This past weekend, a distressing and unprecedented incident unfolded in the Luz neighborhood of Holguín, as a family endured an excruciating wait of over 15 hours for funeral services to collect the body of an elderly woman who had passed away in her home. Reports shared on social media reveal that the woman died around midnight, yet by 3 p.m. the following day, no officials or funeral staff had arrived to transport her.
After enduring the prolonged wait, the grieving family took the drastic step of placing the deceased woman's body outside on a bed at the home's threshold, while relatives and neighbors voiced their demands for action and took to the streets in protest. Heart-wrenching images and videos emerged, depicting the daughter's poignant embrace of her mother's body and other family members blocking the street in a bold criticism of what they deemed institutional neglect.
Amid the sorrow and frustration, anguished cries echoed from those in mourning: “Look at the time, and still no government officials have shown up. It's all lies and promises.” A resident of Holguín poignantly remarked, “Here, if you don’t have money, you’re left to the worms,” capturing the community's collective dismay and reaffirming the allegations.
This incident swiftly became a symbol of communal outrage. Activist Magdiel Jorge Castro poignantly questioned on social media, “If there’s no dignity for the living, what can we expect for the dead?” Many users on platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) labeled the episode as emblematic of the breakdown of public services on the island, criticizing the lack of respect for citizens, even in death.
The delay in collecting the deceased sparked a painful and anger-fueled scene that extended beyond the family. Residents placed obstacles in the street in protest, with others joining in, visibly moved by the circumstances. In Cuba, such delays in funeral services are not uncommon, largely due to resource shortages, transportation issues, and institutional disarray. However, the magnitude of this case, highlighted by widely shared images, has profoundly impacted public opinion.
For many, this situation not only underscores the material crisis plaguing the nation but also signifies a loss of fundamental respect for life and death. An online commenter lamented, “It's an atrocity hard to describe, but even worse is that it lay exposed for over 15 hours.”
The Collapse of Funeral Services in Cuba
The incident in Holguín is not an isolated case but rather part of a nationwide crisis in funeral services that even the state-run media has begun to acknowledge. In July 2025, the state broadcaster Radio Mayabeque reported that saying goodbye to a loved one in Cuba had become an “obstacle course,” characterized by material shortages, institutional neglect, and deep-seated dehumanization.
The report noted that local funeral homes, like many across the country, lack even basic conditions for holding wakes: no fans, seating, or flowers, and chapels that are dilapidated, dirty, and poorly lit. Transporting the deceased to cemeteries can take hours — sometimes over a day — due to fuel shortages and lack of vehicles, forcing families to keep bodies in undignified conditions.
Coffins, often poorly assembled and inadequately sized, are handed to grieving families like makeshift wooden patches. Workers often have to improvise in front of families, prying open sealed lids with makeshift tools, and closing them again “with whatever is available,” lacking any semblance of solemnity.
The logistical chaos is evident in increasingly common scenes: mourners hauling coffins by foot, on carts, cargo trucks, or even makeshift hammocks, as was the case in Imías, Guantánamo, with a child's body earlier this year. In other instances, families report waits of more than 12 hours for body collection, like in Granma, where a family resorted to social media to secure a coffin and transport for a deceased relative.
Cemeteries are not exempt from neglect. Many lack water, drainage, or lighting, with reports of vault and human remains desecration. Often, gravediggers require families to purchase cement to seal the graves themselves.
Although the government has announced the introduction of electric hearses and the involvement of state enterprises in vehicle production, these measures fall short against the systemic deterioration. The result is a landscape where death, rather than being a time of reflection and respect, is marred by frustration, anger, and humiliation.
As noted in the official report, the harsh reality in Cuba today is that “not even the final rest is guaranteed.”
Understanding Cuba's Funeral Service Crisis
What caused the delay in funeral services in Holguín?
The delay was primarily due to a combination of resource shortages, lack of transportation, and institutional disorganization, common issues in Cuba's funeral service system.
How did the community react to the delay in Holguín?
The community expressed their outrage by placing the deceased's body outside and blocking streets in protest, demanding action from authorities.
Are funeral service delays common in Cuba?
Yes, delays are not unusual due to chronic resource shortages, transportation issues, and widespread institutional inefficiency.
What measures has the Cuban government announced to address funeral service issues?
The government has announced plans to incorporate electric hearses and involve state companies in vehicle production, though these efforts are seen as insufficient given the systemic issues.