7 On Your Side helps Staten Island family recover missing funeral funds

STATEN ISLAND (WABC) -- When a Staten Island family lost their 92-year-old cousin, Rosie Miraglia, they were under the impression that the funeral expenses were covered. When they discovered the funds were missing, they turned to 7 On Your Side to follow the money.

Sitting on the couch in their home, Ginny Greiner and Peter Pascarelli reminisced about their cousin, Rosemarie.

"She was very sweet. She was childlike; her evaluation was maybe the age of a 4 or 5 year-old," Greiner said.

Greiner and Pascarelli's cousin had special needs and was always protected by her big Italian family on Staten Island.

"She was very sheltered; she didn't go to any programs. My father tried to intercede as much as he could," Greiner said.

Frank Miraglia, Greiner's father, always made sure Rosie would have the best care. She lived at A Very Special Place, a group home, in the Grasmere section of Staten for 30 years.

Pictures from her 90th birthday at the home, show a smiling Rosie dressed like a princess, with pink and gold decorations in the background.

Frank also made sure Rosie would have a funeral and final resting place.

"My dad was smart about it, he was a planner," said Greiner.

Copies of documents from 1994 show $8,295 paid to a funeral home for Rosie's future services.

"The funeral home says there's no money. And I called the funeral home, and they were just, 'Yeah, the money's gone. They were very cavalier about it," Greiner said.

Despite numerous phone calls and Greiner bringing copies of the check to the home, nothing happened.

"I brought them copies of the check and passbook, and they said, 'We'll look into it,' And that was last January of '25. And nothing has come of it," Greiner said.

Greiner and Pascarelli also have a receipt of the original agreement, but the money is still missing.

Hanley Funeral Home had explained that since the money for the funeral had gone dormant, the funds were turned over to the office of unclaimed funds.

7 On Your Side reached out to the New York State Comptroller's Office, who manages the fund, for help.

"I'm really glad that they came to you with this because it gave us the opportunity to get involved and work with both the family and the funeral home to figure it out. We were able to find that account pretty easily and work with the funeral home to get that money back," said Kelly Kuracina, Director of Unclaimed Funds.

Kuracina fast-tracked getting the money, which grew with interest to $11,784. The money was released back to the funeral home, which promptly forwarded the state's check directly to Greiner.

"I was so relieved, and so happy. I am jumping for joy," Greiner said.

Greiner made the donation in Rosemarie's name to thank those who took such good care of her beloved cousin at A Very Special Place.

"Thank you so much, it's been great. You've been wonderful, all of you," Greiner told 7 On Your Side.

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