Carmen Funeral Homes addresses pre-need fund mismanagement at Petrus Funeral Home

The Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors convened on July 2, 2025, to address several key agenda items, including the approval of previous meeting minutes and public comments regarding concerns in the funeral industry.

The meeting commenced with a roll call, confirming the presence of board members, including Mr. McClame, Mr. Jaudy, Mr. Rodriguez, and Mr. Marardi. The board then moved to approve the minutes from their regular meeting held on March 4, 2025. A motion was made and seconded, with all members voting in favor.

Subsequently, the minutes from a special meeting on March 24, 2025, were also approved following a similar motion and vote. The board then addressed the minutes from another special meeting on May 9, 2025, which were approved unanimously.

Following the approval of minutes, the meeting opened for public comments. Timothy Carmen, representing Carmen Funeral Homes, raised significant concerns regarding the management of pre-need funds at Petrus Funeral Home. Carmen, a licensed CPA with extensive experience in audit risk and control, reported that his firm had received numerous inquiries from families worried about their pre-need accounts. He detailed that out of 11 families who contacted them, only two had intact funds, while five had no funds, and three had missing funds. He emphasized that of approximately $70,000 expected in accounts, only $19,000 was confirmed to exist in the financial institutions where Petrus claimed to have deposited the funds.

Carmen's statements highlighted a troubling situation that could impact many families relying on pre-need arrangements for funeral services. The board acknowledged the seriousness of these concerns, indicating that further discussions may be necessary to address the issues raised.

The meeting concluded with no further public comments, and the board members were left to consider the implications of Carmen's testimony on future regulatory actions and oversight in the funeral industry.