Grieving family says Mount Hope Cemetery didn’t notify them of funeral changes

A grieving family says they were shocked they weren't notified about changes Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson made regarding funerals amid the coronavirus pandemic.

News 12 Staff

Apr 10, 2020, 9:30 PM

Updated 1,644 days ago

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A grieving family says they were shocked they weren't notified about changes Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson made regarding funerals amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Hipolito Caraballo recently died from complications related to Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. He was 86 years old and described by his family as strong, loving and dedicated.
He was scheduled to be buried at Mount Hope Cemetery on Thursday, but at the gate – only the hearse was allowed through. The family was left outside.
The family says they were told that they would be allowed to drive to the burial site and stay in their car.
However, the cemetery says gatherings are not allowed due to coronavirus, and says a notice of that fact was signed by Caraballo’s wife. His daughter told News 12 that it wasn’t her mother’s signature.
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“At no time did the cemetery or the funeral say, 'You will not be allowed at the grounds.' That is absolutely not true,” a funeral home representative told News 12.
Mount Hope Cemetery says it is following the governor's executive order to limit gatherings to just essential workers.
Though Caraballo's family couldn't pay final respects the way they hoped to, they did hold a private celebration of his life back at their home.