Faraj Jarjour, 68, died of a heart attack while swimming in Cuba on March 22. More than two months later, his body has been returned to Quebec, confirmed by a family friend. The repatriation process, handled by a Cuban government agency, went awry when the body delivered to a Laval funeral home did not match the family’s provided picture.
After media appeals by Jarjour’s children, Miriam and Karam, Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez apologized for the mix-up, stating that an investigation was underway. It was eventually discovered that Jarjour’s body had been mistakenly buried in a Russian town north of Moscow due to a mix-up by Cuban government workers, who had switched two bodies before repatriation.
The Cuban government has agreed to reimburse the family $10,000 for the repatriation costs. The body, although significantly deteriorated, was prepared by technicians for an open casket service. The family plans to receive condolences on Sunday in Montreal, with a funeral scheduled for Tuesday in Laval.
Despite their relief at having Jarjour’s body returned, the family is still grieving the incident and is consulting with a lawyer about seeking financial compensation from Canadian and Cuban authorities. Jarjour is survived by his wife of 35 years, Dina Ghoulam, and his two children.
