the local funeral homes should HAVE to take a turn in rotation and the state should pay them. the cremated remains should be given a group burial paid for either by the state or by a forced donation from all the funeral home.
Indeed ,I don't want to sound ' ghoulish' but but as someone who used to have an allotment for years here in England I can tell you that the ashes would make fine ' bone hawk's to enrich the earth in our parks or even farms ( not necessarily edible crops) as it's so high in nitrogen .I personally would rather to back into the earth to grow stuff than be put into a mass grave with a load of other people I.probably would be like .lol
@@patmanchester8045 A forced donation from the funeral homes? Are you serious? What if it was YOUR business that was FORCED to give away its services for free? Bet you wouldn't be shooting your mouth off then.
This man is such a Good Samaritan and it makes me sad how he was forced by the state to wait and then given the issues he was given again by the state. He may have made mistakes but I don’t think he was actually fully in the wrong.
If cities across America cared for their poor and homeless, we would have shelters large enough for our sick and our poor. If our cities do not care about the living poor, then why would they care about the dead who are poor? Money and greed is what dominates mankind and the rich become richer and the poor become poorer. As Christ said, "the poor will always be with us".
Unfortunately I visited the GoFundMe link only to eventually figure out that Peter Stefan passed away on March 22nd of this year. He did incredibly important work and I'm sad that we're currently unable to donate. I hope the funeral home will continue operating according to his motivations and desires.
I just found this out the now , I never knew about a go fund me so bless you for thinking of that but I’m sad he’s passed . He seemed a truly wonderful man.
He's not a greedy, corporate entity..he's doing the best he can. Honestly, he needs assistance. Who would assist him though? The state bureaucracy failed him. "Man hides 9 bodies" is more sensational than "Public Health and local authorities failed Funeral Home."
Absolutely. Maybe if they make the city and state and those that represent others look bad things would move quicker. Especially if the looking bad happened on an election year.
Absolutely. Maybe if they make the city and state and those that represent others look bad things would move quicker. Especially if the looking bad happened on an election year.
"This is someone's father, brother, son, you can't just leave them there" he purely sees them as people, as patients to be looked after and to be given respect I love it.
I agree. The media did a terrible job covering this and hopefully this will stand as an example of how NOT to cover something like this. The press’ job is to hold the government and everyone else accountable, it is to find the truth a report it, quite literally, and that’s just not what the press did in this case, and it’s a terrible violation of media ethics.
@@kileygarrett2141 there are no media ethics anymore nor any journalists just activists who write outrage porn. Rip journalism and bury the stinking mess
Miranda Orcutt I hope that you and the scores of other people who he has helped band together and make your voices heard for him. Don’t just stand by quietly and let him be attacked by the government and media.
Rest in Peace, Peter. I just looked him up to see if life had been kind to him after watching this video. The memorial provided by Boston 25 News did not mention the improperly stored bodies. It did discuss many of his good deeds, including the way he openly accepted the victims of AIDS during the height of that crisis. The only controversy mentioned was the Boston Marathon Bomber, and that was discussed in a positive manner. I was glad to see that Worcester was remembering him with honor.
This man is picking up other people's litter and then the city is arresting him for owning trash because they wont run garbage trucks down his street. Not a single intelligent soul could hear half of his story without seeing he's a saint.
@@redvelvetunderground You do realise they are dead bodies, right? It's not saying their contributions as a living person contribute nothing. Just that their bodies deserve respect.
So let me get this straight. The state tells him to hold on to the people and not to cremate them until they say so. They drag their feet, but he does as hes told. Then upon a complaint, the state brings charges against him. Sounds like a clear case of entrapment here.
I actually live fairly close to Worcester and the thing is Worcester is slow when it comes to most things that don't involve complaints my grandmother was burried by this company and hearing all this and what people have said so I'm glad to hear people finally talking about the truth
Kat &co. Which I don’t understand? I get the shock value in headlines, but our world is so fucked that we blame the individual instead of fixing the system
Wow I didn't even think of that. They wanted it to sound like he was stashing them in the basement like Ted Bundy when he's just a funeral director who didn't want to turn away a deceased human who he wanted to do something for
And this is a piece of the reason our system is where it is. It's just like Caitlin's video on how we (say 1900s) distanced ourselves from the dead by jobbing it out whereas it was once a duty, if not at least an act of respect to take care of your own. Now it seems to becoming how we treat the living as well.
I can forgive him. He didn't abuse or desiccate these bodies. He took them to give them dignity and it came down to timing. He's a good man. His intentions were pure and the situation was sadly bad timing. That's how I see it. 😥💕
I agree. It's not like anybody else would have taken them. I wonder what would have happened if he hadn't taken them. I also wonder what ended up happening with the bodies.
Back in the 1980s or 1990s, a friend of my mother's passed away in a nursing home. She had no money left. A local funeral home took her for whatever small amount was provided by some part of the government, a few hundred dollars. My mother was surprised that the funeral home didn't stint things, they did a proper job with a good memorial service. She was impressed, so she told me that when her time came, I was to take her there and pay full price for a memorial service and cremation. Which I did when the time came, and I did the same with my father in turn.
Govt dosent care if you care especially if you care for poor and innocent people, if you dont follow their rules they will find a way to put blame on you
It is very obvious that this guy, Peter, is the good guy here. 37 years ago was the last time an amount was placed on cost of disposal. Anyone knows that is way to long for there not to be a raise of any sort. This is 100% the city’s fault! And, this is a problem that is extremely easy to correct. The city is taking advantage of this man. And, to put the icing on the cake, the city CHARGED him after asking/getting him to take the bodies!!! Govt. is a disgusting hypocrisy!
So basically he's a sweet old man just trying to help as many people as possible and he took on more than he could store, which would have been ok if the paperwork went through faster.
It was the city's ineptitude that caused this, not the state. Although, the state is the one that hasn't raised the payment for these people to get cremated, as well, that would definitely help, too. But the first, main reason for the situation he got in trouble was that the city didn't get off their arses and get him that necessary paperwork!
I remember this story and how "macabre" the media made him out to be. Thank you for the wonderful presentation of his side. My sympathies lie entirely with him. I am convinced he is a man of integrity who is struggling to do his best.
The man took off his tie and put it on the woman’s husband out of respect. The system failed this man and the media tried to spin the story against him.
That is a powerful sign of the quality of his character, taking off his own tie to put it on the deceased because the deceased's widow liked his tie better? Personally, he sounds like the kind of funeral director I'd want to take care of me when my time comes.
Did he accept bodies under the assumption that they would be buried or cremated? Or did he just say, 'I'll take the bodies.' just to take them off thier hands and then they look the other way? It should be obvious who the "bad guy" is here but I believe it's how you want to see it. -s
coolchef64 To give him credit, he had no reason to assume the city government wouldn’t promptly give him the forms, or at least sooner then they did. You can’t be mad at him for expecting something reasonable
@@coolchef64 ...what do you think a funeral home does/what do you think the purpose of the State handing off the bodies to local funeral homes is for? The expectation is that the bodies will be buried or cremated, not the assumption. Except in Massachusetts, you have to get permission from the Board of Health to cremate unclaimed remains. So Stefan accepted the bodies from UMass Memorial, which were already well into the decomposition process as a result of being held for months to over a year, and asked for the cremation permits from the Board of health... at which point they promptly slept on that request for 4 months.
The old saying”no good deed goes unpunished” comes to mind. So sad. This man is trying to help and he’s doing what no one else will do and his state let him down. That’s sad. I truly hope he is doing ok.
The State should have to give the authorization papers to cremate when the body is picked up. They did him so wrong. And he is right; the State should pay a fair amount. The State isn't providing an essential service and instead pushing it off on private businesses. State should pay up.
This man’s kindness runs deeper than his pockets. This city should be treating this man very well. He’s caring for people that no one else wants to. 🥺 He’s not trying to hide anything.
Or make a buck. Having caring for these people one last time is honorable. He should be supported and lauded, not vilified. This my favorite video....it was not just for entertainment. Also, he sounded like my Dad, who was for Salem. I miss him.
@@iadorenewyork1 no, it was the city that put him *into* that trouble, by taking far, far too long to get the paperwork he needed to him, so he could do the right thing!
My hometown. Thank you for pronouncing Worcester correctly! 😁 I remember when the media went crazy over him taking in the Boston Marathon bomber's body, but they failed to mention how he's helped so many in the community. I'm glad someone covered this side of him.
Watching this video a full year into the pandemic and seeing you talk about a "mass casualty event" sent shivers down my spine. I really hope he's doing well through this nightmare situation.
pizzaparty978 I agree. He’s a good person who was trying his best to do good and he got overwhelmed. There obviously is not a good system in place to help people like him because HE is the last line of help for these unclaimed people.
@@jenn7753 And he only got overwhelmed because he expected the government to move much faster than it did. In actuality when he agreed to take the remains, there should've been an authorization for cremation/burial within 24 hours, if not being handed to him when he took possession. He shouldn't have had to wait. Which makes me wonder: what is the underlying bureaucracy to get the needed authorizations, and how could that be streamlined?
He's a good man who tried to do a good thing, but never the less he broke the law. The law needs to be changed to increase the cremation allowance and tackle this nationwide problem.
There’s nothing to forgive. There was no harm. He is a man doing his best in a broken system. I’m quite glad that his story is being shared. I have so much respect for him. No one deserves to be left behind. This genuinely made me cry. Bless this man.
It is really so sad how when people are poor/homeless etc they’re “less dead” so no one cares about them and murder investigations get neglected and it’s heartwarming that this wonderful man is showing these neglected people respect and he’s trying his best
Thank you. I had not a glimmer of an idea of this problem. One just assumes such things are 'handled'. My own mother was cremated this way. They allowed me to claim her with no mention of their burden of cost. I do hope Stefan's story helps, at LEAST with the stalling of permissions!!!!
If the state wants his service , then he should be paid accordingly and the paperwork should be completed in an appropriate time. Yes , he is forgiven.
I'm living in Germany. Here the State and local authorities steps in for paying a simple burial, when the body of the deceased is unclaimed or the nearest kin can't really afford a burial. Perhaps it's not a question of taxpayers willingness to pay someone's burial, rather for the government willingness to stepping in, if necessary. Maybe just maybe, when it works in Germany, perhaps it works in the U.S.
@@davepunkt1232 nothing "works" in the US unless some useless middleman can make a profit. this is an ethical man trapped in a failed state. i fought a similar battle many years ago.
Absolutely correct, it is a fundamental task of local government to arrange the disposal off paupers and unclaimed dead. Hell, there are decrees in England 1000 years old stipulating how this would be done and funded. The bottom line is that the government is failing in one of its primary duties: public health.
This gentlemen has a rare level of compassion blended with a pragmatic concern for the unmourned, forgotten and abandoned. This strikes me as likely an on-going crisis across the country, especially in time of challenges such as the recent pandemic. We have a huge homeless population in the Phoenix Metro area. Thank you Caitlin for this investigative journalistic approach.
Oh god no. I'mma cry just reading that because it's true. ;~; I hope to God with the COVID-19 crisis right now, he's doing okay. Can we make this man the official Grandpa of every Deathling?
"How can you say no? That's someone's father, mother, sister, brother, child." A good man! A man who can see humanity where others would just see a body, a case, or money. A man, who may not take the shirt off his back but *will* offer you the tie off his neck! The government needs to learn how to take care of the people they represent or, better yet, we should vote in people who will.
If you call an ambulance service, or hospital admissions and they see there isn't enough money in it they still cannot refuse service. If that patient then dies why is it funeral homes CAN refuse service? Makes no sense as all that really needs to change is either offering more money (soft hand good capitalism approach) or some bureaucratic tyranny requiring anyone applying for a mortuary business licence to agree to accept all bodies on a rotation based system...as private ambulances already have to.
Thanks for the professional/insider take on this. I'm sure the headlines outraged people but it's nice to see an actual professional in the industry give us their take on it. It's a shame it really is a war on the poor and someone has to take these bodies in eventually.
This poor man! They won’t pay him, they won’t let him properly care for the remains without jumping through hoops, and then they vilify him for their own inaction
@@cfor8129 these are unclaimed bodies so no need for a service. That is the marked up price for a funeral. He could do the cremation for the $1100 he was given. It's a lot less than that in many states.
@@johanvajse8410 But he wasn't asking for more money. Yes, he believes the state should pay more, but that wasn't the issue. He took the nine bodies under the assumption that he would be given the permits to cremate in a timely manner. The city and/or state (I can't remember which) failed to give the permits for four months, which is beyond inexcusable. He probably shouldn't have taken the bodies, or at least not taken more than the three his refrigeration unit could hold, knowing that he couldn't keep them more than a few days before he'd have a problem. That is on him, and he acknowledges that. The point between the $1100 and $2800 is that if the price the state pays had better kept up with inflation for the past 32 years, more funeral homes would step up and take the bodies of the indigent and unclaimed.
@@johanvajse8410 If the state wants private companies to deal with unclaimed bodies, then the state should pay the price of hiring private companies. If the private sector price tag is "marked up" really, their only option is to open state-owned funeral homes and crematories and take care of the unclaimed bodies themselves. Except that would probably feel too communist in USA so they have to use private companies. And therefore should pay the full price tag.
@Kim Chi No. Not a gofundme. It’s governmental acknowledgement and finanace. This type of shit doesn’t fly in Canada or any other first-world country except the US.
that's not a solution to a problem that exists nationwide where governments and local authorities don't take care of people's dead bodies (like the unclaimed dead)
Mr. Stefan is an old school gentleman who is in the business not for the sake of wealth but for the sake of the human condition. What a very rare and beloved soul he is. God Bless you dear sir.
Perfectly stated. People like him are few and far between now. Everyone is only looking out for themselves. I hope this softens a few hearts in the industry, or at least those that have the ability may be more offering to assist.
I came to this video after Peter’s passing. I found his obituary and while his words moved me generally, it was reading about his willingness to care for AIDS patients during the AIDS crisis that ultimately made me cry. Thank you Peter for our community’s humanity when we needed it the most, you’re a true ally and that means the world to me.
Good ol’ February 2020. We were all a bit less personally involved with mass death back then. Funny to think there was a time before the military was sending body refrigeration trucks into American cities.
Peter is old school, he is simply guilty of giving a damn about his fellow man. I certainly hope that his do unto others attitude will secure him a place of eternal happiness in the afterlife.
That would be nice,but I doubt that. God is pretty horrible & makes no sense himself. This man will more than likely get no credit for trying to do good.
I personally forgive him entirely. And I'll add that there's really nothing to forgive him for. Thank you for this, Caitlin. Bringing this story to the greater public was well worth your time, and ours.
“Money’s only good for what good it’ll do.” I love this guy. “There’s a war against the poor.” There sure is. And society at large doesn’t even give a crap about the living, never mind the dead.
She'd mentioned in a previous video that there was some videos she was editing (as she'd planned to take a month off - I dont think she was planning on lockdown, however ;))
@@aguy2162 he was planning to cremate them right away, which meant he wouldve need cooler space for them. He has done this many times before so he knew the procedure but for some reason the government didn't give him the clearance to cremate them until 4 damn months later. They did something wrong, they are at fault, not him. Period.
@@aguy2162 He has plenty of space for a box of ashes, which is what he fully intend to make them into within a handful of days. But legally, he couldn't. The state was extrodinarily irresponsible for giving him the bodies to care for without the paperwork. Or an alternative take: the state should've verified he had the space to begin with, even if he was in the wrong.
As he said, "yes and no," the red tape is the bigger issue and that area and regional facilities have come to depend on him, but they weren't willing to back him and help the process.
just saw he passed recently, in april. an incredible loss to the community. i can forgive mistakes, especially mistakes compounded by state bureaucracy. he was an amazing person, and a bastion of death rights. may he rest in peace, and may all those unclaimed souls find a resting place as well.
My mum is a minister, and she’s exactly like Peter. Every time a family can’t afford a funeral, the funeral directors call my mum, coz they know she’ll do it for free.
@@ravenghostly1472 gender shouldn't matter, she is doing something good for her community. Degrading that based purely based on gender is wrong. She wants to serve God, let her. Its not your decision.
I'd rather be decomposing in a body bag in the basement of a man that cared enough to take me, than dealt with impersonally by somebody who just wants my family's money.
He got overwhelmed trying to help . That’s the point . The media likes to spin things in a bad light ... this man is a hero not a villain .. nobody can convince me otherwise.
Scarlett Lynch - I bet that's why the ashes are left there as well. People may be afraid they are expected to pay $$ for the cremation, and since they have no money, they figure they would not be allowed to take their loved one.
When my mom died, my dad had to pay nearly 4,000 dollars on cremation. He couldn't afford a burial, and we couldn't afford a funeral. It took him over 2 years to pay that off. Growing up, my dad worked multiple jobs while my mom was disabled, we relied on school lunches, food stamps, and donation food boxes to get by for a long time. When my mom passed, my dad was FINALLY finding some ground under his feat for the first time in 25 years. And in a blink of an eye, he was thrust into debt again. That was nearly 4 years ago, luckily my dad had a change of careers at the ripe age of 53, and he is doing much better financially.
"I really don't mean these to be fighting words against the state of Massachusetts." That won't stop me, a resident of Massachusetts, from sending this to my state rep because this is something they need to hear.
Spencer O'Dowd please Spencer please help. Please look into Dr. Shiva for Massachusetts state senate. Please we need him. I beg of you. Especially with Bill and Melinda Gates and all that’s going on. We need him in the senate. Please. Look him up. The left side is burrowing his messages and info. They have been trying to claim he doesn’t have to show when it’s key time to. Please listen to his message and his research. I beg. Please. For your health and mine. I’m the genetic type he claims have issues with vaccines. And how the healthcare system is ruled by chemical pharmaceuticals... I react with vaccines. Been hospitalized two times. 9 days and 16 days. Forced flu shots. I carry MTHFR and RCCX SNP gene mutations. I can’t methylate properly. My son as well. The 2nd forced flu shot came with 3 1/2 14 weeks of physical therapy to learn how to walk again. I am a professional dancer. Studied at the performing arts of Pittsburgh... I’ve had 21 parts in total of the Nutcracker, in 3 years. I’m a strong healthy woman, yet my genes aren’t like everyone else’s. Please I explore you to talk about Dr. Shiva and support his work, he truly has health first, before the mighty buck... 💸
So the CITY denied him authorization and then tried to fine HIM? That is incredibly dirty. Someone wanted to take this man down. Sounds like a classic set up to me...
As a resident of Massachusetts, specifically near Worcester...there's a lot of dirty shit in a lot of the towns on the coast near Boston. The suburbs of the city are rife with old policies and the towns hold board members that care more about the money than the people, and their own businesses over the betterment of the town itself. This is unfortunately a very common and unsurprising thing to see.
If I had to guess, one of the big mega funeral co.s who had friends in high places. But once he was out of the way, they sure as hell wouldn't be taking these dead if it would cost them money. That might well change too. Their powerful "friend" could get the payscale updated and maybe a little gift for themselves. Too bad this troublesome old man insists on doing the honorable thing. Keep up the good work, sir. We need you more than ever. Stay safe.
watching this in June of 2021 makes you get even a new layer of how horrible things are in covid times. I imagine all those who lost loved ones to covid who can't get their relatives taken care of.
RIP Peter Stefan, your heart ❤️ was pure gold, what an incredible person. I'm so glad Caitlin got the chance to do this before his passing. What an eye-opening video. We need to do better taking care of ALL of humanity. Regardless of status or income.
This guy got himself in trouble for taking on a burden that no one else was willing to take on. The state should be paying for that larger freezer and giving this guy some kind of award for doing what he does.
He is an absolute angel, I have an inmesurable amount of respect and appreciation for this man. He is one of the few people I've seen that lives to genuinely do good from the bottom of his heart.
I started (re)watching this video & learned that he passed away a little over a year ago. I hope his funeral home continues to do what he did in life 🤍 May he Rest In Peace.
Me too. He cares about people. And he's right...where would the bodies...your loved ones...go if he didn't take them in if no one else would? He shows true kindness.
“The war on poor people” I love him!! “Money’s only good for what good it can do.” wow I’m gonna be saying that one now. This is a fantastic video. Peter is a hero.
In my eyes, Stefan is a hero. We need more people like him ... compassionate, caring and fighting for what's right. Sorry to see that he has passed away. He was a good human.
My son died of an overdose of Fentynal, Aug of 2018. I had no money and neither did he. The hospital social worker sent me to Peter, she said there was a cremation benefit allowed by Masshealth (medicaid) and that Peter knew how to deal with the red tape, that he was the only funeral director willing to deal with Masshealth.... Peter treated my family ; like family. He dealt with Masshealth, the medical examiner and creamatory.... He loving gave me his ashes 2 weeks later.... My son had been in recovery for 2 years before the relapse that led to death. He was leading a holistic life that included spending time in nature. We had a lovely celebration of life at a his favorite local park to spread some of his ashes... I will be forever grateful for Peter and the respect he showed my son... It was total BS how the news reported this initially! Thank you for doing this video. Peter deserved that respect! Tommy Vachon 5/22/92-8/9/18 💜
Thank you for being so fair about Mr. Stefan. He is a good man, no doubt, and it is just so sad that the state basically throws the responsibility of handling the poor deceased upon him (or upon any private funeral home for that matter). I can only imagine what he endured during this pandemic. I'm sure there were countless victims of COVID that were left unclaimed.
All I can think of are those with no one to claim their bodies in death... and tears flow down my cheeks... I just can't imagine that. And it's heartbreaking. I don't care who you are or how you die, everyone deserves to be claimed, to be buried, to be respected...
This just makes me wonder how the city where I live handles this things, there are a lot of homeless people with and without family. R.I.P. Mr. Stefan, you deserve a big piece of heaven.
Personally, I don’t feel like there is anything to forgive on his part. He’s a good man who tries to treat everyone with respect and dignity. The fact that he’s using this as an opportunity to further help people shows his character. I truly wish this beautiful soul all the happiness in the world.
I'm glad his license was only suspended and not revoked. His heart is clearly in the right place
the local funeral homes should HAVE to take a turn in rotation and the state should pay them. the cremated remains should be given a group burial paid for either by the state or by a forced donation from all the funeral home.
Me too, He is exactly the kind of person I want running a funeral home.
He's a kind human being.
Indeed ,I don't want to sound ' ghoulish' but but as someone who used to have an allotment for years here in England I can tell you that the ashes would make fine ' bone hawk's to enrich the earth in our parks or even farms ( not necessarily edible crops) as it's so high in nitrogen .I personally would rather to back into the earth to grow stuff than be put into a mass grave with a load of other people I.probably would be like .lol
@@patmanchester8045 A forced donation from the funeral homes? Are you serious? What if it was YOUR business that was FORCED to give away its services for free? Bet you wouldn't be shooting your mouth off then.
"It is a war against the poor."
it is. he should not have to bear the responsibility of society failing these people
Exactly.
This is the truth at the heart of so many failings
This man is such a Good Samaritan and it makes me sad how he was forced by the state to wait and then given the issues he was given again by the state. He may have made mistakes but I don’t think he was actually fully in the wrong.
I agree. He was forced into this position as a result of society's failings.
If cities across America cared for their poor and homeless, we would have shelters large enough for our sick and our poor. If our cities do not care about the living poor, then why would they care about the dead who are poor? Money and greed is what dominates mankind and the rich become richer and the poor become poorer. As Christ said, "the poor will always be with us".
It looks like Peter Stefan passed away in March 2022 at 85. You did a great thing allowing him to tell his side of the story. May he rest in peace.
Unfortunately I visited the GoFundMe link only to eventually figure out that Peter Stefan passed away on March 22nd of this year. He did incredibly important work and I'm sad that we're currently unable to donate. I hope the funeral home will continue operating according to his motivations and desires.
Thank you for your update.
I was going to donate.
Ohhh, no!! I am so very sorry to hear that sad news!! God Bless him!!
I just found this out the now , I never knew about a go fund me so bless you for thinking of that but I’m sad he’s passed . He seemed a truly wonderful man.
Restin peace Stefan
A genuine good person gone is always sad. Indeed hope his kindness and consideration continues through others.
He's not a greedy, corporate entity..he's doing the best he can. Honestly, he needs assistance. Who would assist him though? The state bureaucracy failed him. "Man hides 9 bodies" is more sensational than "Public Health and local authorities failed Funeral Home."
Ashleigh Sanders I’m glad I wasn’t the only one bothered by the way the media portrayed this
Ashleigh Sanders Yes, I absolutely agree!!
The media always makes people look worse or the situation worse than it is. No sympathy for people like him.
That’s the damn truth. Local broadcast news is trash.
@@rzum81 for "HIM"
I think "City refuses to authorize final disposition of bodies" is the real story rather than "Evil funeral director hoards rotting copses"
Absolutely. Maybe if they make the city and state and those that represent others look bad things would move quicker. Especially if the looking bad happened on an election year.
Absolutely. Maybe if they make the city and state and those that represent others look bad things would move quicker. Especially if the looking bad happened on an election year.
Well said.
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Unfortunately it's too often about the infamous "lack of funds" on the the authorities or powers that be part...
"Money's only good for the good that it will do" I love this man more than life.
I wrote that down.
"This is someone's father, brother, son, you can't just leave them there" he purely sees them as people, as patients to be looked after and to be given respect I love it.
This man was vilified by the media for doing what needed to be done. He doesn’t need forgiveness: he did what none one else would 💞
I agree. The media did a terrible job covering this and hopefully this will stand as an example of how NOT to cover something like this. The press’ job is to hold the government and everyone else accountable, it is to find the truth a report it, quite literally, and that’s just not what the press did in this case, and it’s a terrible violation of media ethics.
@@kileygarrett2141 there are no media ethics anymore nor any journalists just activists who write outrage porn. Rip journalism and bury the stinking mess
This man helped me cremated my uncle when we had limited funds. He has a heart of gold! The town screwed him over!
Miranda Orcutt I hope that you and the scores of other people who he has helped band together and make your voices heard for him. Don’t just stand by quietly and let him be attacked by the government and media.
Wow, beautiful.😢
What an angel. The system failed him in this situation. He is trying to do a good deed for people. Abandoned or not, they were people with a story
I think the interview makes that plain.
Miranda Orcutt , did you witness the cremation, if not, how do you know you got the actual remains.
Rest in Peace, Peter. I just looked him up to see if life had been kind to him after watching this video. The memorial provided by Boston 25 News did not mention the improperly stored bodies. It did discuss many of his good deeds, including the way he openly accepted the victims of AIDS during the height of that crisis. The only controversy mentioned was the Boston Marathon Bomber, and that was discussed in a positive manner. I was glad to see that Worcester was remembering him with honor.
This man is picking up other people's litter and then the city is arresting him for owning trash because they wont run garbage trucks down his street.
Not a single intelligent soul could hear half of his story without seeing he's a saint.
that analogy is kind of unfortunate lol
@@braincabbage right?
Well said, my friend
comparing human beings to garbage isn't a good look pal
@@redvelvetunderground You do realise they are dead bodies, right? It's not saying their contributions as a living person contribute nothing. Just that their bodies deserve respect.
So let me get this straight. The state tells him to hold on to the people and not to cremate them until they say so. They drag their feet, but he does as hes told. Then upon a complaint, the state brings charges against him. Sounds like a clear case of entrapment here.
It's not entrapment. That isn't how entrapment works. But that doesn't make the state any less at fault.
Yeah, like she said, they made it a "him" problem, when he is an Angel for the indigent. I would be honored to be cared for by him.
I actually live fairly close to Worcester and the thing is Worcester is slow when it comes to most things that don't involve complaints my grandmother was burried by this company and hearing all this and what people have said so I'm glad to hear people finally talking about the truth
That is the bureaucrats! Corrupt period.
Shame on the state for doing that.
I think this is a common case of media panic. “Man hides 9 bodies” sells a lot more than “funeral director failed by the system”
Kat &co. Which I don’t understand? I get the shock value in headlines, but our world is so fucked that we blame the individual instead of fixing the system
Wow I didn't even think of that. They wanted it to sound like he was stashing them in the basement like Ted Bundy when he's just a funeral director who didn't want to turn away a deceased human who he wanted to do something for
And this is a piece of the reason our system is where it is. It's just like Caitlin's video on how we (say 1900s) distanced ourselves from the dead by jobbing it out whereas it was once a duty, if not at least an act of respect to take care of your own. Now it seems to becoming how we treat the living as well.
Agree completely!
Right
I can forgive him. He didn't abuse or desiccate these bodies. He took them to give them dignity and it came down to timing.
He's a good man.
His intentions were pure and the situation was sadly bad timing.
That's how I see it. 😥💕
Desecrate*
Desiccate (v): having all moisture removed, dried out
I agree. It's not like anybody else would have taken them. I wonder what would have happened if he hadn't taken them. I also wonder what ended up happening with the bodies.
@@ClareAndAlec I appreciate the effort but considering the sensitive topic, it's alittle tactless
@@gabriellalynch2210 I disagree but also don't really care what you think so...... 🤷♀️
@@ClareAndAlec okay so...... Why respond at all
Back in the 1980s or 1990s, a friend of my mother's passed away in a nursing home. She had no money left. A local funeral home took her for whatever small amount was provided by some part of the government, a few hundred dollars. My mother was surprised that the funeral home didn't stint things, they did a proper job with a good memorial service. She was impressed, so she told me that when her time came, I was to take her there and pay full price for a memorial service and cremation. Which I did when the time came, and I did the same with my father in turn.
That is so kind of that funeral home, and so kind of your mother, and so kind of you, as well.
The guy's guilty of having the rare condition if being a decent man.
Govt dosent care if you care especially if you care for poor and innocent people, if you dont follow their rules they will find a way to put blame on you
I totally agree.
I know! heaven forbid he's a good person!
It is very obvious that this guy, Peter, is the good guy here. 37 years ago was the last time an amount was placed on cost of disposal. Anyone knows that is way to long for there not to be a raise of any sort. This is 100% the city’s fault! And, this is a problem that is extremely easy to correct. The city is taking advantage of this man. And, to put the icing on the cake, the city CHARGED him after asking/getting him to take the bodies!!! Govt. is a disgusting hypocrisy!
he's guilty of the way he disrespected bodies of people he doesn't even know so yes he deserves prison time
So basically he's a sweet old man just trying to help as many people as possible and he took on more than he could store, which would have been ok if the paperwork went through faster.
Right On
"Potentially if there's a mass fatality situation..."
*posted March 2020*
She called it folks. She called it
I had the same thought
I had to look at the date on the video a few times and then I said "Oh shit..."
@@Yo_Its_Matty_ice did the same
One month later...
I know I heard that I was like uh- 😳
Peter died on March 22nd, 2022. Thank you for your tireless advocacy on behalf of the dead and their families.
The state used him as the scapegoat for the state's own ineptitude.
A tale as old as time.
Being from Massachusetts, I can tell you how typical that is.
Exactly, if the city law department gave him the forms he needed in a timely manner, none of it would have happened.
It was the city's ineptitude that caused this, not the state. Although, the state is the one that hasn't raised the payment for these people to get cremated, as well, that would definitely help, too. But the first, main reason for the situation he got in trouble was that the city didn't get off their arses and get him that necessary paperwork!
Listen. If I died right now, I would wholeheartedly trust him with my body. He's an angel.
Amanda Rose 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@Michael Persico unusual random thought!
I feel I would trust him MORE because he actually gives a shit about the whole population, not just the privileged.
I remember this story and how "macabre" the media made him out to be. Thank you for the wonderful presentation of his side. My sympathies lie entirely with him. I am convinced he is a man of integrity who is struggling to do his best.
Rest in peace, Mr Stefan. We will carry on the fight in the war against the poor :-)
I bet you are poor by age 50🧑🎤
@@OndriaDancingStar Is living from paycheck to paycheck considered poor? because millions of Americans go through this. No matter your age.
The man took off his tie and put it on the woman’s husband out of respect. The system failed this man and the media tried to spin the story against him.
That is a powerful sign of the quality of his character, taking off his own tie to put it on the deceased because the deceased's widow liked his tie better? Personally, he sounds like the kind of funeral director I'd want to take care of me when my time comes.
Did he accept bodies under the assumption that they would be buried or cremated? Or did he just say, 'I'll take the bodies.' just to take them off thier hands and then they look the other way? It should be obvious who the "bad guy" is here but I believe it's how you want to see it. -s
coolchef64 To give him credit, he had no reason to assume the city government wouldn’t promptly give him the forms, or at least sooner then they did. You can’t be mad at him for expecting something reasonable
Kai Chase the media is always spinning stories.
@@coolchef64 ...what do you think a funeral home does/what do you think the purpose of the State handing off the bodies to local funeral homes is for? The expectation is that the bodies will be buried or cremated, not the assumption. Except in Massachusetts, you have to get permission from the Board of Health to cremate unclaimed remains. So Stefan accepted the bodies from UMass Memorial, which were already well into the decomposition process as a result of being held for months to over a year, and asked for the cremation permits from the Board of health... at which point they promptly slept on that request for 4 months.
The old saying”no good deed goes unpunished” comes to mind. So sad. This man is trying to help and he’s doing what no one else will do and his state let him down. That’s sad. I truly hope he is doing ok.
If he turns away a body, who will take that person? He's helping people at one of the worst stages of life. The man has compassion way beyond most.
seriously! would the hospital have just tossed the nine bodies in with the medical waste?
The body probably becames part of the state, and of course they would then sell them for “testing”
The State should have to give the authorization papers to cremate when the body is picked up. They did him so wrong. And he is right; the State should pay a fair amount. The State isn't providing an essential service and instead pushing it off on private businesses. State should pay up.
No forgiveness is needed because there was no sin. This man is a good man.
Agreed...no apologizes are warranted.
PurposedD save from the city, which dumped their problem on this man’s generosity.
This man’s kindness runs deeper than his pockets. This city should be treating this man very well. He’s caring for people that no one else wants to. 🥺 He’s not trying to hide anything.
Or make a buck. Having caring for these people one last time is honorable. He should be supported and lauded, not vilified.
This my favorite video....it was not just for entertainment. Also, he sounded like my Dad, who was for Salem. I miss him.
He became overwhelmed for a short time. It's almost like his big heart got him into trouble.
@@iadorenewyork1 no, it was the city that put him *into* that trouble, by taking far, far too long to get the paperwork he needed to him, so he could do the right thing!
My hometown. Thank you for pronouncing Worcester correctly! 😁 I remember when the media went crazy over him taking in the Boston Marathon bomber's body, but they failed to mention how he's helped so many in the community. I'm glad someone covered this side of him.
Watching this video a full year into the pandemic and seeing you talk about a "mass casualty event" sent shivers down my spine. I really hope he's doing well through this nightmare situation.
Same
Caitoyn should do a follow up to this story post pandemic.
@@Langley_Ackerman19 agreed. I wonder how he’s doing with all the current bodies
exactly what i thought, 2 years later.
I'm not mad at this guy at all. Seems like he's doing the best he can.
pizzaparty978 I agree. He’s a good person who was trying his best to do good and he got overwhelmed. There obviously is not a good system in place to help people like him because HE is the last line of help for these unclaimed people.
@@jenn7753 And he only got overwhelmed because he expected the government to move much faster than it did. In actuality when he agreed to take the remains, there should've been an authorization for cremation/burial within 24 hours, if not being handed to him when he took possession. He shouldn't have had to wait.
Which makes me wonder: what is the underlying bureaucracy to get the needed authorizations, and how could that be streamlined?
pizzaparty978 i agree.
"money's only good for the good it'll do"
"it's the war against the poor"
go off king 👑
Dude definitely gets it
He's a good man who tried to do a good thing, but never the less he broke the law. The law needs to be changed to increase the cremation allowance and tackle this nationwide problem.
He is def is a king
Urk, I'm crying... this situation is so sad. 😿
There’s nothing to forgive. There was no harm. He is a man doing his best in a broken system. I’m quite glad that his story is being shared. I have so much respect for him. No one deserves to be left behind. This genuinely made me cry. Bless this man.
It is really so sad how when people are poor/homeless etc they’re “less dead” so no one cares about them and murder investigations get neglected and it’s heartwarming that this wonderful man is showing these neglected people respect and he’s trying his best
He's been let down by the State. He's a wonderful human and this is NOT ok.
I forgave him shortly after the video started. The world NEEDS more people like him
Yeah, masshole here, our state sucks
Thank you. I had not a glimmer of an idea of this problem. One just assumes such things are 'handled'. My own mother was cremated this way. They allowed me to claim her with no mention of their burden of cost. I do hope Stefan's story helps, at LEAST with the stalling of permissions!!!!
If the state wants his service , then he should be paid accordingly and the paperwork should be completed in an appropriate time. Yes , he is forgiven.
Yes but then we'd all have to pay or taxes (and of course distribute them properly) & so many people are so very anti-taxes
I'm living in Germany. Here the State and local authorities steps in for paying a simple burial, when the body of the deceased is unclaimed or the nearest kin can't really afford a burial. Perhaps it's not a question of taxpayers willingness to pay someone's burial, rather for the government willingness to stepping in, if necessary. Maybe just maybe, when it works in Germany, perhaps it works in the U.S.
@@davepunkt1232 nothing "works" in the US unless some useless middleman can make a profit.
this is an ethical man trapped in a failed state. i fought a similar battle many years ago.
@@atom_gray well said. It exemplifies American society as a whole.
Absolutely correct, it is a fundamental task of local government to arrange the disposal off paupers and unclaimed dead. Hell, there are decrees in England 1000 years old stipulating how this would be done and funded. The bottom line is that the government is failing in one of its primary duties: public health.
This gentlemen has a rare level of compassion blended with a pragmatic concern for the unmourned, forgotten and abandoned. This strikes me as likely an on-going crisis across the country, especially in time of challenges such as the recent pandemic. We have a huge homeless population in the Phoenix Metro area. Thank you Caitlin for this investigative journalistic approach.
Rest In Peace Peter! Had to revisit this video after hearing he died, I hope people will carry on his legacy.
The poor man. He’s basically the Mr Rogers of funeral
hopeailicious👏😂damn! I wish I said that.🖤
hopeailicious omg so well put
❤️
Very well put.
Oh god no. I'mma cry just reading that because it's true. ;~;
I hope to God with the COVID-19 crisis right now, he's doing okay. Can we make this man the official Grandpa of every Deathling?
"How can you say no? That's someone's father, mother, sister, brother, child." A good man! A man who can see humanity where others would just see a body, a case, or money. A man, who may not take the shirt off his back but *will* offer you the tie off his neck! The government needs to learn how to take care of the people they represent or, better yet, we should vote in people who will.
Well said
He has a great heart and it's so terrible that he's having to take the heat for mistakes that weren't his.
Amen to that last line!!
Sounds like the city government, in this case, are the ones that need voted out! They're the ones that caused this mess, to begin with.
This old dude is the salt of the earth. I'd love to work with this guy.
“Used in a mass fatality situation as well” .... This man saw the future and he decided to be prepared beforehand
“Peter shouldn’t take them all.”
NO. Peter shouldn’t *have to* take them all.
The state shouldn’t have put him in that position to begin with.
Yes! Exactly this.
Exactly!! Every state should have a funeral home and cemetery simply for these unclaimed bodies!
If you call an ambulance service, or hospital admissions and they see there isn't enough money in it they still cannot refuse service. If that patient then dies why is it funeral homes CAN refuse service? Makes no sense as all that really needs to change is either offering more money (soft hand good capitalism approach) or some bureaucratic tyranny requiring anyone applying for a mortuary business licence to agree to accept all bodies on a rotation based system...as private ambulances already have to.
Peter: *asks to cremate the unclaimed bodies*
The government: *replies in a few months then gets upset when those bodies were found and were rotting *
casually sums it up very well
Thats a good summary tbh
That’s the Government for ya!
That's Massachusetts for you.
Exactly.
Did they ever start a GoFundMe to help him and his funeral home?
This man is doing such good works. He's a hero.
Sadly he passed away in March of 2022.
Thanks for the professional/insider take on this. I'm sure the headlines outraged people but it's nice to see an actual professional in the industry give us their take on it. It's a shame it really is a war on the poor and someone has to take these bodies in eventually.
This poor man!
They won’t pay him, they won’t let him properly care for the remains without jumping through hoops, and then they vilify him for their own inaction
they DID pay him - $1100 per body
he thinks it should be $2900
@@johanvajse8410 that's how much it costs to provide the service.
@@cfor8129 these are unclaimed bodies so no need for a service. That is the marked up price for a funeral. He could do the cremation for the $1100 he was given. It's a lot less than that in many states.
@@johanvajse8410 But he wasn't asking for more money. Yes, he believes the state should pay more, but that wasn't the issue. He took the nine bodies under the assumption that he would be given the permits to cremate in a timely manner. The city and/or state (I can't remember which) failed to give the permits for four months, which is beyond inexcusable. He probably shouldn't have taken the bodies, or at least not taken more than the three his refrigeration unit could hold, knowing that he couldn't keep them more than a few days before he'd have a problem. That is on him, and he acknowledges that. The point between the $1100 and $2800 is that if the price the state pays had better kept up with inflation for the past 32 years, more funeral homes would step up and take the bodies of the indigent and unclaimed.
@@johanvajse8410 If the state wants private companies to deal with unclaimed bodies, then the state should pay the price of hiring private companies. If the private sector price tag is "marked up" really, their only option is to open state-owned funeral homes and crematories and take care of the unclaimed bodies themselves. Except that would probably feel too communist in USA so they have to use private companies. And therefore should pay the full price tag.
This man needs a GoFund me to help get him more equipment and rebuild his reputation. He's an angel.
That's a start, but it's only a band-aid.
i watched the whole video thinking if someone else had done this already
and yes, he is an absolutely angel, i wanna hug him so bad 🥺🥰
@Kim Chi No. Not a gofundme. It’s governmental acknowledgement and finanace. This type of shit doesn’t fly in Canada or any other first-world country except the US.
that's not a solution to a problem that exists nationwide where governments and local authorities don't take care of people's dead bodies (like the unclaimed dead)
Mr. Stefan is an old school gentleman who is in the business not for the sake of wealth but for the sake of the human condition. What a very rare and beloved soul he is. God Bless you dear sir.
“The war against the poor”... how sad and true...
Short answer: YES, he is forgiven and the world doesn’t deserve him, he’s too good for us.
Perfectly stated. People like him are few and far between now. Everyone is only looking out for themselves. I hope this softens a few hearts in the industry, or at least those that have the ability may be more offering to assist.
ABSOLUTELY!!!!
Well said
So very well said ❤️
Agreed
You can see that this gentleman genuinely cares, and it upsets him. There is a special place in Heaven for a man like him. Excellent story.
Indeed seemed like an old school principaled man.
Beset by bureaucracy.
Exactly! He seems like such a beautiful soul
agreed... his heart is in the right place
Amen
Whether there's a heaven is to be determined....he needs to be supported and appreciated here on Earth.
I came to this video after Peter’s passing. I found his obituary and while his words moved me generally, it was reading about his willingness to care for AIDS patients during the AIDS crisis that ultimately made me cry.
Thank you Peter for our community’s humanity when we needed it the most, you’re a true ally and that means the world to me.
Caitlin: “… mass fatality… situation.”
Me: *checks publish date* “ooohhh.”
Good ol’ February 2020. We were all a bit less personally involved with mass death back then. Funny to think there was a time before the military was sending body refrigeration trucks into American cities.
Peter is old school, he is simply guilty of giving a damn about his fellow man. I certainly hope that his do unto others attitude will secure him a place of eternal happiness in the afterlife.
Well said! 👏
Yes!! Exactly ❤️
That would be nice,but I doubt that. God is pretty horrible & makes no sense himself. This man will more than likely get no credit for trying to do good.
Lynnette Hendersen absolutely. I commend you on your statement.
I personally forgive him entirely. And I'll add that there's really nothing to forgive him for. Thank you for this, Caitlin. Bringing this story to the greater public was well worth your time, and ours.
There is nothing to forgive him for the city is at fault.
@@AD-hq2uz Completely agree, the state city and the state should be funding him. Cremation costs less. The state can afford that.
This man deserves accolades, and support. His heart is pure gold.
“Money’s only good for what good it’ll do.” I love this guy. “There’s a war against the poor.” There sure is. And society at large doesn’t even give a crap about the living, never mind the dead.
This is so cool?? She's really out here doing some journalism for us.
*Cool?*
Poor choice of words, but I feel it
I agree, great journalism 🗒✏📰🎥👍
death journalism!!!
She'd mentioned in a previous video that there was some videos she was editing (as she'd planned to take a month off - I dont think she was planning on lockdown, however ;))
I agree. Hopefully the Fake News will can learn from her.
Absolutely. It wasn’t his fault that the government didn’t act in a timely manner.
I live in Massachusetts so I know how they are when it comes to getting things done. They drag their feet
He shouldve never taken them if he didnt have the space. Bottom line
@@aguy2162 he was planning to cremate them right away, which meant he wouldve need cooler space for them. He has done this many times before so he knew the procedure but for some reason the government didn't give him the clearance to cremate them until 4 damn months later.
They did something wrong, they are at fault, not him. Period.
@@aguy2162 He has plenty of space for a box of ashes, which is what he fully intend to make them into within a handful of days. But legally, he couldn't. The state was extrodinarily irresponsible for giving him the bodies to care for without the paperwork.
Or an alternative take: the state should've verified he had the space to begin with, even if he was in the wrong.
As he said, "yes and no," the red tape is the bigger issue and that area and regional facilities have come to depend on him, but they weren't willing to back him and help the process.
just saw he passed recently, in april. an incredible loss to the community. i can forgive mistakes, especially mistakes compounded by state bureaucracy. he was an amazing person, and a bastion of death rights. may he rest in peace, and may all those unclaimed souls find a resting place as well.
Rest in peace, Mr. Stefan. What a good man, a truly and tirelessly good man, as much in his principles as in his actions.
My mum is a minister, and she’s exactly like Peter. Every time a family can’t afford a funeral, the funeral directors call my mum, coz they know she’ll do it for free.
Your mum's awesome
If your mom really believes in the Bible then she would know God said ONLY MEN can be pastors & ministers and heads of churches.
@@ravenghostly1472 really? Come on. I'm fairly certain that type of hateful, sexist comment is NOT welcome here.
@@ravenghostly1472 gender shouldn't matter, she is doing something good for her community. Degrading that based purely based on gender is wrong. She wants to serve God, let her. Its not your decision.
Raven Ghostly What in the goodness gracious is this comment doing in 2020
I'd rather be decomposing in a body bag in the basement of a man that cared enough to take me, than dealt with impersonally by somebody who just wants my family's money.
Everyone decomposes eventually, this dude let them decompose in his HOME. if that ain't compassion
Ditto!
Well said. ♡
Fully agree
Amen!
I can't imagine how he's feeling with covid now. His heart must be breaking.
Posted March 2020, makes that, "just in case there's a mass fatality event," hit hard 😭🙏🏻 glad he got those new units.
He got overwhelmed trying to help . That’s the point . The media likes to spin things in a bad light ... this man is a hero not a villain .. nobody can convince me otherwise.
Candace Brannock, you mean to say the media is often less than honest? No.
Lisa Whit How thought provoking! It's almost like you're obsessed with other people's sexuality, to a fault. Get a hobby, Lisa.
@@colleen7548 Huh? I'm missing something. Who are you talking to?
Agreed
Colleen Bananarama what did the original comment say?
He said it perfectly, "it's a war against the poor".
Scarlett Lynch - I bet that's why the ashes are left there as well. People may be afraid they are expected to pay $$ for the cremation, and since they have no money, they figure they would not be allowed to take their loved one.
American capitalism in a nutshell.
Eat Allthedicks capitalism is a good thing, it allows anyone to become rich if you work hard and have good ideas
When my mom died, my dad had to pay nearly 4,000 dollars on cremation. He couldn't afford a burial, and we couldn't afford a funeral. It took him over 2 years to pay that off. Growing up, my dad worked multiple jobs while my mom was disabled, we relied on school lunches, food stamps, and donation food boxes to get by for a long time. When my mom passed, my dad was FINALLY finding some ground under his feat for the first time in 25 years. And in a blink of an eye, he was thrust into debt again.
That was nearly 4 years ago, luckily my dad had a change of careers at the ripe age of 53, and he is doing much better financially.
Tell Tesla that joke, he’d appreciate it.
Rest in peace Peter. I love you.
This man DESERVES to be forgiven; plain & simple. A real saint.
"I really don't mean these to be fighting words against the state of Massachusetts."
That won't stop me, a resident of Massachusetts, from sending this to my state rep because this is something they need to hear.
Please please do, keep us updated
Thank you! Hope you get results.
You are a trooper!
Spencer O'Dowd please Spencer please help. Please look into Dr. Shiva for Massachusetts state senate. Please we need him. I beg of you. Especially with Bill and Melinda Gates and all that’s going on. We need him in the senate. Please. Look him up. The left side is burrowing his messages and info. They have been trying to claim he doesn’t have to show when it’s key time to. Please listen to his message and his research. I beg. Please. For your health and mine.
I’m the genetic type he claims have issues with vaccines. And how the healthcare system is ruled by chemical pharmaceuticals...
I react with vaccines. Been hospitalized two times. 9 days and 16 days. Forced flu shots.
I carry MTHFR and RCCX SNP gene mutations. I can’t methylate properly. My son as well. The 2nd forced flu shot came with 3 1/2 14 weeks of physical therapy to learn how to walk again. I am a professional dancer. Studied at the performing arts of Pittsburgh... I’ve had 21 parts in total of the Nutcracker, in 3 years. I’m a strong healthy woman, yet my genes aren’t like everyone else’s.
Please I explore you to talk about Dr. Shiva and support his work, he truly has health first, before the mighty buck... 💸
Proud to be the 800th like to this comment! Bravo, Spencer O'Dowd!
So the CITY denied him authorization and then tried to fine HIM? That is incredibly dirty. Someone wanted to take this man down. Sounds like a classic set up to me...
As a resident of Massachusetts, specifically near Worcester...there's a lot of dirty shit in a lot of the towns on the coast near Boston. The suburbs of the city are rife with old policies and the towns hold board members that care more about the money than the people, and their own businesses over the betterment of the town itself. This is unfortunately a very common and unsurprising thing to see.
If I had to guess, one of the big mega funeral co.s who had friends in high places. But once he was out of the way, they sure as hell wouldn't be taking these dead if it would cost them money. That might well change too. Their powerful "friend" could get the payscale updated and maybe a little gift for themselves. Too bad this troublesome old man insists on doing the honorable thing.
Keep up the good work, sir. We need you more than ever. Stay safe.
Joan Harding ok looney toons that no that makes no sense but ok.
I think it’s more like they don’t want to spend money but they’re fine making money
Yep so the city won't"look bad". They look bad anyways
watching this in June of 2021 makes you get even a new layer of how horrible things are in covid times. I imagine all those who lost loved ones to covid who can't get their relatives taken care of.
RIP Peter Stefan, your heart ❤️ was pure gold, what an incredible person. I'm so glad Caitlin got the chance to do this before his passing. What an eye-opening video. We need to do better taking care of ALL of humanity. Regardless of status or income.
“Money’s only good for what good it’ll do.” That really stuck with me.
Me too. ❤️
Agreed
Words to live by.
so true
I skipped back 4 times to listen to it again. Very profound
This guy got himself in trouble for taking on a burden that no one else was willing to take on. The state should be paying for that larger freezer and giving this guy some kind of award for doing what he does.
Exactly
Yes
There's a go-fund-me for him. See top of the page, in the description.
He is an absolute angel, I have an inmesurable amount of respect and appreciation for this man. He is one of the few people I've seen that lives to genuinely do good from the bottom of his heart.
I started (re)watching this video & learned that he passed away a little over a year ago. I hope his funeral home continues to do what he did in life 🤍 May he Rest In Peace.
A local government & Public Health officials failure turns into, "Man hides 9 bodies". That is unforgivable. He's a treasure.
It sounds like the only thing Peter is guilty of is being a caring human being.
Peter is a General in the war on the poor. It's so good to hear the real story instead of what ny news portrayed. Peter is a great man
This man deserves so much better. Thank you, Caitlin for show casing him
I teared up over his love of the unclaimed bodies. We need more people like him in this world. KEEP FIGHTING, Peter.
Same here.
Me too. He cares about people. And he's right...where would the bodies...your loved ones...go if he didn't take them in if no one else would? He shows true kindness.
“The war on poor people” I love him!! “Money’s only good for what good it can do.” wow I’m gonna be saying that one now. This is a fantastic video. Peter is a hero.
I agree! 👏💯
I agree too
Yes, he seems like a sweet heart.
@@elisebond he is. He is such a fighter for the folks no one fights for. He hates the stupid bureaucracy.
"Who cares about the blame game, just get it done" was my favorite. He's definitely got that old school wisdom
In my eyes, Stefan is a hero. We need more people like him ... compassionate, caring and fighting for what's right. Sorry to see that he has passed away. He was a good human.
My son died of an overdose of Fentynal, Aug of 2018. I had no money and neither did he. The hospital social worker sent me to Peter, she said there was a cremation benefit allowed by Masshealth (medicaid) and that Peter knew how to deal with the red tape, that he was the only funeral director willing to deal with Masshealth....
Peter treated my family ; like family. He dealt with Masshealth, the medical examiner and creamatory....
He loving gave me his ashes 2 weeks later....
My son had been in recovery for 2 years before the relapse that led to death. He was leading a holistic life that included spending time in nature. We had a lovely celebration of life at a his favorite local park to spread some of his ashes...
I will be forever grateful for Peter and the respect he showed my son...
It was total BS how the news reported this initially!
Thank you for doing this video. Peter deserved that respect!
Tommy Vachon
5/22/92-8/9/18 💜
Well said
"we can't separate the sin from the sinner"
That statement really touched me.
"Money only good for what good it'll do."
Quote of the year!
There's a special place in Heaven for him.
Honestly! He is so dead set on being a good natured human being, those kind of people always say the things that really stick.
What a legend!
His quote about there being a war on the poor is also very relevant too, I believe.
@@ava_marie_v Absolutely. He's right about everything here.
His place in the Afterlife will be with Mr. Rogers and Bob Ross, and all the others like them...
Thank you for being so fair about Mr. Stefan. He is a good man, no doubt, and it is just so sad that the state basically throws the responsibility of handling the poor deceased upon him (or upon any private funeral home for that matter). I can only imagine what he endured during this pandemic. I'm sure there were countless victims of COVID that were left unclaimed.
All I can think of are those with no one to claim their bodies in death... and tears flow down my cheeks... I just can't imagine that. And it's heartbreaking. I don't care who you are or how you die, everyone deserves to be claimed, to be buried, to be respected...
He needs no forgiveness; he needs to be thanked.
Well said, sir. I agree 100%
I agree!!
@@johncollins7423
Me too!
"That's someone's father, mother, brother, sister or child."
Very important quote, to me.
This just makes me wonder how the city where I live handles this things, there are a lot of homeless people with and without family.
R.I.P. Mr. Stefan, you deserve a big piece of heaven.
What a lad. Gives me hope for humanity.
Personally, I don’t feel like there is anything to forgive on his part. He’s a good man who tries to treat everyone with respect and dignity. The fact that he’s using this as an opportunity to further help people shows his character. I truly wish this beautiful soul all the happiness in the world.
Right? He touched my heart. People like him seem far too rare.
agreed, if anything the commonweath owes him a great debt.
I agree, the video has a misleading title. You cannot forgive someone who has done nothing wrong.
The dislikes are from the local government who dragged their feet.
...Or rich bastards who don't like Peter's 'commie' talk about the war on the poor and welfare.
What an incredible man… I’m sure that Covid has made the problem of unclaimed bodies much worse, thank you for shining a light on this
Just found out Peter passed away a couple years after this video came out. I hope his legacy of caring for those others didn't is being carried on