The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Staff Reports
Posted: Monday, January 01, 2018 12:43 PM
Knox County Woman Says Local Funeral Home Refused To Do Funeral For Her Same-Sex Partner
Ulli Sczesni stayed by Luanne Dagley's side for nine years as she battled cancer. Sczesni says, "It was terrible."
It was tough enough seeing her wife lose that battle, but Ulli tells Local 8 News the fight she faced to have the love of her life buried was just as bad. Ulli Sczesni says she got a call from the funeral home, "I said this is she, and he said I need to talk to next of kin. He said you're a woman and I said yeah and he said that's not legal in Tennessee."
Sczesni says, "I said what do you mean it's not legal in Tennessee. Gay marriage is legal all over the US, and I know the South takes longer to accept the fact, but it's a fact."
She hung up the phone and called another funeral home in Maryville who told her they would take her. However, the thought of knowing her wife's final wishes won't be met haunts her.
Sczesni says, "I was already hurt enough that the cancer took her away, but now I can't even give her the honor to go the way she wishes. It's just wrong."
Berry's Funeral Home issued a statement saying, "We are dedicated to treating our client families with dignity and respect. As part of our service, it is our responsibility to verify the rights of the individual seeking to make disposition decisions for a decedent. We did not refuse service to the family and they ultimately chose a different provider. We respect their decision and sincerely apologize for any misunderstanding.”
