, and provide written instructions as soon as possible for the disposition of the remains. If he wishes, your father also may designate someone else to act as his representative. Should he wish to do so, he will need to send the Embassy a signed and notarized Power of Attorney designating a representative. You may fax the requested documents to my attention at +38-044-490-4040. You also may scan a legible copy of the documents and send them by email to [email protected]. Your instructions should provide the next of kin's or designated representative's full name and contact information, as well as the name, address, and full contact information for the U.S. and Ukrainian funeral homes you have selected to handle the stateside and out-of-country arrangements. We will carry out these instructions as soon as possible, and will advise you when arrangements have been completed. Again, on behalf of the United States Government, may I extend our sincere condolences to you and your family at this very difficult time.

Sincerely,

David C. Allen Consul