LEBANON, Ky. —Over the last 19 months, we’ve heard from Kentuckians who have lost loved ones to COVID-19.

A massive federal government led program is lifting the financial burden for one family in Marion County.

Kaye Peterson has beautiful memories of her mother. 

What You Need To Know

  • FEMA is continuing to reimburse funeral expenses when someone dies of COVID-19

  • More than a $18 million has been given out by the federal government to help Kentuckians pay for funerals for COVID-19

  • Across the commonwealth, 2,500 Kentuckians have received assistance

  • There is currently no deadline yet to apply for funeral assistance according to FEMA

 

"She just wasn’t the touchy feely baked cookies for your grandkids grandma, she would make them quilts," explains Peterson.

Many Kentuckians lost loved ones during the pandemic because of the coronavirus including Peterson.

Her mom, Catherine Imogene Spalding, passed away Dec. 2020, less than a week after she tested positive at the age of 91. 

"They called us on a Tuesday and said she’s tested positive for COVID-19. By Friday, she was in the emergency room and her kidneys were starting to shut down," explains Peterson.

The mother of eight children, 14 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren also lived with Alzheimer's disease.

Because of the pandemic, a small service was held at Bosley Funeral Home in Lebanon.

"Dementia is just cruel and COVID-19 just adds insult to injury. She wasn’t in the hospital on a ventilator or anything like that. We knew there was a merciful God," said Peterson.

Local funeral directors say the average cost of a funeral runs as high as $8,000 to $10,000. 

FEMA's COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program is a huge relief to many faced with enormous funeral expenses.

"You only want the best for your loved one and then when the final bill is paid you sitting there thinking it cost this much, suggests Peterson?

This week, Spectrum News 1 learned only a handful of families are applying for FEMA’s COVID-19 funeral assistance fund.

Across the Commonwealth, 2,500 Kentuckians have received assistance for a total of more than $18 million according to Gov. Andy Beshear. 

"Oh God there’s going to be so much paperwork and so many hoops to jump through well my brother joe filled out all the paperwork, put in a death certificate, gave them what they needed," explains Peterson.

FEMA says it will provide financial assistance for funeral expenses for COVID-19 related deaths that happened after Jan. 20,2020, and reimburse each family up to $9,000 per funeral.

Like any program, there are some qualifications and restrictions and not every family will be eligible.

"Do it. It’s government money, it’s there for the asking, it might take awhile, but yet they might say no, but if you don’t do it you’re going to get a no anyway," explains Peterson.

That’s why Peterson wants to get the word out about the application to as many families as possible.

"If your loved one’s death certificate says COVID-19 get the paperwork, call the funeral home, call the funeral director, don’t let up," said Peterson.

There is currently no deadline yet to apply for funeral assistance according to FEMA.

Applications are only accepted by phone and not online. More details on the FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program can be found on the agency’s website.

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